Articles & News About Your Wedding

An Ethical Alternative to the Conspicuous Excess of the Average Wedding

Many happy couples are turning their backs on the traditional wedding gift list in favor of a more ethical approach to their big day. If you are put off by the materialism and "me, me, me" aspect of modern weddings, then why not plan your day to reflect your personal philosophy and beliefs? It's not just gift lists that are being replaced. Conscientious brides and grooms are putting a lot of thought into making every part of their wedding day more ecologically sound, from purchasing fair trade flowers to using organic food in the catering.

With the cost of the average wedding reported to be around £17,000, a rising number of couples are beginning to question just where that money goes. In these times of environmental awareness and social responsibility, a lot of people are looking at how they can arrange their special day with these ethical principles in mind.

A growing number of wedding gift lists are being substituted for the more selfless idea of charity lists. The fact that many people live together nowadays before they get married, means that they already have all the household items they actually need. Rather than ask their guests for gratuitous symbols of consumption, some couples are choosing to support a good cause instead. Guests are asked to donate to charity in a range of ways, from buying a cow or a camel for a third world community, to planting trees to create a woodland grove.

"Green" issues can come into every aspect of wedding planning, from finding "conflict-free" wedding rings to environmentally-friendly confetti and wedding invitations made from recycled paper. More and more people are choosing to follow an ethically-aware lifestyle, so it makes sense for their wedding day to follow their beliefs. Ways to cut down on waste and food miles include using local and organic produce for the food, or even asking a friend or relative to make the wedding cake. Wedding flowers are another controversial issue, with many cheap non-fair trade flowers being flown in from abroad. Locally produced fair trade flowers are a more suitable option for the ethical bride.

When planning your wedding the wedding dress can be a huge expense. With regular reports of exploitative child labor in the clothing industry, ethical brides are conscious not just of the aesthetic appeal of their bridal gown, but the social and environmental impact of it's production. Fortunately there is a range of ethical wedding gowns on the market these days to meet this demand. Beautiful organic wedding dresses, made from organic cotton are a good choice, as are fair trade silk bridesmaid dresses. Some designers are creating wonderful unique wedding dresses from recycled fabrics such as vintage silk. Hemp is another popular eco-friendly material.

So, if the excess of modern weddings is not for you, you can choose to use your wedding day as an opportunity to give something back.

Simon Phillips is a successful freelance writer and regular contributor to http://www.discount-wedding-dresses.com, your one stop source for finding the best deals on wedding favors, bridal gowns, wedding accessories and more!

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

Design My Own Engagement Ring - Don't Forget the Wedding and Eternity Rings
When designing your own engagement ring it can be very easy to forget about your wedding ring Many girls have inadvertently selected an engagement ring and then found to their horror down the track that the wedding ring of their dreams does not fit with their engagement ring

New Range of Wedding Fireworks from ?Fireworks Supermarket?
If you are looking to end up your wedding day in a memorable and spectacular way, consider giving ?wedding fireworks? a try. They form an important part of marriages these days. Fireworks are used frequently in celebrations and create a memory that viewers remember for years to come.

"Congratulations on Your Wedding; I Hate You!": The Top 10 Mistakes Single Women Make at Weddings
Good news for single women who are invited to the friend's or relative's wedding on the "lucky" date of 7-7-07. If you think the wedding is all about the bride, then you are wrong. The wedding and reception are all about you meeting men in a "marriage" type of situation. You as a single woman will also win a jackpot if you avoid the top 10 mistakes single women make at weddings. You may have a chance to meet a Good Man you can marry on 8-8-08, which is the luckiest date for a wedding in Asia.

Tips For Planning The Perfect Outdoor Wedding
Everyone knows the fact that the wedding event is a very important day in the life of a couple. Some couples invest long months of preparations in order to get the perfect wedding planned down to a T. One of the options a couple has in planning the wedding, is to choose an outdoor location, instead of the traditional ballroom event.

Same-Sex Wedding Expos Tour California
The national gay & lesbian wedding resource, RainbowWeddingNetwork.com, has announced that the company will be producing four GLBTQ Wedding & Family Expos in California this summer, in celebration of the May 15th ruling by the state Supreme Court in favor of same-sex marriage. The Expos will also include the Same Love, Same Rights® Mobile Marriage Summit, an interactive forum to motivate and educate attendees about the potential threats to the new legislation, as well as innovative ways to enact real change all across America concerning marriage equality. The Expos will be held in July in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Long Beach. Each event is free for the public to attend.

Beyond Bridal Dresses: Wedding Beauty Secrets To Die For
Why are all brides beautiful on their wedding day Something has to give

To Choose a Wedding Planner or Not to Choose a Wedding Planner
When I was the owner of a major wedding facility, I was able to observe the results of more than 300 weddings. I've seen exceptional events that will last forever in the memories of the participants.

Signature Frames - Your Guestbook and Wedding Frame Together At Last!
So you have been invited to a wedding. Whether you are a friend, family member or the proud parents, one of the most important, if not stressful decisions is what to buy the new couple.

Florage is Now Preserving Wedding Flowers for the Public
Brides can now keep their wedding memories alive by saving the fresh flowers from their elegantly designed bridal bouquet. Modern techniques allow the preservation of their flowers to last for years.

A Romantic Wedding Destination in St Lucia
How about checking out a luxury villa in St Lucia which would make the ultimate romantic wedding destination A Romantic Wedding Destination, is a dream not only for the bride and groom, but also for the guests, especially if you are one of a small intimate group staying at the exclusive Villa Capri on the Cap Estate Gros Islet St Lucia

Certified Wedding Planners and Floral Designers Blossom in Hot Summer Wedding Season
eLearners.com Offers Online Training Programs, Including Wedding Planning Certification, to Help People Advance or Change Careers: eLearners.com, a web resource offered by EducationDynamics, provides online training programs for potential wedding consultants and floral designers. These soon-to-be professionals can take their creativity and transform it into a lucrative career by getting their wedding planner certification.

Dilbert's Wedding - A Special Family Occasion
When we think of weddings, we typically think of holding the ceremony in a church or other special event building. However, celebrity couples like to do things a little differently. That's why back in July 2006, Scott Adams, best known as the creator of the lovable office worker Dilbert, married his girlfriend, Shelly Miles, on a yacht in San Francisco Bay. That's not the picture most of us imagine of a wedding.

I Have The Dress - Now What About The Tiara and Wedding Jewellery?
It's gorgeous - your dream wedding dress and at last the search is over.

Eleven Commandments for a Memorable Wedding Ceremony
1. Be Creative. Don't think you are? Think again! Let's face it, if you've sustained a healthy relationship with each other, you've already figured out a number of creative solutions to problems. Be still and think about it. The ideas will flow. Talk to other recently married couples. If all else fails, get a group of friends together and brainstorm!