Planning Eco-Weddings with Brides.com

Getting married isn’t just about champagne toasts and getting showered with gifts - you can do a little good at the same time. Brides.com shares eco-friendly tips – from choosing local vendors to purchasing conflict-free jewelry – that help make the world a better place while celebrating the Big Day.

How To Plan An Eco-Friendly Wedding: http://www.brides.com/wedding-answers-tools/basic-how-tos/2010/10/how-to-plan-an-eco-friendly-wedding

A few tips include:

Celebrate on the Gulf Coast: Hosting your celebration in an area that’s been impacted by the recent Gulf oil spill will give a needed boost to the local economy. Many of these coastal towns are home to modern resorts, charming hotels, and still pristine beaches.

Ask where your wedding gown is made: Many dresses are made in factories in China and Korea, where labor is cheap and human rights are easily compromised. Shopping local ensures the workers are protected – and, you won’t have to deal with the long process of shipping from abroad.

Give back through your registry: Today, couples can authorize contributions to charity through their registry. Organizations like the I Do Foundation ensure as much as 10 percent of the cost of registry items will be donated to a selected charity.

Use recycled paper: The dull gray look of recycled paper is a thing of the past. Plus, swapping 150 conventional invitations for those printed on 100-percent, post-consumer recycled paper saves 22 pounds of wood and 32 gallons of water.