How to Select an Eco-friendly Wedding Gown for Your Green Wedding

Your wedding gown is probably one of the first things you will pick out while planning your wedding. The gown can set the theme, tone and style for your whole event. Maybe you are considering an eco-friendly extravaganza or a simple green event. Either way you’ll want an eco-elegant gown to match. Gone are the days that eco-fashion consisted of plain organic cotton or scratchy hemp materials. Today’s eco-fashions range from simply elegant organic cotton to lush blends of sustainable materials like peace silk, hemp, bamboo, lyocell (a woody pulp fiber), soy, even milk. Yes, milk is being spun into eco-licious fabrics by high end green designers like Linda Loudermilk. So where do you begin? How do you select an eco-friendly wedding gown?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Select an Eco-Friendly Bridal Gown for Your Green Wedding

1. First of all think about what kind of wedding you are going to have and what kind of dress you envision yourself in. This will help you get an idea for the style of dress you may want.

2. Second start going through bridal magazines and websites to look for eco-couture or green simplicity fashions that fit in with your vision. There are many eco-designers on the web like Rawganique.com, ThreadHeadCreations.com, GetConscious.com, and MyCorset.com (high end couture gowns). Even top name designers like Vera Wang have added organic and sustainable lines to their fashion labels. You can find eco-fabulous clothing for your whole wedding party from you to your groom, to your bridesmaids, right down to your flower girl. There are green gowns that range from simple to absolutely stunning from below cost when compared to your average wedding dress to high dollar that compete with high end couture fashions.

3. Did you go through all the green bridal gowns and not find anything that fits your style? Let’s try the next level of green fashion. The gently used gown. A used gown is green because no new resources are needed to produce it; it’s already been made and served its purpose. Go really green and purchase a used gown from a charity organization like Making memories and not only will you have a green bridal gown but you’ll be doing good for someone in need. Check your local area for second hand and consignment stores that carry wedding gowns (you may even find one that specializes in wedding attire) or hit the internet (eBay anyone?) for a host of used gown sites like UsedWeddingDresses.com and EncoreBridal.com.

4. Didn’t find what you were looking for in the used gown shops? Do you have more of an old fashioned, romantic vision in your head for you bridal gown? How about going vintage? Celebrities do it all the time. You’ll see them walking the red carpet or getting married in elegant one of a kind fashions from long ago. You can go that route as well. There are several trustworthy sites on the web that specialize in vintage fashions, particularly wedding gowns. VintageVixen.com and CherishedBride.com are just two of the several retailers that are out there. Just be careful to get full disclosure and a refund policy. Some old gowns may not be wearable or may need major repairs. You’ll want to know everything up front.

5. Maybe the concept of wearing a stranger’s gown doesn’t quite do it for you or maybe you still didn’t find what you were looking for. How about an heirloom gown? Mom or grandma have anything stashed away that might be the dress of your dreams? If you wear an heirloom gown not only will you be green you’ll be adding more meaning to your big day by wearing the same gown mom, grandma or another cherished family member wore.

Tips & Warnings

• It’s easy being green for your wedding. Don’t get discouraged and keep shopping. You’ll see that you don’t have to sacrifice style to be sustainable.
• When shopping for vintage and used gowns be aware that sizes are not the same today as they were 20 or more years ago try on everything you can before purchasing anything.
• If you shop online make sure to shop through a reputable dealer and always get measurements and as many photos as possible before making a choice.

Resources

• Everything Green Weddings and More

[FunPhotoGuys]

on 11/30/2008 When choosing your photographer, consider how green they are. Fun Photo Guys is a certified Green business and has won the award for the 2008 Greenest Home-Based Business by StartupNation.

Check out www.FunPhotoGuys.com/Green.htm

[taralynn]

on 8/22/2008 Many brides take into consideration every little element that goes into the wedding, even the eco conscious bride. You want to simplify your wedding by eliminating the frou-frou, glitter and materialism that comes along with many weddings. Don’t feel guilty; however, if you are one of these brides and you find yourself striving to create the perfect eco wedding. It takes time to find the right products to minimize the trash and consumption at the wedding while not compromising the comfort and enjoyment of your guests. There are the organic flowers, local menu, recycled dinner wear, outdoor location, tree free invitations and most importantly the element you get to keep for the rest of your life - the eco wedding dress! Well you can be a green bride and still dress to impress. Tara Lynn at www.taralynnstudio.com can make you an eco friendly wedding gown you will love and wear time and