Well gorgeous green award winning wedding venue and idyllic destination, Pines Calyx in Kent is throwing open its doors on Sunday 21st March to show off how greening your wedding can be a good thing for you and for the environment. It could be just the place for your romantically eco-inspired wedding.

Go along and meet their wedding coordinator and preferred suppliers, take a walk and enjoy a glass of wine in the beautiful gardens surrounding the Pines Calyx which has a lake, sweeping lawns and stunning sea views.

What? Wedding Venue Open Day
When? Sunday 21st March 2010, 11am till 4pm
Where? Pines Calyx, St. Margaret's Bay, Kent, CT15 6DZ
How much? Free admission

For more information on the wedding venue and their open day please visit their website pinescalyx.co.uk or telephone them on 01304 851 737.

Bella & Fifi work exclusively with gorgeous, seasonal and locally sourced handpicked flowers in the Bristol area. They create stunning, original wedding bouquets, buttonholes and flower arrangements that demonstrate their individuality, their artistic backgrounds and their self-taught floristry skills, free from the restraints of formal training.

When I asked them what made them start a flower business that concentrates wholly on the local and seasonal flower trade (because, let's face it, it's a whole lot easier to buy flowers off a lorry from Amsterdam) they replied: "We wanted to do something creative, useful and environmental, and above all to spread a little happiness. Sustainable floristry just seemed to tick all the boxes, so Bella & Fifi was born."

Their dedication to sourcing seasonally and locally finds them most early mornings dashing about in the Bee (their devoted Piaggio van, visiting local growers selecting the freshest most beautiful flowers ... from St Werburghs allotments and thier friend and local grower Rachel, to Jo's in Frampton Cottrell, who is a pioneer in the organic pesticide and chemical free flower trade. Their flowers are lovingly picked and transported (via the Bee) to their Montpelier Flower Palace (actually Bella's kitchen table). Once the kettle is on, they put their minds to creating what they think are some rather stunning and unique displays.

Bella & Fifi will provide you with the most beautiful and enchanting array of flowers and greenery to suit your very own wonderful day! This team of flower passionatas with their local growers are always on hand with the most beautiful, seasonal and organic flowers that simply look and smell divine. so whether you want a small and intimate wedding or something more Vogue-fabulous, they'll create perfect wedding flowers, all locally grown and ethically sourced and arranged with total dedication and love.

To find out more about this quirky and dynamic duo go to their website bellafififlowers.co.uk, email flowers@bellafififlowers.co.uk or phone them on 07505 841528.

Arabian Tents has a range of marquees with beautifully hand made interiors in a number of designs which include delicate printing to vibrant velvets and all the patterns on the tent linings are hand block printed in India using traditional techniques.

The company also stocks and wide range of accessories and lounge furniture like sofas, padded stools, low tables, chests, rugs and ornaments which you can use to decorate and accessorise the inside space with.

What we love about Arabian Tents is their commitment to the women's co-operative that does all the block printing. By supporting this co-operative they are giving women who find themselves in abusive relatoinships an opportunity to become financially independent. Also some of the soft furnishings you can hire are made by a Delhi company that employs Aids suffrers, helping them at every stage of their illness by providing them with appropriate work and taking into consideration their needs at every stage.

Now that's a wonderful way to spend your wedding budget, supporting a company that cares.

For more information go to their website arabiantents.co.uk email Katherine Hudson info@arabiantents.com or telephone her on 01323 887 654

We particularly like these glass tanks filled with tulips, hyacynth, ranunculus and grape hyacinth created for Brides.com by Studio Choo.

You could use any combination of growing bulbs to suit your wedding theme. Lush and green, jewel tones, all whites, scented, blues and creams, the choice is endless.

A great idea for an authentic and unique hen party - get your girl friends together the weekend before your wedding, supply the materials, the cup cakes and the hot toddies and the task will be done in no time! With heaps of fun thrown in.

At the end of your wedding day hand the gorgeous glass vases out to your guests to take home, or plant them in your own little green patch. The wonderful thing about spring bulbs, or any bulbs for that matter, is that the bulbs will regrow each year giving you a magnificent display and reminding you of your wedding day for years to come.

For full details and step by step 'how to' instructions go to Brides.com.

According to TRAID, the fashion recycling charity, over 1 million tons of fabric is thrown into dustbins every year in the UK. That equates to 900,000 million items of clothing - and the figures are growing. So Sue at Derry's Den has made it her mission to use up as much UK discarded textiles as she can and you can help her do it by buying her eco bunting.

Sue says "I'd noticed that most party bunting is made from new materials including plastics and the thought of adding more synthetics to the environment just doesn't appeal, so I thought it would be great to use up unwanted textiles. I've been lucky enough to have travelled all over the world in the past and many communities that I’ve visited reuse textiles out of necessity. In contrast, through lives of comparative luxury, Westerners have created a problem with waste. I’ve always been into upcycling items rather than throwing them into the rubbish bin, chopping up old clothing to create some other useful item is in my genes. I vividly remember grandmother doing it.”

Environmentally friendly bunting can be used for all sorts of occasions, not just weddings. Birthdays, anniversary, leaving parties, or Christmas, as well as street parties, corporate events, or just for brightening up your garden in the summer. Decorate a child's bedroom....have their name on bunting in their favourite colour. Sue makes her eco friendly bunting out of waste textiles, recycled cards or paper, and even waste plastic bags. The bunting is packaged in recycled waste plastic bags from the card industry. All the bunting is made in Oxfordshire and she has made bunting for Greenpeace to decorate their flagship the Rainbow Warrior and it's also been used by Greenpeace, Oxfam and Wateraid at Glastonbury Festival.

All the bunting is made to order so you can choose what colours you want to fit in with your wedding theme.

For more information on eco friendly bunting check out Sue's website ecobunting.co.uk email her on sue@derrysden.co.uk or phone her 01491 824152

Julie Ballard, who once worked at world renowned Jane Packer flowers in London, does everything she can to be an eco friendly florist, sourcing locally grown flowers when they are in season and using natural packaging and recycled materials. But this doesn't mean that her floral work is compromised in any way. In fact we think that her work is enhanced by her attention to the seasons and to every last detail that goes into creating gorgeous wedding flowers for her clients.

We're hoping that Julie will soon be sending us updates on the seasonal flowers that she is using in her work and think this will be a great resource for those brides who've decided to have a bash at doing their own wedding flowers.

So watch this space!

For more information about Julie's work go to her website Flowers by Julie B or to find out more about booking her to do your own wedding flowers contact Julie by email julie@flowersbyjulieb.co.uk or phone 01306 868186

The dedicated team at the RSA are delighted to be throwing open the doors of the House to showcase their fantastic facilities for Weddings and Civil Partnerships.

Located in the heart of London, the RSA House’s Georgian façade conceals many unexpected delights of contemporary and traditional architecture. Whether you seek the inspiring grandeur of the Great Room or the intimacy of a candlelit ceremony in the Vaults, the RSA really is the most ideal wedding venue in the heart of London if you are planning memorable wedding day.

You won't know just how fabulous this wedding venue is unless you go along and meet the team and their suppliers on Sunday 28th February 2010.

Find out more about one of London’s best kept secrets.

Contact weddings@rsa.org.uk, T: 020 7451 6815 or visit their website www.theRSA.org to find out more.

What? Open House
Where? RSA House, London WC2
When? Sunday 28th February 2010

Nothing makes more of an impact than one of these bold and sumptuous Statement Rings from CRED. These rings are in every sense the epitome of glamour and elegance; each crafted in stunning 18ct Fair Trade Oro Verde Gold and Platinum, set with ethically-sourced precious gemstones and diamonds.

So go ahead, make a real statement by indulging in a breathtakingly beautiful and timeless ring from CRED.

Find out more information and prices by going to CRED's website www.credjewellery.com, or visiting their Boutique in Chichester or their new London Studio.

Call them on 020 7254 4487 or email Athena@rebelrebel.co.uk, Mairead@rebelrebel.co.uk or gus@rebelrebel.co.uk

Romantically surrounded by 70 acres of woodland, the show is set to be a special one. You'll find live wedding music, wedding fashion shows, bucks fizz on arrival and fantastic goodie bag give aways.

Plus all the advice you could need from a top range of wedding exhibitors who can help you create the perfect wedding day.

What? Wedding Fair
When? Sunday 28th February 2010, 10 am to 4 pm
Where? Forever Green, Near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

For more information about Forever Green go to their website and for information on the wedding fair you can download their visitor brochure from their site.

Wedding date: 10th July, 2010

Wedding venue and location: We are getting married at my Fiance’s parents' summer home in Kisa, Sweden. We are also having a reception party in London the week after our main wedding which is taking place in an ecology centre in Bow, London.

How many guests are coming to your wedding and where from? We have 70 guests coming to our Swedish wedding. Half of the guests are Swedish and traveling from different parts of Sweden. The rest of the guests are traveling from London, Belgium, France and one guest from Africa (we are paying to carbon offset all the flights).

Do you have a budget and do you think you'll be able to stick to it? We didn’t really have a budget but the costs so far are about £7,000 for the Swedish wedding and another £3,000 for the London reception.

I was inspired by an old article that I cut out of The Metro a couple of years ago – It was talking about all the different ways to have a green wedding and Johan’s parents are extremely eco friendly which means that we have a lot of support. They have a bio fuel car (which you cannot even purchase in this country) and their house is heated with bio fuel, they eat organic local and seasonal produce and never drink bottled water.

My wedding dress is the only thing that I have chosen to compromise on as the fabric is not fair trade, and it is not vintage but it is second hand. (GU doesn't consider this a compromise - choosing a second hand wedding dress is recycling / upcycling - every bit as good as plumping for a fair trade wedding gown or a vintage wedding dress).

Please can you tell us a little about the eco-elements of your wedding. We designed our own E - wedding invitation to save on paper.

My engagement ring was passed down from Johan’s Grandmother, and the wedding bands are both vintage rings.

I chose a second hand wedding dress.

Catering / wedding breakfast: Wild smoked local boar with chutney that will be cooked outside on a spit roast with a rocket and parmesan salad (organic). All the ingredients being used are both organic and local. Supporting local farmers, butchers and other food producers is really important to us.

Hand picked flowers from the fields arranged in old jam jars and pots for the table decorations and wedding decorations with Vintage lace tablecloths to cover tables.

Vintage brooch bouquet.

Carbon off-setting of all flights.

Solar powered outdoor lighting for pond and pathways.

Organic candles.

Bio-degradable confetti.

Second hand paper lanterns that my mother has left over from a past event.

We are getting married on site so no cars being used to traffic people from one location to another.

For our London party we are hiring an Ecology centre, which is powered by a wind turbine. Wildlife is encouraged here and there are ponds around the centre where various birds nurture there young.

Do you think it's easy to be both stylish and green on your wedding day? Absolutely! After all, you cannot buy style.

Have you got any tips, so far, for other brides looking to throw an eco-wedding? Read as much about eco-weddings as possible. Search blogs, articles and buy a book or two.

Then just have fun!!

Thanks so much Carey, we're looking forward to regular updates here at GU HQ.

Vintage Brooch Image from Fantasy Floral Designs

The prize includes 2 nights luxury accommodation for 2 people, a Berry Scrumptious Chocolate Hamper on arrival and a private session having a go at making chocolate covered strawberries with Claire.....mmm!!

It’s easy and it’s free!

All you have to do is re-subscribe to their newsletter OR
Become their friend on Facebook OR
Become a follower on Twitter

All names will be put into the hat and a lucky winner drawn on 14th February 2010. More information on The Hideaway Experience and competition terms and conditions can be found here.

Good luck!

It's a practical course suitable for anyone wanting to learn how their choice of foods determines their health, well being and quality of life. Participants prepare their meals from whole, fresh, organically grown and seasonal food.

The course covers:
Organic growing - exploring our relationship with agriculture
The effect of food on the acid and alkaline balance in the body
The importance of whole-foods
The benefits of juicing
Sprouting and windowsill growing
How to incorporate the right fats in your diet
How natural wholefoods help restore weight balance & create radiance
Vibrant sprouting & the benefits to your health
and includes yoga one morning and a walk in the Radnor hills on the other morning.

Dishes you prepare are seasonal but may include:
Springclean juice
Vitality smoothie
Beetroot soup
Sprouted quinoa salad
Oatcakes and soda bread
Tagine of butternut squash, carrot and prunes
Puy lentils with yogurt and curry spices
Millet rissoles with spicy sauce
Cranberry and almond cake
Cashew nut cream

Two-day residential course costs £325.00 per person and includes:
Single accommodation in double en suite bedroom, tuition, talks, all meals and course notes.

For two people sharing a room on the Food and Health course, there is a discount of £40 per person.
A non-participating partner sharing a room during a Food and Health course pays £50 per night.
Penrhos will provide a continental breakfast for the non-participant in the room and they can join the course for supper.

And to celebrate Valentine's Penrhos' extra gift to you is a bottle of organic Champagne

For more details email Jean at jean@greencuisine.org or tel. 01544 230720

Flowers - gorgeous, fresh, fragrant flowers – are always affordable, always romantic and always rapturously received. Bouquets are beautifully hand-tied, swathed in chic colours of tissue and beribboned, is romance with a capital R.

For an extra romantic touch, you can even send your flowers with a literary message of love - maybe a pocket volume of Everyman’s ‘Love Poems’ or a slim paperback from Penguin’s ‘Great Loves’ series all wrapped up in matching tissue and silk ribbon. Rebel Rebel has teamed up with independent booksellers The Broadway Bookshop to enable you to send the perfect title to your love, even if it is The Gruffalo...

Rebel Rebel delivers anywhere in London. Visit www.rebelrebel.co.uk or call 020 7254 4487 for personal advice and orders.

Hand-tied bouquets from £40
Flower-filled handbags from £80
Book supplement from £10

REBEL REBEL
5 Broadway Market
London E8 4PH

Your engagement and wedding are special and precious moments in life so you will want to choose a special ring to mark the occasion. Leblas jewellery creates beautiful and socially responsible ethical engagement and wedding rings. They use conflict-free diamonds, and recycled precious white and yellow gold for their jewellery. Choose from their range of contemporary ethical diamond rings and wedding bands, or get your discount on a custom made bespoke ring if you order before 31st January 2010.

Claim your 25% discount by entering the code 'Green Union' at checkout on the Leblas website or find out more by visiting their boutique on Sloane Street, London, emailing customerservice@leblas.com, or calling them for a chat on 020 7730 3418.

Don't forget to quote 'Green Union' when you purchase or commission your engagement ring or wedding band!

Offer lasts until 31st January 2010.

Leblas stocks a unique collection of hand made wedding and engagement rings as well as bridal jewellery in addition to offering a personal custom-made bespoke jewellery service by their Artist-Creative Director Arabel Lebrusan.

They use 100% recycled precious gold and platinum as they believe there is enough gold above ground to make new jewellery without continually mining from the environment. They source their diamonds and other precious stones from known and trusted sources that can provide traceability from source to the store.

You can view all of their fine jewellery collections or arrange a personal consultation at their boutique store,149 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9BZ or call them to discuss your ideas.