If you've seen the movie Confetti or been to a wedding lately, you probably know that alternative and unusual weddings are on the rise.
In this 2006 'mockumentary,' three couples battle to win the 'wedding of the year' competition hosted by Confetti magazine. The first couple, two long-haired naturists, decide to say 'I do' wrapped in nothing but a few leaves and some painted-on greenery.
The second couple fulfill their dreams of starring on Broadway and decide to sing their vows while an army of feathered dancers swing and sway behind them to the chorus. The last couple, two aggressive and competitive tennis players, say their vows between slamming little yellow balls over the net on a grassy, green court.
Sounds ridiculous? It's definitely an extreme variation on the traditional walk down the red carpet to a flowery chuppa or a church altar. And the movie quickly calmed any notions I had of hiring fire dancers and a shaman priestess for my upcoming wedding on the beach. Yet, somewhere between the conservative, traditional norms and the ludicrous extreme lies a happy medium that more and more couples today are choosing.
But even more popular than designing your own alternative ceremony, which ranges from writing your own vows to choosing an unusual location, are Green Weddings.
Thanks to heightening awareness about global warming and the importance of doing as much as you can to help the environment, more and more couples today are incorporating eco-friendly alternatives in their weddings. According to Brides magazine, the number of eco-businesses that handle environmentally conscious wedding venues, food, decorations and flowers have greatly increased over the last five years.
Kate Harrison, an American bride who was interviewed in February by the New York Times, says that she chose to have an environmentally-friendly ceremony because it was important for her and her husband to start their life together in a way that coincides with their values and beliefs. Harrison didn't want her wedding to come at the expense of the environment or workers in another country.
Based on the number of eco-friendly wedding planners and companies springing up, many others agree with her. Harrison says she calculated the mileage her guests would travel and donated to environmental programs that plant trees and preserve rain forests in order to offset the carbon dioxide emissions they would incur. She used local and seasonal flowers for her bouquet and centerpieces instead of transporting them from faraway places, and she designed an organic menu that used food from nearby farms.
For environmentally-concerned brides and grooms, there are many other things you can do to make your wedding better for mother earth.
First, try to minimize the amount of driving your guests will need to do in order to reach the wedding venue. Rent a wedding hall that recycles and hire a caterer that uses locally-grown, organic products rather than expensive, imported food and consider donating any left-over food you may have rather than throwing it out.
With gifts, you could give your guests the option of donating to environmental organizations in your name rather than giving you things you may not need and will not use.
For the invitations, recycled paper products are a great alternative to wasting valuable tree resources on brand new ones.
Buy wedding rings made of recycled precious metals and stones or transform a vintage piece in order to help preserve the environment.
These days, eco-friendly flowers, centerpieces and party favors are readily available from a number of online vendors. If you're artistically inclined, you might want to consider making the flowers and favors yourself out of recycled materials you collect.
For the wedding dress, brides who are looking for environmentally friendly alternatives have a wealth of options that are more cost-effective too. Choosing a beautiful vintage gown, borrowing one (such as your mother's altered dress) or renting are all good options. If having your own new dress made is important to you, look into fabrics that are eco-friendly, such as hemp, linen, tencel, organic cotton and silk.
Even your honeymoon can contribute to helping the environment, and that doesn't mean you have to go camping.
A number of tourism operators who focus on the environment provide magnificent and luxurious ecotourism trips, including spas in Africa and Fiji that offer massages in a tree and wildlife watching in natural environments.
A simple search on Amazon turns up a handful of recently published guides to inexpensive eco-friendly ceremonies, including Green Weddings That Don't Cost the Earth and the popular guide by Michelle Kozin, Organic Weddings: Balancing ecology, style and tradition.
With truly enviromentally aware couples, weddings are being transformed from events that center on 'the planet's day' rather than on 'my day.' And the best thing about a Green Wedding it is that by helping mother earth on your wedding day, you are doing your part as an individual to help preserve our planet and setting a valuable example for others.