So  you are  interested in doing a  eco-friendly wedding, it is simply start by having the ceremony &  reception at the same place — thus cutting out  all that driving for everyone. If you are taking your vows at a religious venue, find a reception site within a mile or two of the ceremony - or better yet, one you can all walk to.

Green weddings are a huge new  trend, so here are five ideas for hosting a more eco-chic wedding and doing your small part to save  the planet…

#1. Go Local…

If your site allows you to bring your own alcohol, bring locally brewed beers &  locally grown wines. This cuts out the shipping emissions and help supports local businesses. Don’t be afraid to haggle with these businesses, either. They will get exposure to everyone at your wedding, so use that to your advantage when negotiating prices. Make a favor out of there wines label.

# 2. Go Natural…

It is crazy but many flowers in  arrangements are shipped all the way from South America,Europe and Asia , so the pollution impact from the shipping is very  high. Not only that, you have no way of knowing what kind of environmentally harmful chemicals are used on the flowers when they are growen. Instead, use flowers that are in season and grown naturally in your local area. For example, if your wedding is in the South, pick magnolias from local trees and float the blossoms in vases (recycled) on tables for centerpieces. Wildflowers from a friend’s garden can also add a nice  unique, personal &  beautifully natural touch to your wedding. If you want a more structured look, do an Internet search for “organic florist” in your area, there are more out there than you think.

# 3. Favors…

Favors can be a nice touch to your  wedding, but they usually just get shoved in a closet  or worse after the wedding, adding to already overflowing landfill we are making. If you were planning to spend about  $5 per favor on 200 wedding  guests, instead spend $1 each for tiny live pine trees that guests can plant. Take the other $800 you would’ve spent on favors and donate it to a local or national forest or garden, a save the animals foundation or some other organization. Even if 50% of those trees live, that is a great start.

# 4. Send E-vites

Even though I like to get a Hallmark card rather than a E Card. But sending electronic invitations will save a great deal of paper. This will also keep more money in your pocket for your honeymoon. If you have relatives or friends who live in the dark ages and don’t use e-mail, make your own simple invitations to send to those few people. Also create an online wedding Web site where you can feature your wedding style as well as maps to local venues, menus, photos, etc. This will be a perfect electronic feel  to your eco-friendly wedding  day. On your wedding Web site you can also feature a section on all of the ways you are making your wedding green so guests will know why they didn’t get a paper invitation in the post.

#5. Attire…

Your  bridal gown sets the stage for the whole day. But since the bride is only wearing it once, it’s OK to wear one that’s vintage or already worn. If the money you  saved doesn’t sell a bride on this idea,  this one will: Try a charity like “Brides Against Breast Cancer,” where sample gowns &  donated previously worn gowns are auctioned and all proceeds go to breast-cancer research. Recycling dresses is a great eco-friendly wedding choice. And no one will know,unless they read this blog.

Remember: Even if you can only do one or two of these eco green things, every little bit helps, RIGHT Considering there are about 2 million weddings in the United States every  year, if every bride and groom can make a few eco-chic changes, then collectively the impact will be huge help to the palent.

Hope these ideas help and you can pull it off

Cheers Peter Bruce