So how can you still be ecologically conscious when choosing out your wedding gown or the formalwear for the groom? By doing a little bit of research and checking out some options!

When choosing your gown, why not say no to white? Get a dress in your best colour and truly dazzle with your unique flair. Most of those super-white wedding dresses get that way from a toxic chemical process. Opt for not-quite-white and get a wedding dress made from non-chemically treated, natural, earth-friendly fabric. Examples of these earth friendly fabrics are soy, hemp silk, organic silk, organic cotton, organic wool, tencel and bamboo.

Purchase your gown from a company that supports fair trade and try to buy locally. Some local design programs have students who would be able to make your wedding gown for you at a fraction of the cost – and you can be sure no one else will have the same dress as you.

Don’t buy any one-time use items. Get a cute pair of strappy shoes and dress them up with accessories. After the wedding you’ll have a nice pair of shoes to wear regularly. Bags, wraps and any other accessories for yourself and the wedding party should be able to be worn or used again.

For the groom, incorporate some linen into his outfit. He can wear a linen shirt or even an entire linen outfit. If you are renting tuxes, check into the company and look into their dry cleaning processes. Is it an environmentally friendly process? What about any chemicals they may use?

By asking questions and doing a little research you can greatly reduce your ecological footprint on your wedding day.