The reception – one of the best parts of the wedding day. When planning your décor and menu try to keep some of these ideas in mind.

Grow your own flowers – try potted asters, impatiens, mums, dahlias, daisies, tulips, hyacinths, and miniature roses, which are all replantable. Paint some cute pots in your wedding colours and use them as centerpieces. Then your guests can take them home as a wedding favour! Look at using bamboo as a decorating feature or wedding favour – it is one of the most sustainable materials on earth and considered very lucky in a lot of cultures. Or use shells, pretty rocks and candles (made from natural sources like soy) to decorate your tables.

Re-use your decorations. By decorating the reception site with items from the ceremony site you can save a lot of money and waste. After the day is over, take your flowers and décor and see if there is a hospital or nursing home you can donate them to.

Choose a caterer that uses organic ingredients and locally grown foods which reduces pollution and the costs of transportation of goods. Serve local and/or organic wines and beers. You can donate your leftovers to a food bank or compost the food waste. Choose in-season fruits and vegetables, and try serving 25% less meat. For the meat you do serve, use free-range organic meats and wild fish with a low mercury content. Don’t forget about your wedding cake. Ask your baker to use organic ingredients.

Organic food is food that is grown without the use of pesticides, chemicals, antibiotics and isn’t genetically modified. By using an organic menu, you will probably increase your catering costs but the food will taste so much better.