Your Dream Green Wedding

In today's culture of heightened eco-awareness, people are making green lifestyle changes that include driving hybrids, switching to CFL lightbulbs and even using bamboo toothbrushes. But when it comes to weddings, asking people to make significant changes on their one perfect day can be a tough sell, especially because spending on wedding increased 83 percent from 1996 to 2006, according to Conde Nast Bridal. It isn't that people don't want to make greener choices, it's that they are worried the choices will be cost-prohibitive.

The Meal

With couples already spending a whopping $8,000 on food for the reception, asking them to spend more money for organic fare just doesn't fly. But does having a greener menu really mean you have to spend more green? Not according to Meghan Meyers, Founder of Portovert.com, a green wedding site, "We constantly hear it reported that a green wedding can nearly double your wedding budget, but this simply isn't true; it will actually save you money." Meyers suggests couples take to heart the idea of reducing when planning every stage of their wedding. If you and your guests are willing, your quickest savings can be to go vegetarian: "Plan a vegetarian menu and you may just see your cost cut in half."

Not interested in skipping the beef or chicken? Then perhaps you can choose to serve earth-friendly coffee, sugar and chocolate instead. Just focusing on these three ingredients is an excellent way to add an eco-spin to your event without blowing your budget.

For better choices, see our reports on coffee, chocolate and sweeteners.

Go Local

Another earth-saving option is to serve only local ingredients. Going local will definitely take careful planning, but buying in-season, local produce will give you the most flavor for your cash. Work with your caterer or restaurant to select items sourced nearby. "You can find great restaurants, bakers, and even beer and wine from producers right in your area," says Meyers. To find local suppliers, see our beer and wine buying guides and Localharvest.org.

The Registry

Food isn't the only big-ticket item on the wedding menu. U.S. wedding registries are valued at about $12,000 per wedding, or a whopping 33 billion dollars total. If you have eco-minded friends with green wedding registry items, will you have to spend twice as much on their organic sheets and towels than you would have otherwise? The answer is no. Now that green has gone mainstream, even big retailers like Target and Bloomingdales are carrying eco-friendly and affordable alternatives to the good old blender. Target takes it one step further and has a gift that encourages green living: The National Geographic Paper Recycling Kit can help any house get itself in good eco-order. Whether you're getting married or looking for something special to bring to a wedding, here are some greener options:

Sheets

With all of the great new options, a couple can set up their new home and live a healthier life in the process. We spend a third of our lives in bed, so for most of us healthy living begins and ends with our bedding. Until recently organic sheets were only available for a big price tag, but now you can find affordable sheets like the new organic cotton Lucia Collection from Gaiam and at popular registry spots like Macy's and Bed Bath & Beyond.

For more products, see our Sheets & Sheet Sets Buying Guide.

Storage and Furnishings

Combining two households is no small feat. Help a couple out with some eco-friendly organizing options such as the newsprint bins from The Container Store. Or just give them somewhere to keep all of those wedding photos with a natural tree-stump side table from West Elm, crafted from fallen cypress wood. For more suggestions, see our Wood Furniture Buying guide.

Cookware

Since many Americans marry later in life, they often already have well stocked kitchens, but there are often better options for today's cook. One new product on the market comes from the classic kitchen outfitter, Cuisinart, which has a "green gourmet" line of cookware. The handle is made from 70 percent recycled stainless steel and the cooking surface is a ceramic, non-petroleum-based product (Bed Bath & Beyond). For a rundown of green cookware options, from knives to pans to glassware, see "Outfitting the Green Kitchen."

Charity

An increasingly popular choice is to request donations to charity in lieu of gifts. More and more couples are asking their guests to make a donation to their charity of choice, according to Brides magazine. Online registry sites like Felicite.com allow couples to register for traditional gifts as well as include a charitable donation option for their guests. Or a couple can have a closer connection to the cause they're supporting with Kiva.org, where participants can provide micro-loans to real people in need all across the globe.

Local Goods

If you prefer locally produced items for your registry, Etsy.com is an online community of sellers that makes it easy to support local business. A couple can set up their own Etsy account, and add items to it so their guests know what they are in need of. Etsy has a wide variety of goods sure to suit many tastes, including handmade clocks and a decorative wreath with individual messages.

With more affordable eco-friendly options available for today's couple, it really is becoming possible to have your organic cake and eat it too.