Loving the planet

Love is in the air at this time of year and if you`ve recently decided to tie the knot, you might find yourself with a wedding to plan! There are so many things to consider with weddings; the cost can quickly run in to thousands of pounds and you may also be concerned about the environmental impact of all that wedding excess.

Your wedding meal could travel 22,000 miles across the globe before reaching the plate and with 80% of cut flowers in the UK being air freighted from abroad in refrigerated aircrafts, the chances are that your flower arrangements could have a hefty carbon footprint too. That`s without even considering the energy and waste involved in manufacturing everything from the invitations to the wedding rings (the production of which can generate 20 tons of mine waste per gold ring!).

It`s enough to take all the romance out of the occasion but it doesn`t have to be that way. There are lots of ways that you can have a `green` wedding that will be better for the planet and kinder to your pocket. Where to start? The best way is to look at each aspect of the event and consider what green options are available.

In a county as beautiful as Cumbria, it makes sense to keep the venue local and an outdoor wedding saves on heating and lighting bills, as well as providing a lovely natural backdrop for photographs. If possible choose a venue where you can get married and have the reception to reduce travelling. Or you could encourage people to car share - a great way to get your guests to mingle!

You don`t have to forage in hedgerows to create an environmentally friendly menu for your guests. Try to source local, seasonal, organic ingredients for your wedding food and drink or, if you are hiring caterers, choose a company that is passionate about doing the same.

If you want flowers on your tables, consider locally sourced potted plants instead of cut flowers, which can be given to wedding guests as a gift afterwards and will be a lasting memory of the day.

When it comes to invitations, do you really need to send them in the mail? You will save money and paper by sending e-invitations to everyone who is online. A wide range of recycled wedding stationery is available if you need printed invitations for guests who don`t use the internet.

When searching for that special dress or suit, remember that you may be able to hire your outfit or discover a `pre-loved` (second hand) find. Your family may have something suitable that could be altered by a local seamstress to fit you perfectly. Try looking for a vintage wedding ring or consider a ring made by a local craftsperson from recycled precious metals for a beautiful one of a kind item to treasure forever.

The finishing touch to your green wedding could be a wonderful romantic honeymoon in the UK. For more information visit the wedding section.