There are many advantages to having a summer-themed wedding. If the weather holds up, you can plan a ceremony outside with fun lawn games like croquet and bocce. You can also have your wedding at a picturesque location such as a beach, forest, lakefront, desert or sunny meadows. You and your guests will be able to take in the natural beauty on your special day. If you want to do something really summery, go with the tried and true beach wedding.

These beach theme seed favors are a perfect way to leave your guests with something to  remember your wedding day by. These favors are hand folded from seed embedded paper, which is also plantable. It features a metallic silver star fish and a biodegradable ribbon. These are perfect to place on each place settings or simply put them on a table to be picked up and taken home when leaving the wedding.

Photo: Beach Theme Seed Favor (10 ct), Bizzi Bee Studio

These message in a bottle place card holders are ideal for a beach-themed, summer wedding. The place cards are printed on a white metallic vellum paper and embellished with a starfish on the cork stopper. This is a fun and creative way to let people know what table they should be seated at. Gallery 360 works with natural seashells that are natural byproducts of the seafood industry and each natural seashell or starfish is never taken alive.

Photo: Message Bottle Escort Cards (50 ct), Gallery 360

This pyramid keepsake bottle is a perfect gift for your wedding guests or bridal party. This keepsake bottle is built with recycled glass and can be filled with candy or other trinkets for your guests. Your guests can take this home and be reminded of your special day for years to come. All of these keepsake bottles are engraved in silver script with the message, “Gather sand and shells to remember the time you spent here…Thank you for joining us.”

Photo: Pyramid Keepsake Bottle, Seaside Collections

The hibiscus wedding invitation is a perfect way to incorporate a tropical theme into your wedding. The hibiscus flowers are infused with bright and vibrant pinks and yellows. These wedding invitations are printed on 100% recycled paper which will bloom into beautiful wildflowers once  planted.

Photo: Hibiscus Wedding Invitations, ForeverFiances’

For more summer wedding inspiration visit our Wedding Shop!

Here at the Green Bride Guide, we have compiled a list of our favorite engagement and wedding band sets from our wedding shop. Not only are they sustainable and unique, but they are also unisex and look great on any couple whether they are gay, straight or transgender. Our ring sets are for everyone and are created using recycled metals and conflict-free gemstones. These ring styles are perfect as his and his, hers and hers or his and hers sets!

This recycled gold wedding band set is ideal for a modern couple. This is a handcrafted piece of jewelry made of recycled yellow gold with a unique square shape.

 Photo: Recycled Gold Modern Square Band, Anne Holman Jewelry

This round cut band set is a perfect size made entirely from titanium with a silky mirror like finish.

   Photo: Round Cut Band Set, Jewelry by Johan

The inlay band set is made from genuine Gibeon meteorite that fell to Earth billions of years ago and was discovered in Namibia in 1838. The crystalline grain structure is very unique and contains “widmanstatten” lines that were caused by the meteorite slowly cooling.

Photo: Meteorite Inlay Band Set, Jewelry by Johan

This ring set comes with two rings: one has a titanium inlay with Mokume Gane (wood grain) and the other is made from Damascus stainless steel with a bird’s eye patterns. The Mokume consists of silver and copper mixed together in a pattern. The stainless steel is 100 percent corrosion-resistant and  does not require special treatment.

Photo: Momuke Gane Band Set, Jewelry by Johan

For more rings and jewelry visit our Wedding Shop!

Having a bird-themed wedding provides the perfect opportunity to donate to an organization in your guest’s names that supports our feathered friends. You can also ask guests to donate to a charity or foundation that supports winged wildlife in lieu of gifts. Love birds and bird cage themes are really big this season, so you will have no problem finding beautiful and sustainable wedding decor, invitations, cake toppers and more.

This invitation is ideal for a spring or summer wedding. The simplicity of a love bird-themed wedding is a unique way to share your wedding with guests. These invitations are perfect for a wedding in a park or botanical gardens. They are printed on 100% recycled plantable paper embedded with wildflower seeds. Plant the paper after the wedding and watch beautiful wildflowers bloom.

                        Photo: Cream Love Bird Invitations (50 ct), ForeverFiances’ 

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Park weddings are becoming very popular in the spring and summer. Many people do not  take advantage of their local or state parks, but they are a great area to have a wedding in a natural setting. Guests will be able to enjoy the outdoors while gathering for your special day. One may choose to have their wedding in a city park such as Central Park or somewhere a bit more secluded in the countryside. Either way, your special day will be remembered as being extra unique and eco-chic!

Send your guests news of your impending park wedding with plantable forest wedding invitations. This hand drawn artistic representation of an old tree is a great way to enhance your theme and comes in an earthy brown color or a vibrant green. All of the invitations are planted on 100% handmade paper and are printed on luxurious plantable paper, embedded with wildflower seeds. Guests will be able to enjoy the special wedding invitation as well as the beautiful flowers that come with it once you’ve planted the invite.

Photo: Plantable Forest Invitations (50 ct), Forever Fiances’

These cute owl cake toppers are another great idea for a park-themed wedding. These are completely hand crafted and designed from wood accented with wood burning techniques. They are painted in non-toxic water paints and finished with a natural sealer, then lightly polished with beeswax cream. Both owls come with a painted red heart, and the groom has a black hat and bow tie. Each topper comes with “Owl Mine” written on the bottom. This cute cake topper is ideal for a fun and outdoorsy wedding.

Photo: Owl Bride and Groom Cake Topper, Pokeberry Patch

Branch place card holders are a perfect way to let your guests know where they are sitting at the reception. These are ideal if your park-themed wedding is at a state park or in a forest. They are rustic looking but still elegant and simple. Each stump is hand selected and can be used for place settings, table number holders, food table name cards and more. The wood used is always from fallen trees. No trees are ever cut down to protect the wildlife and forests. Natural methods are also used to dry and preserve the materials.

Photo: Branch Place Card Holder, Roxy Heart Vintage

Wood save-the-date magnets are another unique way to incorporate a park-themed wedding. You can engrave the location of your park wedding, as well as the the couple’s names and wedding date. These save-the-date magnets are a great way to make sure your guests are well-informed of the date of your wedding: magnets are a great reminder because they are easier to stick on the fridge and keep track of than a piece of paper. The magnets are 100% biodegradable and can be created in a variety of wood choices.

Photo: Wood Save-The-Date Magnets (Cut-Out), Unique Custom

For more park wedding ideas, visit our Wedding Shop!

A traditional guestbook usually consists of a simple blank book where guests can write congratulatory notes. These types of guest books are usually never seen again and can get pretty boring. Getting creative with guest books gives you something special to hold onto after the wedding.

A fingerprint tree wedding guestbook is ideal for someone who wishes to display this keepsake after the wedding in their home.

Photo: Fingerprint Tree Wedding Guestbook, Burlap Babe

You will not have to sacrifice your carbon footprint because this product is made from unprocessed burlap, and all jute fiber. Every guest will leave their thumbprint and their signature on the guestbook, a mark that you will cherish year after year.

You can make a guestbook even more memorable by personalizing it.  Add your initials, last name or wedding date!

Photo: Fingerprint Tree Guestbook, J&K Art Shop

This cute Owl Wood Slice Guestbook has a lovely rustic appearance: it includes a wood burned design and comes with two adorable owl pens. The bride and groom’s initials are drawn into the inside of the tree heart. The catchy quote “Owl Love You Forever” is printed along the bottom of the  tree. This guestbook also comes with a personalized pencil for guests to leave a special message. After the wedding you can hang this up anywhere!

Photo: Owl Wood Slice Guestbook, J&K Art Shop

 If you are really tired of the traditional guestbook look, then the Rustic Nail Art guestbook is perfect for you. You can personalize this guestbook by adding your initials or name along with the wedding date. The heart can be modified to fit your wedding theme, and the script that you chose is done by hand. The guestbook can be hung at your home with the attached wire to savor special memories from your wedding day.

Photo: Rustic Nail Art Guestbook, J&K Art Shop

For more rustic wedding ideas visit our green Wedding Shop.

With the recent rise of “Colony Collapse Disorder” or CCD, it would be interesting and innovative to plan a bee-themed Wedding! Bees are such an essential part of our planet that it is important to appreciate them and what they do. These cute little creatures with their vibrant yellow color adds a golden touch to favors, invitations and candles.

These handmade kraft bee tags are a fun and quirky addition to wedding favors, thank you gifts, birthday gifts, hostess gifts and more. All of the materials used to make these tags are from local vendors and are hand stamped in black ink  featuring a beautifully designed bee. All of the tags come with mustard colored twine. The kraft bee tag is a must-have for a bee themed wedding!

Photo: Kraft Bee Tags (5 ct), Paper Clip Shoppe

These handmade vintage bee stickers are eco-friendly and made from natural acid free card stock (Green Seal Certified 30% recycled post-consumer fiber) and an acid-free adhesive, which is easy to remove from the backing.

    Photo: Vintage Bee Stickers (150 ct), Queen Bee Inspirations

Check out these bee hive stickers too! They’re perfect for sealing the envelopes that your wedding invitations are sent in.

Photo: Bee Skep Stickers, Queen Bee Inspirations

The beehive candle is ideal for a bee-themed wedding. These candles have two little bee details and are perfect for table decor. They are beautiful alone or as a pair.  All of the candles are made from wax from a local beekeeper and naturally scented. The wonderful smell of honey and beeswax will fill your reception room when you light this candle. Beeswax candles do not burn off toxic carcinogens like other candles do, so this is also a healthier green alternative to the traditional candle.

 Photo: Beehive Candle, Sweet Bee Honey

Find more inspiration for you and your honeybee in our Wedding Shop!

One may think that having floral arrangements is as green and eco-friendly as they come, but there are actually a lot of problems with conventionally grown flowers. Most of the flowers that come to the United States are imported and the government does not regulate the levels of pesticide residue on imported flowers. Seasonal flowers are also a great way to remain eco-friendly on your wedding day. Seasonal flowers are flowers that can be grown outside without the protection of using energy dependent greenhouses.

1. The calla lily is a flower that is seasonal in the spring and winter. It is simple, yet elegant at the same time. Calla lilies can come in many different colors such as light green, orange, pink, red, yellow and the most popular, white.  Many brides are carrying calla lilies and some are even carrying a single calla lily down the aisle. This trend is also an inexpensive alternative to the calla lily bouquet, because while they are elegant, they can also be pricey.

Photo:  Wedding Flower Saturdays: Calla Lily Bouquets

2. The peony is also a flower that is seasonal in the spring. They are lush, full and make quite the statement. Peonies come in a blush, coral, cream, pink and white color. It is fun to mix and match the colors to create a perfect spring look. Peonies are also thought to bring luck on your wedding day because they symbolize a happy marriage full of good fortune.

         Photo: {Wedding Trends}: Peony Bouquets- Part 1

3. The lily is a popular spring flower and this inexpensive and creative bouquet is ideal for brides looking to be eco-friendly and quirky on their wedding day. This bouquet is handmade origami lilies made from pages of an atlas, and unlike real flowers, this bouquet will never wilt or cause allergies. This can make a great gift or decor even after your wedding day. All of these bouquets are made from recycled vintage maps and are repurposed for a creative, innovative idea.

   Photo: Atlas Lilly Bouquet, Granny Panty Designs

4. The classic rose bouquet is something that is seasonal all year round. It can come in many different colors such as orange, pink, purple, yellow and the classic red. Getting garden roses locally grown is a great way to support local businesses as well as eliminating the environmental impact of having to pack and ship flowers.

 Photo: California Courting

5. Tulips are seasonal in the spring and winter. Tulips come in a variety of colors, but the most popular are orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow. Tulips have broad leaves which make them durable and long lasting, which is ideal for a wedding ceremony that may last an hour or more.

 Photo: Beautiful Bridal Tulip Bouquets Idea 

 For more wedding flower inspiration visit the ceremony section of our green Wedding Shop!

A modern, forward thinking wedding goes hand-in-hand with going green! You can modernize everything from the font type on your invitations to the types of rings you choose to wear. Some brides are even merging modern with vintage to create the best of both worlds. Some decor themes, like silhouettes, can crossover into both territories depending on how the design is presented.

Spread the Word with Sustainable Invites in Mixed Fonts

Look for plantable invitations with modern designs, or recycled stationery for your thank you cards. Play up the best of both worlds by designing your invitations with new and old font. If you can get your hands on vintage paper, that’s even better!

Modern Elegance Invitation

Create a Minimalist Cake Design

Instead of a traditional three tier wedding cake, look for something in a different shape, size or color. Silhouettes are a popular trend, and they can be more modern or vintage depending on your preference. A silhouette of the two of you posing or kissing is a nice modern touch. For a vintage look, go with the traditional silhouette effect with just side profiles of each of you.

Silhouette Cake Toppers

Buy an Edgy Ring with a Unique Shape

Look for a ring that is modern in appearance but made with vintage and recycled materials. Unique texturing like these polka dots is a fun way to spice up an otherwise traditional wedding ring!

Recycled Sterling Modern Square Macro Ring

Visit our wedding shop for more modern and vintage wedding ideas!

Photo: Traditional Claddagh Engagement Ring via The Knotty Bride

If you and your significant other love the parades and pageantry on St. Patty’s Day each year, perhaps this is the perfect time to pop the question! Green beers and leprechaun suspenders aside, your engagement does not have to be all about the typical shenanigans. Become inspired by this St. Patrick’s Day engagement from Project Wedding or find some classy and traditional ways to incorporate your love for this fun day into your proposal:

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With the spring months upon us there are flowers, blooming trees and sprawling fields of green grass on everyone’s mind. Hosting an eco-friendly garden party or wedding is a great way to use a natural backdrop as your wedding decor. Invite guests with plantable wildflower invitations, give organic, raw honey favors and make sure your guests sign a family tree wedding guestbook before they leave!

Photo: Garden Wedding, Onetowed

If you happen to have fruit trees, take advantage of nature’s candy and display the fruits on your table as centerpieces or place a piece of garden fresh fruit on each guest’s plate. Make your own cake and fill each layer with fresh fruit for a delicious bungalow cake.

Photo: Budget Garden Wedding, Weddingchicks

Use organic flowers or try gum paste flowers for an eco-friendly cake topper!

Photo: Gum Paste Hydrangeas, The Groovy Baker

If you’re having an early spring get together plan ahead and use vegetables and herbs that you’ve grown indoors during the colder months for your garden party meal. A summer garden party will be overflowing with fresh organic veggies and fruits that you grew outdoors.

Photo: Greenhouse Garden Wedding Ideas, Ruffled Blog

Visit our Wedding Shop for more Garden Wedding ideas!