Truthfully, your wedding is one of the most important days of your life. Weddings bring together two families and set the tone for your time together. If you and your soon-to-be spouse strive to be conscious of your effect on the environment, you might as well have your wedding reflect those values. Here are a few ways you can lessen the impact of your wedding on the environment.

Alternatives to Diamonds

You may have seen reports or films about the diamond industry causing conflict in the regions where they mine. If you aren’t attached to having a diamond, the best way as a consumer to ensure your ring is conflict-free is to purchase an alternative stone. Lab-grown diamonds, cubic zirconias, are popular options. If you want to stick with natural stone, a diamond simulant, go with a brand like Loveri, who uses moissanite exclusively. Moissanites are quite hard; they are an impressive 9.25 on the Mohs scale, compared to diamonds, which are 10.

Plant-Based Reception

Go vegan! You deserve a fantastic party, and your guests deserve the best food. The word vegan can scare some chefs and caterers, so be sure to find a company comfortable if not an expert at plant-based diets. They will understand that a vegan meal is not just a salad, and be able to prepare multi-course meals that even the harshest meat-loving critics will love.

Upcycled Decorations

You want your wedding to be beautiful, and you don’t have to buy everything new to design a stunning event. Couples usually cannot reuse any decorations from their wedding. Fortunately, there are sites like Wedding Recycle that allow you to buy decorations and even dresses, so you don’t have to buy new ones. After your event, repost them to the site to sell them to the next couple.

Explore all your options for your big day and have fun playing eco-friendly wedding planner!