Green wedding venues

If you're about to embark on planning a green wedding celebration, one of the most important decisions to make as early as possible is where to hold it.

Find a venue that supports an environmental or social cause. Consider museums, organisations supporting heritage and tradition, village halls, community organisations, hotels with strong eco-credentials or country houses. What about restaurants that source their food from local and organic producers.

For an intimate reception you may like to consider a small restaurant with rooms or a bed and breakfast where the chef or owners grow their own food and cook delicious meals.

If you're planning to have an outdoor party consider a private garden. Nature reserves, public or private woodlands, an arboretum or a public park can offer a diverse range of atmospheres. What about moorlands, canals, boats or the seaside.

Campsites, maybe a teepee site, could provide accommodation for all your guests as well as an area for your party or a space to erect a huge tent, keeping everyone on one site and reducing transport costs.

Another simple way to save racking up those CO2 emissions is to hold your ceremony and reception at the same venue. Using one location will cut down on transport, decorations and environmental impact.

If you're getting married in a church, chapel, synagogue, mosque or other religious establishment, do they have a hall you can hire for your reception? Maybe there's a community hall nearby which you can use and support the local community with your patronage.

Whatever venue you're considering, and if its important to you, its worth asking a few searching questions about their eco policies. For instance do they try and recycle as much of their waste as possible and use recycled materials like paper; do they use eco friendly cleaning products, try and conserve water and compost their garden waste. Do they conserve energy wherever possible and do they have a written and enforced policy on these eco criteria? But don't get too hung up of these things if they're not everything, just asking the questions will make them think about it. If you like the venue and it feels right for you then chances are they're doing enough and are willing to do more in the future.

Happy hunting!