If you are planning on tying the knot this summer, rather than shedding out thousands of pounds for a fairy tale wedding that will leave you in debt for the rest of your living days, why not opt for an economical eco-wedding. GreenUnion.co.uk is an online planning and information guide offering fairtrade, organic and local alternatives to the regular budget busting, resource wasting weddings.

On GreenUnion.co.uk you can find a wealth of information about planning a green wedding, budgeting, venues for the wedding and reception, eco-wedding dresses and togs for the groom, shoes and accessories, responsible travel and more. They also provide links to service providers who offer organic beauty, hair and make-up, organic and fairtrade cakes and anything you can ever possibly need to make your eco-wedding go off with an ethical bang.

More delightful recycled glass jewellery, this time from Caroline Janganant. She uses ordinary bottles and jars, which are carefully cut up, melted down and then hand crafted into exquisite jewellery. She specialises in large, dramatic pendants which she turns into fabulous and affordable necklaces by using relatively inexpensive sterling silver wire.

A new bespoke service producing tiaras from recycled glass has also just been added to her repertoire, perfect if you're planning a green wedding. Prices start at £15.

[via newconsumer.com]

Related: Jackie Brazil recycled bangle | Seeds and beads | Bottle Cutter brings recycling home

Not sold on the idea of a recycled wedding dress yet? Perhaps this style by Watters will change your mind. The one off gown was created for The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) charity using a denim jacket. The denim became the floral appliques you see on the skirt whilst the rest of it was turned into this cool matching bolero. The dress was auctioned last month with the proceeds going to DIFFA.

For more information about charity DIFFA, click here [via Bridalwave]

Related: More green weddings

By Nature has launched it's ethical and green wedding list with tradtional gifts ranging from recycled and fair trade dining ware to organic bath and bed linens. And in a great move, By Nature are offering to donate 10% of the wedding list sales to a charity of the couples choice.

Couples can also choose their floral arrangements from a choice of organic, fairtrade or UK grown flowers. [via our bridal blog Bridalwave]

Related: Greenfibres eco wedding gifts and homewares I Nice day for a green wedding? I More green weddings

If you are still of the opinion that carbon offsetting by planting trees is worthwhile, and you know someone who is getting married, then this 'MarryMe' gift package from The Carbon Neutral Company is perfect.

Related posts : TreeTwists: trees and jewellery | Buy your own woodland | Greenfibres eco wedding gifts and homewares

Eco weddings are big business and caterers are getting in on the act by producing organic cakes and desserts for your big day. The House of Sugar are one such company. Using non-GM and organic ingredients they will take your favourite desserts and shrink them into mini treats for your guests to enjoy. Tiny tiramisu, pygmy pot au chocolat, teeny weeny waffles... you name it! You could stick with one type of mini dessert, or pick a whole range and let your guests go wild. They can also make an exciting alternative to a traditional wedding cake.

Over at our fabulous sister site Bridalwave I recently wrote about The Dressmarket, an online resource where you can find a huge selection of worn once wedding dresses. This is a great example of recycling in action, as let's face it, not many people make a habit of getting in their wedding finery many times after the big day. You can search by designer, style and/or price and have access to many dresses from overseas. It's perfect if you're on a budget or you just want to have a more 'green wedding'. Find our more right here.

Related : Nice day for a green wedding? | Ethical wedding dress outift | Diary of a green wedding #1: Stalking the green wedding dress

Over at our wedding blog Bridalwave, I've put together an ethical wedding outfit for those of you planning an eco wedding and want to extend that to your ensemble. Everything you see here from the dress to the shoes, jewellery and flowers is either recycled, organic or eco-friendly. Find the full list of suppliers and other ideas for where to pick up your ethically friendly wedding dress here.

Related: greenKarat ecological wedding jewellery I Nice day for a green wedding? I More green weddings

Liz Hurley may be smirking about how she escaped the gaze of the paparazzi at her wedding last week, but I'll bet it's the green posse she's wishing she could hide from now.

It has been claimed that during the seven-day celebration, Hurley and her entourage produced more carbon emissions than the average couple do in a decade, amounting to an almighty 200 tonnes of carbon for the whole shebang...

[Via Daily Mirror]

Should you be on the look out for some nice wedding jewellery with firm eco-credentials, take a look at greenKarat. Alongside more traditional pieces like this canary diamond ring ($975) is the gold or platinum binary ring which is engraved with your text translated into binary.

You can read more about greenkarat's philosophy here.

Related: Silverchilli jewellery - fairtrade loveliness I Taguna nut fairtrade jewellery I More green weddings

Greenfibres are in love with all things eco-friendly and have plenty for wedding couples to browse including organic cotton and other eco fabrics ready for you to whip up into a great outfit or take along to a seamstress if you're not so deft with a needle. A wedding list has been set up if you want to kit your home and lives out with all that is green such as bed linen, furniture and other homewares.

But even if you're not married, check out the furniture, skincare, cleaning and eco-baby ranges.

[Via Bridalwave]

It's Bridalwave's first birthday - check the site out for daily competitions, the best and worst frocks and more this week!

Earlier on in the week I brought everyone down with talk of funerals, for which I apologise. I must have been having an emo-moment. But with the weekend approaching fast, let's turn our attention to the altogether more cheery subject of weddings. If you've ever been to a wedding, you'll be well aware that there's an awful lot of waste involved. But it doesn't have to be this way, as a new crop of ethical wedding specialists are proving...

It's just barely not too late to order from 3r Living and still get it in time for Christmas (providing you spring for 3 day shipping or faster).  So if you haven't shopped for Cleo or Spike yet - your cat or dog, that is - consider the Hemp dog bone, Oatmeal pet shampoo or Mrs Meyers Pet Litter Freshener.  And somehow manage not to stick reindeer ears on the cat this year?  [GT]

3r Living

Related stories: Lovely Organics at Bridalwave | Steebergs Wedding Token | GreenKarat ethical assays

Penhros Court, once a mediæval manor farm, is now a deep green organic restaurant and hotel specializing in organic weddings. They also offer Greencuisine courses in nutrition and health with their chef, Daphne Lambert, showing how to choose organic, seasonal and local food. The Penrhos Court shop has expanded considerably to include everything from woodworks and jewelry to bedding and bath goods. For this Christmas, you can still pick up tokens for courses, such as the Women's Health Five Day or Hay Festival Heart-to-Heart. [GT]

Penhros Court

Related stories: The Ethical Travel Guide | Not Just Tourists delivers medical supplies on vacation | Botelet Farm

Hippyshopper editor Gabrielle (aka [GT]) chronicles trying to have a small, affordable wedding while pleasing her dreamed-of-a-fairytale-wedding- since-he-was-a-boy fiance John, and trying to keep her consumerism low.  This week, a look ahead at green housing.

A friend who manages an apartment building called up today to let us know a two bedroom was coming up available soon.  Great location, room for the all-important home office, and good neighbors - he lives there himself.  But my green lifestyle was thrust upon me by having a rash (more like a plague) of chemical sensitivities and classical allergies, so there's a good chance I won't even be able to set foot in the place.  This got me thinking about the after-the-wedding part, where we go home together.  Which reminded me of something: I hate paying rent.  And I'll tell you why.