Our Planet Deserves Eternal Love Too When Exchanging Vows

By Sally Steele

Three of the happiest words in the English language are "I love you." The two words that celebrate people's love in our society are "I Do." It is ironic then that the events and gatherings we throw to commemorate devotion to each other usually causes our environment pain.

Did you know that 8,000 trees must be planted to neutralize the carbon footprint for an average 200-person wedding? Considering that approximately 2.5 million weddings take place per year in the U.S., our nuptials take a large annual toll on our ecosystem. Between the energy consumed in the travel, setup, execution, and cleanup of a typical event, and the waste created by the invitations, food, wrapping, and other scraps of material items, the moments that symbolize "new beginnings" too often push us closer to our natural world's end.

Fortunately, the Green movement is merging with the marital industry to preserve the beauty, splendor and warmth of the wedding day while affecting positive social change. The wedding industry is in the midst of reevaluating every element of planning and implementation, and in the near-future every aspect of the big day will be reengineered to make a minimal impact on our planet.

This summer, Bay Area residents will be able to witness this revolution-in-the-making at the inaugural Eco-Festival taking place in San Ramon. At the festival's I Do Eco tent, dozens of the region's leading eco-friendly vendors will display the seeds of this reform. Innovations in venues, photography, food, attire, jewelry, floral arrangements, gifts, and other bridal products designed to reduce the environmental wear and tear will illustrate how a an enduring union will start with a sustainable ceremony and reception.

Soon "Wedding Dress Redux," the process of selling wedding dresses for reuse in new recycled material-made gowns, will be a normal practice for brides. We will soon see indoor venues powered with biofuels or renewable energy, while outdoor venues dotted with pesticide-free flowers and plant life will mark the beauty of a truly Green wedding. Snapshots will be captured without generating a ton of ink, paper, chemical, and electronic waste, nor will they entail extensive use of hazardous materials. Locally-made full-course meals and cakes consisting of organically-grown ingredients will make up rehearsal and reception dinners. Composting and recycling of all materials will be the standard.

More and more often, walking down the aisle will leave nary a carbon footprint. Now that's a blissful beginning for the newlyweds and the planet.

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