Invitations- Use simple invitations without embellishments or choose chlorine-free or treeless paper.
- Skip the paper invitations all together and send e-vites. People can send a response back through e-mail as well.
- Create a wedding website to plan parties, showers and so on.
Dress
- Buy a vintage dress rather than something new.
- Donate the dress after the ceremony so it can be used again.
Location
- Have your wedding and reception at the same place.
- Have an outdoor wedding.
Gifts
- Only ask for gifts you'll use.
- Register with companies that encourage sustainable and Fair Trade practices.
- Ask for donations to charity organizations instead.
- Instead of buying gifts for guests, which most people throw out, donate to charities on the guests' behalf. If you still want a gift, offer environmentally friendly options such as a tree.
Catering and decorations
- Use local, in-season ingredients in your menu. Also, think about quantity. Can you donate extra food to an organization such as North York's Second Harvest?
- Go vegetarian.
- Use in-season flowers, vines, greenery or produce for your flowers and decorations. If you can't skip the roses, purchase organic and Fair Trade items.
- Use potted plants that can be given away after the ceremony.
- Don't use anything disposable including dishes.
Honeymoon
- Think green when you travel. Visit www.insidetoronto.com/article/46891 for an article on green travel including how Toronto considers itself a green destination.
Other
- Purchase carbon credits to offset your consumption.
- Keep your wedding small.
- Purchase ethical jewelry - avoid blood diamonds.
- Reuse old jewelry.
~ Courtesy of http://articles.directorym.ca/Great_Ideas_for_a_Green_Wedding-a866430.html, www.blueplanetwedding.com and Eco-Chic Wedding book