Love is Green

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something green? It’s time to embrace the environment on your wedding day. After thanking the bridesmaids and groomsmen, family and friends, don’t forget to kick back to Mother Nature.

You don’t have to don a hemp dress or use solar power to make an impact. Choosing one area in which to go green makes a significant difference.

Give a nod to nature with eco-friendly favors. Not only will you earn points for the environment, but your small gesture will send a subtle sense of awareness to a captive audience.

Today’s guests take various modes of transportation to witness couples tie the knot, but all this traveling can take a toll on fresh air. So when socially conscious Mark Mirabito of Fairfield, Conn., tied the knot, he pitched a green gift for guests to his fiancée, Andrea. Mirabito chose carbon offsets to counteract all the travel to his St. Louis wedding.

Carbon offsetting is the act of mitigating greenhouse gases (sometimes by planting trees). This newly popular practice means linking up with an organization that funds alternative energy programs. “Carbon offsets were something I was aware of for some time but never had the opportunity to employ,” Mirabito says.

So with a little research from terrapass.com and teaming up with Climate Care, Mirabito calculated that for about $600, he and Andrea could offset the carbon emissions for their 200 guests. “All in all, it was an easy and not too expensive way to make our wedding a little Greener.”

White Wedding Gone Green

When it comes to embracing eco-friendly, the sky’s the limit. Here are a few other airy options:

• Forget the rice which can be harmful to local birds. Toss environmentally safe confetti instead. Look for water soluble, biodegradable color specs to make a splash during your post vow walk down the aisle. Or add fragrance to the traditional toss by choosing all natural lavender wedding rice.

• Sow the seeds of love with a packet of buds for guests. Create customized labels to personalize the sacks of soon to be flowers. Make sure to print labels on recycled paper. Looking for something longer lasting? Check out Arbor Day Foundation (arborday.org) to purchase two-year-old seedlings for guests - talk about laying down roots.

• Give a little luck when you use bamboo place card holders that double as your parting favor. Known for strength and resilience, this eco-friendly favor brings good fortune as well.

When adding a green touch to your wedding day, be sure to explain your cause to your guests. Mark and Andrea opted to include a short note highlighting the donation that was made in the guest’s name and where to go for more information. When you share your love for each other and for the environment, it’s a cause for celebration.