It is always helpful to know what other Brides and Grooms are doing to make their wedding day an extra specially Green one. Veil and Train have been listening to and reading many stories, not only from the weddings we work on, but also from around the world to bring you a list of our top Eco tips.

In this our latest article we look at some ideas to make your wedding a truly Eco friendly affair. Now you can enjoy the most special moment of your life knowing the extravagance is entirely guilt free. So have a read through and hopefully you can make your promises to each other and also to the planet:

• Keep the wedding in one place as opposed to moving about to reduce transport emissions
• Reduce air miles by using local traders to source items such as dresses, food, drink etc
• Make your own wedding favours and accessories – check the The Make Lounge for their forthcoming ‘DIY Bride’ workshops
• Use organic caterers who promise entirely biodegradable equipment
• Use only food that is currently in season and source it locally
• Source beer and cider from local organic breweries
• UK vineyards produce some excellent sparkling wines consider these instead of Champagne
• Horse drawn transport instead of a wedding car can be a fun and green way to arrive and depart
• Have a seasonal theme – e.g. Autumn weddings, collect berries and leaves from the surrounding countryside for décor
• Reduce carbon footprint further by emailing invitations rather than posting them
• Rather than receiving a traditional present ask guests to contribute to an eco charity, or get them to bring along sapling trees to plant
• Use local entertainers for the evening do
• Ensure empty Champagne, wine and drinks bottles are suitably recycled
• Fairtrade is the name of the game – source roses, wine and wedding rings with ethics in mind
• Another way to get eco-friendly flowers is to use locally grown flowers
• Continue the theme by taking your honeymoon closer to home
• Instead of buying copies of bridal magazines see how many people can lend you their copies or use the internet to do research
• Consider wedding rings made of welsh gold or find a retailer who supports the No Dirty Gold Campaign

Useful Links:

Contemporary craft workshops with a stylish social twist – www.themakelounge.com
Exceptional Produce from the Orkney Isles – www.orkneysbest.co.uk
Ethical Wedding Blog & list of suppliers – www.ethicalweddings.com
Eco Chic Wedding directory – www.greenunion.co.uk
Ethical Gold Retailers and Suppliers – www.nodirtygold.org
The Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show – www.ecochicweddingandhomeshow.com

How does this sound for an Ethical Wedding?

SWPP based Photographers all over Britain have pledged to give a day in October, November and December 2009 for any deserving couples who are willing to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

One couple from each county will be chosen by the liaison officer(s) for that county. The Liaison Officer(s) will then get in touch with the photographers in that area who have volunteered to help to see who is available on the couple’s date. In return Each Couple will be asked to raise as much money as they can for Cancer Research via the Just Giving Page.

The photographer will work the whole day for free and the couple will receive a minimum of a DVD of photographs from the day. Some photographers will give them more but this is up to the individual photographer.

For details on how to apply please visit the Photographers for Charity website.

The closing date for applications is 30th June 2009.

The initiative is fully endorsed by the SWPP.