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Say “ I Do” to keeping your special day an earth conscious bash with these helpful planning tips.

To me, the dress could be the most important part of a wedding for the bride. The feeling she gets when she finds her perfect, dream gown is almost as special as the groom she is marrying. If you have ever been shopping for wedding dress with a sister or friend you know the exact moment when she has found “the one”.

Wedding gowns are no longer the simple white dress your mother once wore. The details can range from minimal to extravagant from conservative to racy. The cost of gowns is impacting more than just your own pocket book these days. Wedding gowns are impacting the environment as well.

If possible purchase a gown made from organic materials or a silk/hemp mix. You can find ideas at www.GetConscious.com. “Each dress is cut and sewn to order, with exquisite attention to detail. We are also able to offer customized, one-of-a-kind hemp gowns. Our fabrics are all hemp blends, chosen for their aesthetic beauty, drape and texture. We offer a hemp/silk blend, a hemp/silk floral jacquard and a hemp/silk satin. For the pure Vegan bride, a hemp/tencel blend is available. All of these fabrics are comparable to, and we believe they actually surpass, traditional bridal fabrics.”

Purchasing from companies that follow green business practices and who give back to local charities are another wonderful option. Encore Bridal ( www.EncoreBridal.com) sets a terrific example. “ A portion of our profit from every sale is given to charities that support cervical cancer research and education, such as www. Tamika and Friends .org And, when buying a gently used wedding dress you pay homage to our environment by reducing the use of the earth's natural resources from a company that uses green business practices. If we as women are going to purchase bridal wear for our most important day, why not help the environment, and other women live longer and happier lives to achieve their own special milestones?”

For the fashion diva bride, her choice of gown may be from a vintage gown collection. The word vintage “ is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. Clothing from the 1920s to 1975 is considered vintage” states the Wikipedia Dicitonary. Now purchasing a vintage wedding gown makes you more than a fashion maven, it makes you a fashionably earth friendly bride! Pre-owned gowns can be purchased at almost any wedding gown shop or through viritual dress shops via the internet. By purchasing a pre-owned or gently used gown you are being an advocate for recycleing and reducing energy emmissions which would set a wonderful example for your guests.

By the way do not leave out your bridesmaids! Bridesmaids are so important to the ceremony and are typically close family or friends of the bride. The maids can be green by donating their gowns to an organization that gives bridesmaids dresses to high school girls who can’t afford to buy a prom dress. Log onto www.glassslipperproject.org to get them involved!

Part II of How to Green Your Wedding will focus on how venue selection and catering are a major factor of creating the ultimate green wedding!