The Three R's of Wedded Bliss

Once regarded as barefoot-hippie fests, earth-friendly weddings are finally coming into their own. "Many couples are looking for ways to incorporate their values and consciousness into their big event," says Corina Beczner, founder of Vibrant Events, an eco event-planning company in San Francisco. But there are a lot of shades of green, she adds. "It's really up to the couple how far they want to go, based on what's most important to them."

For starters, here are some simple tips:

1. Reduce: Cut down on materials with a large impact. Jewelry is one of Beczner's biggest pet peeves. "[Mining] is so destructive to our Earth," she says. Arsenic and mercury used in gold mining can easily seep into waterways, endangering people and animals. Plus, diamond shipments may be infiltrated by conflict diamonds, which are traded in order to fund civil wars—wars in which nearly 4 million people have died. Seek out antiques, or recycle the gold or platinum from family members' rings to create a unique, personal design.

Another way to reduce? "Don't serve a buffet-style dinner," Beczner says. "They always go to waste." Serve a sit-down or family-style dinner instead.

2. Reuse: Renting ensures that things will be reused, and "absolutely no plastic cups or bottles!" she says. After the event, donate flowers and centerpieces to charities, hospitals or retirement homes.

3. Recycle: Recycle everything you can and consider biodegradable and compostable utensils, like those from Nat-Ur (www.nat-urstore.com). Set up recycling stations and compost if possible.

Whether you want to go all green or not, here are some products that will incorporate every shade of green into your big day.

Save the Date

Twisted Limb invitations combine recycled office paper, junk mail, grocery bags and grass cuttings (www.twistedlimbpaper.com, 812-876-9352). Tree-free-paper invitations are available from www.invitesite.com.