When planning an eco-friendly wedding, keep "minimal," "maximize," and "trade-off" in mind. The ultimate eco-bride will maximize the efficiency of her wedding. She will keep energy expenses to a minimum, and understands that "trade-offs" are great ways to compromise without sacrificing the eco-friendly goal of her wedding. With that in mind, here are a few tips for planning an eco-friendly wedding that everyone will rave about.

Get Hitched At An Eco-Friendly Wedding Venue

It all starts with where your nuptials are set to take place. The wedding venue is the foundation of a "green" wedding.

Fun Yacht Wedding Reception

The Moderate: Compromise is key. You want a "green" wedding, but you're not going to sweat off your $100 hair and make-up job for it. No problem. Say the vows inside and switch to a tent reception later. Another option is to plan your wedding during the day with optimal use of natural light during your ceremony.

Walk With Nature's Beautiful Bounty – Wedding Flowers

Flowers are a core part of any wedding ceremony. They touch every part of the service from beginning to end. To make sure that your wedding is as "green" as possible, here are some eco-friendly tips for your wedding flowers.

The Ultimate: Artificial or permanent botanicals are perfect for the eco-bride. Silk flowers can be reused or saved for a child's wedding. If you use real flowers, have them preserved or add them to a compost pile.

The Moderate: You can't deny the classic beauty of fresh-cut wedding flowers. Keep it eco-friendly by limiting the number of flowers used or finding ways to reuse them. For example, bridesmaids bouquets can be dropped into vases for quick and easy centerpieces at the reception. Strike a compromise by using silk flowers at the wedding ceremony and fresh flowers at the reception.

Whatever The Theme, Keep Your Reception "Green"

Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors

The Ultimate:

• LIGHTING–Host an outdoor reception that starts in the afternoon and makes the most of natural lighting. Once the sun has gone down, break out the candles and bring on the ambiance.
• UTENSILS–Use only real utensils and serving pieces. Many caterers include these in their fees. It's a nominal cost that saves paper waste and landfill space.
• LINENS–Use tables that can be quickly wiped down with eco-friendly cleaners and cloth towels. If you're using chair covers, tablecloths and napkins, make sure they are reusable and washable. Look for recycled fabrics (plastic bottles can be made into fibers now) and cloths colored with organic dyes.
• WEDDING CAKE–Whether ornate or simple, order your wedding cake based on the number of confirmed guests. Your baker or caterer can help you estimate what size wedding cake you'll need to minimize waste.
• ENTERTAINMENT–The ultimate eco-bride will opt for musicians that require little or no electricity for their music. Orchestras, quartets, and solo musicians are all positive ways to go for entertainment.
• FAVORS–The ultimate eco-bride will choose eco-friendly wedding favors, such as personalized plantable cards, or no wedding favors at all.

The Moderate:

• LIGHTING–You want to be in the spotlight which requires having one. Great! Just keep low-wattage in mind. Strand lights are also great ways to light up the night with the same (or lower) energy usage and a romantic air.
  

  Excellent Use of Flowers - Poolside Wedding Reception
• LINENS– Opt for linens that can be reused or rented.
• WEDDING CAKE–You went all out on the wedding cake. That's awesome! Instead of letting leftovers go to waste, offer extras to guests as they prepare to leave.
• ENTERTAINMENT– You want a DJ for reception entertainment. If energy is a concern, use the DJ for only part of the reception and make the rest about community and bonding.
• FAVORS– Choose eco-friendly wedding favors that meet at least one of two standards:  (1) recyclable or made of recycled materials (2) practical and reusable. Trade-off here? Reusability is a subtle form of recycling.

See, it's easy to be a "green" bride and throw the best eco-friendly wedding in town without sacrificing the ultimate wedding.  Instead a "green" wedding is a long-term, positive pay-off for you, your groom and your guests.

Special thanks to these vendors for the use of their wedding photos:

Photo of the yacht wedding reception courtesy of J&R Guarino Photography, an event and wedding photographer in Brick, New Jersey.

Wildflower cone seed favors photo courtesy of Plant A Memory, providing eco-friendly wedding favors in the US and Canada with headquarters in Locke, New York and Burlington, Ontario.

Poolside wedding reception photo courtesy of Ann's Bridal & Etcetera Including Cakes & Catering, a wedding vendor in Searcy, Arkansas.

Personal & Memorable — write your own wedding vows

Exchanging Personalized Wedding Vows

It's hard to forget the sweetest words you've ever heard and that's exactly what these will be. Standing there looking into your groom's eyes, you know that he means exactly what he's saying. Every word you speak to one another floats through the air and somehow manages to stay with you through the memory fog that the excitement of the day creates.

Create A Romantic Atmosphere — have a reading and get guests involved

Some of your friends may not be in the wedding party. Some of your favorite relatives may not have positions in the wedding party either. Having a reading at your wedding ceremony will help involve close friends and family.

So what do they read? Many couples choose romantic poems that read like vows. An extra personal touch for the creative couple is to write their own poem(s) and have honored guests read stanzas from that. Each guest reads one stanza until the poem has ended. Once it is over, the whole room feels unified.

Homage & Honor – Set up memorial tables for deceased loved ones

Many brides and grooms feel strongly bonded to people that have passed. The wedding becomes somewhat bittersweet when they realize that something so important will not be witnessed by their deceased loved one. To honor that person (usually a relative), a table with their picture and a few small mementos is a wonderful way to pay homage to these special people. The table can be set up near the sign-in table, where the couple's picture is displayed, or at the wedding reception where they would have sat.

Mementos for the memorial table can include a small poem with the theme of "gone but not forgotten, not here but here in our hearts", a small flower arrangement to accent the pictures, a unique picture frame to hold the pictures, and other items.

Trendy & Different — personalize your wedding decorations

Personalized Table Decorations

Also consider the color of your wedding decorations. Many contemporary weddings feature colors that are a far stray from the traditional pinks and creams. Instead, modern brides are personalizing their wedding by including fancy colors such as silver, gold, ruby, and black or bright colors such as lime green, orange, yellow, and hot pink. An instant "wow" factor comes from using color in your wedding.

Fun & Humorous — choose a unique wedding cake & cake topper

Colorful Wedding Cake

Sometimes it's the design of the wedding cake itself that gets attention. Uniquely shaped wedding cakes, specific icing patterns, colorful wedding cakes–these are all examples of personalized wedding cakes designed with the bride's tastes in mind.

Another example is something shocking. Cakes with a little personality of their own let guests know that the bride is one-of-a-kind with a great sense of humor. For example, brides wanting an esoteric wedding cake can ask for a cake decorated with girly skulls. Why not? The groom gets a cake that shows off his personality and interests. Why not bring the same feeling to the wedding cake?

Sexy Cake Topper

Speaking of unique cake toppers, the style of cake topper where the bride and groom are arm-in-arm as if in motion down the aisle is going out the window quickly with modern brides. It's not unique or original. Instead, try a unique cake topper like a licensed character set. Or, go back to the "shocking" and try something very different that will garner a laugh faster than the best man's toast.

Altruistic & Generous — choose personalized wedding favors or charitable donations

Many couples are opting for personalized wedding favors. These are the same great favors but they feature the couple's name and wedding date. They also think about what they would want if they attended a wedding. This helps them choose a unique wedding favor for their guests. Anything that newlyweds can put their names or faces on is a great way to personalize the wedding.

Charitable donations are also being requested by newlyweds in lieu of wedding favors. Small envelopes with the announcement "a donation to (your favorite charity) has been made in your name" are becoming huge with environmentally friendly or activist couples.

Respectful & Classy — incorporate your parents wedding accents

This idea may seem a bit traditional but there's still a way to make your parent's stuff help your wedding feel personal. It also helps that it's YOUR parents stuff which means that no one else has had it or used it or will use it with maybe the exception of your siblings.

To personalize your wedding by using things your parents wedding accessories, make sure that you use these things where they enhance your personality. Your mother's bouquet may not be what you carry but it can be the inspiration for the bouquet centerpieces at the wedding reception. Perhaps your mother wore her mother's necklace during the ceremony. You may have something else in mind for your neck but many florists can secure the jewelry to your bouquet which means that you'll have it the entire time. Just find a twist for these items and it's the same good old feeling with a personal touch.

Furry & Faithful – include your pet(s) in the ceremony

Some couples are very attached to their pets. If you have a small dog or other trained pet, consider making them part of your wedding party. Attach the wedding ring to a pillow on the dog's collar. Of course, you have to keep in mind the personality of your pet. If they are nervous or excitable, consider a smaller role.

The more you plan your wedding the easier it will be to find unique ways to personalize it. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that it is a reflection of you and of your groom. It's your big day! Make it special and something that everyone will remember with great tips on wedding planning from Wedding And Party Network!!

Special thanks to:

Bake My Day, a wedding cake bakery in Louisville Kentucky, for the use of their polka dotted contemporary wedding cake photo.

Beautiful Weddings On A Budget, wedding coordinators in Fort Campbell Kentucky, for the use of their personalized photo cube table decorations photo.

Briar Rose Cottage Flowers, a wedding florist in Jesup Georgia, for the use of their wedding ceremony photo.

Escape Concepts, a wedding supplier in Charlotte North Carolina, for the use of their cake topper photo.

Beautiful Wedding Flowers from Sparks Florist

Sparks Florist has found a way to turn a trend that wedding florists are apprehensive about into an opportunity by reaching out to DIY brides in a way that helps them see the value of leveraging the expertise of a wedding florist to their advantage.

Here's his setup. Mike is a wedding florist who set up a network inside his large flower shop specifically for brides. With a 10,000+ feet warehouse to showcase his fresh flowers, brides are encouraged to come in and pick out exactly which flowers they want at their wedding. He even provides design assistance so the process is that much smoother!

In this way, Mike has addressed the needs of budget-savvy brides. They want to take a hands-on approach to their wedding planning but also require the unique expertise of a professional. Sparks Florist allows brides to choose their own flowers from his bulk selection and then creates the flowers that they want based on their needs and desires.

Unique Wedding Centerpieces from Sparks Florist

Mike knows how important it is to provide high quality wedding flowers at a reasonable price. That's why he enhanced his skills as a talented wedding florist and created this haven for budget savvy brides.

Remember, Sparks Nevada brides, that you can watch the other parts of your wedding budget grow. When you're elbow deep in the wedding planning, consider Sparks Florist for your wedding flowers. You'll be glad you did and the rest of your budget will thank you.

Knowing who will be your wedding attendants is just as important. When filling out a seating chart for the wedding reception, it is important to know how many bridesmaids and groomsmen will be placed at the head table with the bride and groom. Also, there are so many responsibilities of wedding attendants that being able to delegate these to trusted friends is something every bride needs. For a stress free wedding day, here is a helpful worksheet/wedding checklist that will keep things running smoothly! (Remember though:  this needs to be done early in the wedding planning process!)

Total Guests: __________

Who's Inviting How Many:

Bride and Groom:  ___________

Groom's Parents:   ___________

Bride's Parents:     ___________

Already Included:  ___________  (Ex:  Officiant and Wife)

My Wedding Attendants: (Indicate Names On Lines)

[] Maid of Honor:  _______________________________________________

[] Bridesmaids:  (# _____ )    ______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

[] Best Man:   ___________________________________________________

[] Groomsmen:  (# _____ )    ______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

[] Additional Ushers  (# _____ )   __________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

[] Ring Bearer:   _________________________________________________

[] Flower Girl:    _________________________________________________

[] Readers/Performers:  __________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

[] Other Assistants (Chuppah holders, guestbook attendant, et al):

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Wedding Budget Tip 1:  Avoid The Busy Season

The majority of weddings occur between May and October. In fact, October is the new June. Late fall weddings and winter weddings are beautiful and allow brides to reduce costs by catching vendors and wedding supplies when they're not in great demand!

Also, consider marrying on a Friday or throughout the week. Marrying on a weekday may be less traditional, but it's a fun and unique way to make your ceremony special (and save money!). Weekend weddings are great but reception halls charge the most for Saturday evening weddings. By marrying on a Friday, you'll be able to save on the reception costs, enjoy great options for the ceremony location, and spend a three day weekend with your groom!

Wedding Budget Tip 2:  Pass Up The Dessert Tray

Wedding cakes are a huge reception expense. Since this is the most important piece at the reception, no bride wants to cut it out completely. Instead, opt for a smaller wedding cake. Also consider a cupcake wedding cake. This tasty trend allows guests to enjoy a small portion of the same great flavor. The biggest treat for you? Cupcake cakes usually run about $60 compared to hundreds for a traditional wedding cake.

If a smaller version of your dream cake won't feed everyone, consider having a sheet cake of the same flavor along with your wedding cake. An evening of dancing, drinks and good food doesn't leave much room for dessert. Consider passing up extra dessert options which quickly add up (on the hips as well)!

Wedding Budget Tip 3:  Go Green With The Wedding Flowers

Opt for more greenery in the reception arrangements. Most guests won't know which flowers are in or out of season so trim the cost of your wedding flowers by using more greenery. The wedding ceremony flowers are a beautiful addition to the ceremony but remember that this is where guests spend the least amount of time. Most spend more time at the reception so consider putting the budget emphasis on your wedding reception flowers instead.

Wedding Budget Tip 4: Go Green With The Wedding Invitations

In the age of technology and conservation, eco-friendly wedding invitations are a big perk. If you want to send standard wedding invitations, consider replacing the RSVP cards with a note on the invitation that asks guests to RSVP at your wedding website. Wedding websites will save a ton on less important wedding stationery. (Oh, and invitation liners are unnecessary. You're breaking no etiquette by opting out on these.)

Wedding Budget Tip 5:  Double Up With Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are a must-have for most brides according to traditional wedding etiquette. Wedding favors can be practical and functional though! Consider favors that double as place cards or serve a purpose after the wedding. Personalized bottles of bubbles serves as wedding favors and can be used instead of tossing rice or bird seed after the ceremony.

Wedding Budget Tip 6:  Opt For A Cocktail Reception

This is a good way to glam up your reception without spending lots of money on food and decorations. Waiters carrying trays of hor d'oeuvres is a glamorous look and a frugal choice for brides. Many wedding caterers have their own wait staff, so consider hiring a local caterer with wait staff for a glamorous but easy-on-the-wallet reception.

Wedding Budget Tip 7:  Buy The Music, Not The Band

A band at the wedding is always fun, but consider a single musician or a dj instead. Going this route with wedding reception entertainment will save costs simply because you're paying for one person instead of multiple people.

Wedding Budget Tip 8:  Share The Menus

Instead of giving each guest a menu at the reception, opt for one or two per table. These can look elegant when placed between beautiful table settings or when stood on either side of the table's centerpice. This saves paper and printing costs plus adds to the decor of the table.

The Wedding Guide: Jesse, great question! I love discussing wedding etiquette so I was thrilled when I came across your question. The simplest answer is that it is fine to ask your parents if they would like to provide the wedding flowers. It's not uncommon in modern weddings for many different people to have a hand in payment. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when the wedding is being paid for by more than just the couple.

First, consider your parents temperament. I say this first because of your concern for stepping on toes. It's easy to do even by accident in matters this large. You know your parents well and very likely know how to best approach them with this subject. Simply be respectful when the subject is brought up. Understand that you and your bride may have to forgo certain features in favor of compromise.

If they ask to pay for more than the wedding flowers, discuss it with your fiancee before agreeing or declining. Then again, your parents may not want to foot more than the wedding flowers. It's always a good idea to discuss this with your bride first. If you want to know about some other options, here is a recent blog about whose family pays for what under traditional wedding etiquette standards. Not to bead a dead horse or bore you with a longer answer, you may also enjoy this checklist about the roles of brides, grooms, bridesmaids and ushers in paying for the wedding.

I hope you figure out a compromise. I'm sure you'll walk the aisle of a great wedding ceremony! Don't forget to let me know how it turns out. Thanks Jesse!

Who Pays For What? — Traditional Expenses of The Bride or Bride's Family

• The wedding consultant (wedding planner or wedding coordinator)
• Wedding invitations, enclosure cards, announcements (all wedding stationery)
• Wedding flowers which includes the bridesmaids bouquets, wedding bouquets, and any floral decorations for the ceremony and reception.
• Wedding photographer and photographs
• Wedding videographer and video
• Any music used during the ceremony and reception
• The entire reception (yup, this is the bride's responsibility in full)
• Bridesmaids gifts and attendants gifts
• The groom's wedding ring
• Carpet for the aisle, rental of awnings, etc.
• Cost of soloists and other wedding ceremony musicians/entertainment
• A traffic officer if necessary
• The bridal party's transportation to the reception
• Transportation and lodging for officiant if invited by the bride's family
• Any accommodations (lodging, fees) for the bridesmaids and attendants
• Sexton fees

Who Pays For What? — Wedding Expenses of The Groom or Groom's Family

• The marriage license
• Grooms gift to his bride
• Gifts for groomsmen, ushers, etc.
• Formal wear accessories for groomsmen if not part of the clothing rental package
• In some regions, the bridal bouquet
• The bride's going-away corsage
• Boutonnieres for the groomsmen, ushers, etc.
• Officiant's fee or donation (this is always a groom's fee and is different than accommodations)
• Transportation for groom and best man to and from the ceremony
• The honeymoon package and expenses(yup, bride gets the reception, groom gets the honeymoon)
• The rehearsal dinner
• Accommodations for groomsmen, ushers, etc.
• Bachelor dinner if one is being held
• Transportation and lodging for groom's immediate family
• Corsages for immediate members of both families unless bride includes these in her wedding flowers package
• The bride's engagement ring and wedding ring

Who Pays For What? — Wedding Expenses of the Bridesmaids or Honor Attendants

• Apparel and all accessories
• Transportation to and from the city where the wedding is being held
• Contribution to a group gift from the bridesmaids to the bride if being given
• An individual gift to the couple if given (being in the wedding may be considered one)
• A shower or luncheon for the bride if held

Who Pays For What? — Traditional Expenses of the Best Man or Ushers

• Individual wedding attire rental
• Transportation to and from the city where the wedding is being held
• Contribution to a group gift from the groomsmen to the groom
• An individual gift to the couple if given
• A bachelor dinner or luncheon if held

Who Pays For What? — Traditional Expenses of Out Of Town Guests

• Transportation to and from the wedding
• Lodging expenses
• Wedding gift

This may seem like a lot to absorb at one time. Don't worry about it! Print this list off and keep it for later. I hope this is helpful when you're creating the budget for your wedding. It's always nice to know who pays for what!

I have a cousin, who just told the bride, that there is a new trend in party favors.  In lieu of giving out party favors, the couple "donate to their favorite charity"

I am questioning this, because, first and foremost, this relative is NOT a wedding planner, nor does she have any background in weddings other then being a "guest."

I desperately need your advice, because the bride is from another country and has selected this "relative" to be her "wedding planner"

HELP  Helen from Los Angeles Ca

Many many thanks.

PS:  We are a American-Japanese family.  And I know that most of the relatives will be expecting a "token" favor.

The Celebration Advisor:

Donating to a charity is a very admirable thing to do.  Many couples are choosing to forgo the wedding party favors in lieu of a charitable donation.  While wedding favors are not a requirement, many couples give favors as a way to thank guests for participating in their day.  Many cultures believe the bride and groom must give guests a token of their appreciation.  Therefore the culture of the families involved dictates the proper etiquette concerning wedding favors.  For example, in Mediterranean countries the wedding favors are Jordon almonds which represent the bitter and sweet sides of marriage.

In the Japanese culture wedding guests are thought to bring luck with them for the bride and groom and thus should be given a gift (favor) in return.  I doubt that a charitable donation as a wedding favor would be deemed an appropriate gift in the Japanese culture.

Although it is nice to have family help plan your wedding, knowing the etiquette that governs all parts of the wedding is crucial.  It is essential that you follow proper etiquette so as not to offend any of your guests. That is why professional Los Angeles wedding planners are well versed in several cultures and their wedding traditions and etiquette.  This gives them the ability to incorporate contemporary fads with cultural wedding traditions.

I would highly recommend that your cousin consult a local Los Angeles wedding planner that can work with your family "wedding planner" to combine cultural wedding favors and etiquette with contemporary ideas.

If your cousin really likes the idea of a charitable donation party favor, I would combine it with a bag of candied almonds or chocolates.  This way the bride gets what she wants without offending her guests.

There are many reasons why you should choose to respond quickly. Two stand out above the others. First, responding quickly allows for a more accurate head count. Brides need this information when preparing seating charts, making arrangements with the caterer and dealing with other limited-space matters. Responding quickly is a kind gesture that will allow the bride an easier planning process. Plus you'll have more time to shop for the gift!

It is particularly important to r.s.v.p. to a wedding invitation if you do not plan to attend. Though rare, the bride may wish to send another invite in lieu of your attendance. That is not to say that one guest is preferred over another or that your lack of presence will go unnoticed. She may simply decide to invite her groom's boss's nephew after all.

It's nice and it frees up time for both you and the couple planning a wedding. When etiquette matters, respond to a wedding invitation post haste.

The matter of etiquette with which I'm concerned today is simple. It may seem like a "duh" kind of thing, but I found out the hard way that this is not always the case.

I recently attended a wedding as one of two photographers. Yes, there were two wedding photographers running around trying to get the best shots of the wedding. The bad thing was that we were not aware that we would be teaming up until we arrived. The other photographer was a surprise gift given to the bride the morning of her wedding!

Now while this won't typically happen for a larger wedding, some smaller ceremonies may run into this problem. The way to avoid a major headache like this (trust me on this one), is to ask the bride and groom if this type of gift would be appropriate. This should be done very early when planning a wedding as the bride will need to book services (florist, caterer, photographer, etc) well in advance.

This courtesy also avoids another source of conflict. Perhaps the bride's family is paying for the wedding. This is very traditional. For a family that encourages traditional values, the size of your gesture may come across as "stepping on toes." Then again, the couple may be paying for the wedding and welcome the relief. Therefore, it is necessary and quite advisable to discuss these types of wedding gifts with the bride and groom well in advance of the big day.