Eco style and the big, fat, green wedding

The 100% Recyclable Celebration Has Arrived In The West And It's There To Stay

New York: Kate Harrison's idea of a fairy tale wedding is like this: Gather 150 friends and relatives at an organic farm for a pre-wedding day of hikes and eco tours. Calculate the mileage guests will travel and offset their carbon dioxide emissions by donating to programs that plant trees or preserve rain forests. Use local and seasonal flowers for decorations, instead of burning up fuel transporting them. Design an organic autumnal menu. Find a vintage dress to avoid waste of a gown that will never be worn again.

"It's worth it to start your life together in line with your values," said Harrison, a student at Yale, who is to marry in October. "You don't want this event to come at the expense of the environment or workers in another country."

People in the wedding business say the "green" wedding has arrived, its appeal expanded to spur a mini-industry of stores and sites offering couples biodegradable plates made of sugar cane fibre and flowers grown according to sustainable farming practices. The quality and choice of products has so steadily improved that the green concept is spreading to other kinds of parties, allowing hosts to embrace the earth without sacrificing style.

"People are making decisions based on environmental concerns," said Gerald Prolman, founder of online organic florist Organic Bouquet. "Whether it's food, cotton or flowers, people are asking questions: How are farmworkers treated? Who produced the product? How is the environment affected in that process?"

Eric Fenster, owner of Back to Earth, an organic catering company, said when he started his business in 2001, his clients consisted exclusively of environmental groups. But the market has expanded to make weddings a third of his business.

And few events offer as many opportunities to say "I care" than a wedding, whose average cost is $25,000 to $30,000. Bridal magazines, too, have recognised the trend, and a new site, Portovert.com, made its appearance last month, catering to "eco-savvy brides and grooms."

Even the honeymoon can be green without roughing it. "You used to have to go camping," said Ted Ning, director of Lohas Journal, a guide for businesses serving the eco-conscious market. "Now you have these amazing luxurious spas in Africa or Fiji. You can look at different animals while getting a massage in a tree."

But can weddings really make a dent in global warming? Janet Larsen, the director of research at the Earth Policy Institute, an environmental research group in Washington, said that every little bit helps. "All the actions add up," she said. "Anything individuals can do to reduce their overall environmental footprint can make a difference."

Weddings are undoubtedly great fun, but it's the preparations that go into them that may drive one up the wall. Here are a few tips to make marriage preparations a real delight.