This article was emailed to me by the Sierra Club last week and I thought it was perferct for all you green brides out there searching for some green wedding ideas or green wedding inspiration.

Sierra Club's 10 Steps to a Green Wedding

Going green is a great way to make your wedding unique and meaningful. Plus, you get to show friends and family just how fun, beautiful, and delicious a sustainable lifestyle can be.

1. With this ring...

• Vintage rings, whether a family heirloom or an antique find
• Lab-created diamonds 
• Diamonds mined in peaceful areas
• Diamonds certified as "conflict-free" 

2. Location, location, location

• Choosing a setting that's convenient to the majority of the guests to minimize travel impacts
• Having the ceremony and the reception at the same place
• Picking a unique local spot-that supports a cause you believe in.
• An outdoor setting 
• Offsetting your guests' travel 

3. Please join us...

• Recycled, handmade, or plantable papers 
• Tree-free paper 
• A printer that uses paper with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content.
• Papers that aren't metallic or plastic-coated 

4. The final fling

• Stay local.
• Offset your trip if you choose a "destination" party.
• Indulge in organic wine- or beer-tasting or an organic spa treatment.

5. Here comes the bride...

• Go vintage 
• Pick clothes made from hemp, bamboo, or organic cotton or silk 
• Borrow an elegant gown from a stylish friend
• Buy something you'll wear again and let your bridesmaids do the same
• Beautify with all-natural makeup
• Donate attire to charity after the event

6. Set the stage

• Opt for organic flowers.
• Decorate with branches, dried grasses, grains, greens, berries, or live plants (potted or dried arrangements can double as favors).
• Choose beeswax or soy candles 
• Move decorations from the ceremony to the reception

7. Eat, drink, and be merry

• Ask the venue's preferred caterers and bakers if they can work organically
• Consider vegetarian selections and seek out cruelty-free meats
• Make sure the venue offers comprehensive recycling facilities.
• Have your cake decorated with organically grown flowers or other natural materials instead of plastic toppers
• Rent real glassware, dishware, and linens instead of using disposables
• Donate leftover food to a local food bank or homeless shelter

8. Lasting memories

Whether you prefer film or digital photographs, hire a photographer who will do digital proofs to save paper and chemicals. 

9. 'Tis better to give...

• Asking for gifts to charity instead of material things
• Registering with the I Do Foundation or another site that gives a percentage of gift purchases to your chosen cause
• Registering with stores that offer local, fair-trade, handmade, organic, or other ecofriendly products like Branch, Gaiam, Greenfeet, GreenSage, Ten Thousand Villages, UncommonGoods, or VivaTerra

10. Happily ever after...

• Engaging in ecotourism
• Rent bikes or taking public transportation at your destination 
• Stay in a family-run B&B or inn, a luxury teepee or yurt, or a green hotel that works to save resources and reduce waste.
• Offsetting your trip's carbon emissions

Monica and I are currently working with a client, Mary in the Washington, DC area.  She is recently engaged and in the beginning planning stages for her June 2010 nuptials. Naturally, one of the first things on her to do list was to announce her engagement and start thinking about sending save the date cards.  After I reviewed her list I realized that many people may not be aware of pingg.com.  It is another great green wedding resource which brides might not think to use. I used them to announce my own engagement back in September 2008 and I highly recommend them.  They have a beautiful wedding section with famous designers contributing to their designs.  In addition, many of the designs are free or available for a small fee of $10.  You can even customize and put your own photo in the card!  Your tree free save the date is then sent out as an email to your guests.  Although I would not recommend this for your wedding invitations it is a great, inexpensive and eco-chic way to communicate with your guests. Once again, going green saves green!

Just look how gorgeous the free ones are.

These ones are available for $10: