Weddings Go Green: As the world “goes green” and gets more and more involved in preserving and protecting the environment, so too do weddings. While white will always dominate the wedding scene, many brides and grooms are beginning to consider the green aspect, in big ways or small, when it comes to planning their big day. Good Morning America, MSNBC, The Knot, and other major media outlets have all featured green wedding ideas recently.
           
It takes some thought regarding how weddings can be environmentally responsible, but in the years to come, brides and event planners may be thinking of the following green trends. Says Maria McBride, wedding style director at Brides Magazine, “Going a little bit green is better than not at all, because every thoughtful action helps our environment.”
           
Green wedding trends gaining momentum include:

• the use of recycled or partially-recycled paper in wedding invitations and other wedding-related paper products.
• using locally-grown or organic produce or sustainable foods in reception and/or rehearsal dinner meal preparation.
• choosing wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses crafted from organic linen, fair-trade or hand-woven silk, or hemp blends.
• asking about conflict-free diamonds.
• requesting donations to environmental charities in lieu of gifts.
• using vegetable dyes on custom-color shoes (or going barefoot for a beach wedding).
• choosing beeswax or soy-based candles over those made with paraffin, a petroleum byproduct.
• donating wedding or reception flowers to a hospital or assisted-living home at the end of the day.
• renting real glassware, dishware and linens instead of using disposable items.
• making arrangements to donate leftover food to a local food bank or homeless shelter.

More Trends to Watch:

Ring Bearers: It's now becoming the norm for a woman to influence what her engagement ring will look like, if not to pick it out herself, says Mary Moses Kinney, director of the Independent Jewelers Organization. Sapphires and emeralds are joining the diamond for stones of choice.

Rules of Engagement: The average age for the first-time bride is 25 years; for grooms, it’s 27.5. The percentage of engaged couples who’ve known each other for more than three years: 69 percent.

Let Them Eat Cake: But what kind? The custom of a tiered, buttercream frosted cake could be a sweet memory for some. Some couples are choosing tiered layers of cupcakes, cookies and even ice-cream cakes as unique options to reception confections.

The Perfect Getaway: Couples spend an average of $4,000 on their honeymoon according to recent statistics. That's three times as much as the average US adult spends on a vacation. The most popular honeymoon options include visiting a new place for sightseeing, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife, while others are choosing beaches and lakes as their top destination. Can’t decide? Multi-destination trips (known as honeymoon hopping) are in!

Going in Style: The couture colors coming down the aisles in 2008 include vivid citrus colors such as bright greens, pale yellows and dazzling pinks, as well as dramatic oceanic hues like azure or vibrant turquoise. Silver is also a haute hue for 2008. For bridesmaids, fashion is moving forward by focusing on the classic Hollywood-style yesteryear. Gowns that could walk the red carpet (in the roaring 20s or 2020) are all the rage. Read more about wedding trends in the print edition of the 2008 Coastal Event Planner.