Many aspects of life are now geared towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. And if you have a social conscience or want to make your wedding environmentally friendly, then why not go green?

Your gown

First up is your gown, the centerpiece of your day. There are a few options you might like to consider here to ensure a green wedding.

• Look in second-hand shops for something suitable or recycle your mum’s old gown if you’re lucky enough to have it.  They may need a few alterations here and there so leave plenty of time for this to happen.
• Borrow one rather than have it made. You may have a friend or family member who can lend you their wedding gown.
• Buy yourself a cocktail dress that you will be able to wear again to other social events.

Your jewellery

What about your wedding jewellery? You may have heard of conflict diamonds or blood diamonds and for the socially aware these are a big no no. They are diamonds that come from areas controlled by forces opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments.
You can buy diamonds now that are certified to be conflict-free.
An alternative to buying your wedding jewellery is to recycle some of your older relatives jewellery. You may have been given your great aunt’s wedding band a few years back. Why not take it to your preferred jeweller and see how this can be re-worked into a stunning piece of jewellery that reflects not only your style, but also that of yesteryear.

Your venue

Your wedding venue is such an important part of your wedding day and one that can leave a big carbon footprint. Some of the newer venues are taking this into consideration so before you book, ask what measures are in place to encourage environmental sustainability.
You can do this yourself by having the reception and wedding ceremony at the same venue, eliminating the need for any travelling. Or if travelling between venues is necessary, hire a bus to take all of your guests at the same time.

Your honeymoon

And finally your honeymoon needs careful consideration. Eliminate the need to fly anywhere and have an amazing honeymoon closer to home. There are bound to be secluded beaches with romantic B&Bs just a short distance away so investigate.
But if you do want to really get away from it all then eco-tourism is the way to go. There are a myriad of options around from trekking in mountains and staying in cabins in the wilderness, to helping out with community projects around the world.