Some couples who are planning to say “I Do,” aren’t just referring to building a life together, but also to caring for the environment in the process, too. That’s because eco-friendly weddings are growing in popularity, as more people realize the effect that their actions make on the planet and are selecting socially responsible choices to help minimize the impact left by their big event.

A Responsibly Elegant Affair

Have you dreamt for years about having an elegant wedding but want to care for the planet, too? It used to be that the two concepts were at odds with one another, but today, that’s no longer the case. It’s possible to plan as sophisticated and tasteful a celebration as you desire and still make strategic decisions that will eliminate unnecessary extravagance and extra waste.

What Going Green Really Means

Marriage is big business today, with more than 2.4 million Americans tying the knot on an annual basis. And for each wedding that takes place, the carbon footprint is huge, leaving many engaged couples scrambling to find socially responsible choices when it comes to selecting the location, transportation, decorations, apparel and food for their big day.

Recognizing the interest that now exists for “greener” pastures, a growing number of companies have responding by broadening their offerings to include more sustainable options for brides and grooms. Some wedding planners point out that this growing trend makes sense: since weddings are a celebration of two people merging their lives together, it’s only fitting that the environment also benefit (or at least take as small as possible of a hit) in the process of making a fresh start.

Weigh Decisions Carefully

When planning an eco-friendly wedding, there are many factors that come into play. For instance, you can select organic (pesticide-free) flowers, but perhaps the type you prefer have to be flown in from half-way across the world. This means that while you are picking a socially-responsible choice on one hand, you are wasting lots of resources in the transportation of this item. So when it comes to green weddings, everything has to be weighed and balanced. There are no right or wrong answers, just lots of information to digest to help you do what you ultimately think will be best. The experts recommend doing your homework and making choices that reflect the values you and your partner hold most dear to your heart in the end.