Summary:
This article lists ten ways to plan a wedding that will do no harm, from avoiding `blood´ diamonds to enjoying an eco-friendly honeymoon.

Details or Sample:
When you are madly in love and planning to get married, it is natural to want the most lavish wedding you can afford. But these days, more and more couples are asking themselves if the planet can afford it - and very often, the answer is ``no´´.

Long lines of limousines, piles of non recyclable waste and big plane trips overseas all leave a huge carbon footprint on the precious environment in which you want to grow and raise children together. Fortunately there are ways you can have a beautiful wedding and still tread lightly on the earth.

1: Let´s get married - and do no harm. Receiving a ring and a wedding proposal is the most exciting thing that can happen to a girl in love but these days even the the giving and receiving of engagement and diamond rings can be tainted.

The misery and death associated with the mining of `blood´ diamonds has prompted may couples to seek more ethical sources for these precious symbols of their love. After all, who wants to look at their sparkling engagement ring and count its cost in human lives? Then there is the gold - in order to mine the tiny amount of gold for one ring, vast areas of the environment are stripped in open mining. Organisations like NoDirtyGold.org and GreenKarat.com ensure no blood is spilled, and only recycled gold is used, in pursuit of the perfect rings.

2: Your attendance is requested - on recycled paper. An awful lot of trees die every year to accomodate the vast amount of paper that a wedding generates. One way you can help save the environment is by using only recycled paper for your wedding notes, diaries and invitations. The truly organic bride may be tempted to create her own signature invitations by recycling paper herself and adding rose petals and glitter to the sheets she produces.

3: Buy the bride a goat - or a cow, or a hen. That doesn´t mean tying a gold ribbon around a goat´s neck and dragging it to the ceremony, but it does mean using the tradition of giving gifts to do something positive for the less fortunate. Look on line for charity gifts, and you will be able to donate a domestic animal or any one of several charitable acts in the names of the bride and groom. Think how much better that will be than yet another toaster that will end up as wasteful landfill!

4: Cut down on the cars. A trail of shiny limousines or vintage cars might once have been a popular choice, but these days it makes more sense to walk to your wedding. Try to find a venue near at hand, or if you are worried about the possible soiling of the bride´s and bridesmaid´s gowns, why not hire a hay burning horse and carriage instead of a gas guzzler? Encourage guests to share cars and flights to the wedding to cut down the carbon footprint.

5: Don´t cut living flowers, plant living trees. Instead of condemning masses of flowers to die a wilting death in the aftermath of your wedding, why not use potted plants instead? Potted herbs such as lavender and rosemary make beautiful decorations at the wedding and the reception, and can be taken home as gifts by the guests for planting. Another lovely touch would be to flank the bridal party table with orange or lemon trees, which can be later planted at the couples´ new home, or the parents´ homes, as a lasting memento of the day.

6: Go local - and hopefully organic - for the wedding feast. By supporting local growers and suppliers you will be doing something wonderful for your community as well as the world. Choose what is fresh, available and seasonal in your area for a delicious wedding feast. Have a local baker or family members supply the cakes and breads, and if you can find a local vineyard for the wine, so much the better. If you live near the sea, cater your wedding from local fish markets.

7: Don´t go disposable, you´ll only create more waste. Make sure everything you use for your wedding can be recycled or used again. Use china plates, silver cutlery, cloth serviettes and tablecloths and real glasses and cups. The effect will be more elegant anyway.

8: Second hand isn´t second best, and if you can re-use or recycle anything for your wedding, you will be cutting down on the rampant consumerism that is slowly destroying our planet. For the bride´s and bridesmaids´ dresses, you can recycle family heirloom gowns or fabrics, or look on Ebay for pre-loved bargains. The groom and his groomsmen can rent the suits they are likely to wear only once. Everyone can chip in and lend decorations, accessories, candle holders, glasses and china for the reception.

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Written by: Gail Kavanagh
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