Green honeymoons are not only sustainable options for those with the environment in mind, but they are also affordable and unique options for those couples looking to do something a bit different. From the ecologically lush rainforests of Costa Rica to the staycation charm of your own local haunts, you will avoid a touristy and overpriced pit trap that many couples choose if you actively search for green honeymoon alternatives. Gunflint Lodge is a honeymoon resort in northern Minnesota with romantic and beautiful lakeside fireplace cabins with a spa tub. A special Honeymoon Package includes just about everything you could possibly enjoy—your accommodations, all meals, appetizers and wine delivered to your cabin before dinner, breakfast delivered in the morning, and unlimited horseback riding, hiking trails, canoes, boats, motors, and all the guided naturalist programs each week (guided hikes, birding, Voyageur canoe paddle, wolf calling, animal searching, sunset cruises, canoeing excursion and much more).

Congratulations on your engagement! Your first step together towards the altar should be a fun one...it's time to throw an engagement party! Whether you go all out or just keep it comfy and casual at home, there are several eco-chic options for entertaining. If you choose to take family and friends out somewhere, pick your favorite sustainable restaurant and dine on fresh and local fare. If you decide to create a calm atmosphere at home, go casual with a barbecue in warmer weather or a dinner party indoors. Toast with organic champagne in recycled flutes topped with fresh, seasonal strawberries. At the end of the night, send guests home with homemade pasta sauce with personalized labels and plenty of leftovers in reusable containers!

Photo Credit: Recycled Bride

Faxon Green is a premiere eco-chic floral design studio with sustainable ethics and practices. They are careful to compost and recycle everything in their studio. No floral foam or plastic is ever used and vases are always recycled after a wedding! Only natural elements such as glass, pottery, rocks, metal (mainly copper) wood and vines are used as decorative elements in the vases. To keep an arrangement fresh for more than two days, follow these tips:  Do not put any of the leaves or stems in the water. It is the foliage that makes water slimy. If the bouquet is meant for one or two days of optimal freshness, then it's fine to have foliage in the water. When you change the water every two days, snip the stems at least 1/4" and rinse the vase twice with cold water. If you are looking for sustainable flowers in the New England area, Faxon Green provides the best floral arrangements and bouquets for your green wedding!

Photo: Faxon Green

Choose ethical jewelry for your wedding day! You can find many jewelers who melt down and reuse metals to make beautiful and sustainable creations. If you love the look of an antique ring you can browse estate sales, antique shops, and mom and pop jewelry shops to find the perfect antique setting! Ask your family members if heirlooms are up for grabs! You can avoid the mass production involved in buying a new ring and save money in the process. A family heirloom piece also brings a touch of nostalgia to your special moment.

Photography Credit: Ring Finger Studio Rings by Ashley Brockinton