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Who cares what anybody else is wearing? Let's be honest-it's all about The Dress. (We might talk about garb for the groom-to-be later. Maybe.) Whether you're gliding down a rose-petal-strewn aisle or kicking off your clogs at the beach, here's how you can look like one hot matrimonial mama, without running roughshed over the environment.
1. Buy used or vintage vintage: Not expending any new resources is, of course, the most eco-friendly way for blushing brides to get adorned. If you're conjuring up visions of Miss Haversham from Great Expectations, take a deep breathe, the preloved market isn't all about dated details and overexuberant ruffles.
In fact, you might even be able to score a gown with its tags still attached. Pop into the forums at There Goes the Bride to browse the untouched trousseaus of almost-brides who got cold feet at the last minute-or came to their senses. Besides the usual haunts, such as eBay and Craig's List, other online destinations you can stop by include Brides Against Breast Cancer, Encore Bridal, Indiebride, Posh Girl Vintage, and Wore It Once. Wedding dresses tend to run small, so get yourself measured first and don't rely on the size alone.
2. Go the rental route: Grooms do it all the time. Renting a gown can save you hundreds of dollars you're better off spending somewhere else, like your honeymoon or a deluxe self-buttering waffle iron. Because I bought my dress, I now have a once-worn, exorbitantly priced white elephant stuffed in a box at the back of my closet, at least until I decide where to donate it. Let me be your cautionary tale. If you harbor fantasies of saving your gown for your great-great-granddaughter, don't.
3. Use sustainable fabrics: If you're still determined to buy your own gown-and a new dress is a must-consider planet-loving fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, linen, and silk (if it says "peace" silk, no silkworms were killed in the process). Synthetic fabrics may be inexpensive, but polyester is also manufactured from petroleum.
Sustainable designers include Annatarian, Deborah Lindquist, Conscious Clothing, Rawganique, Réne Geneva, Threadhead Creations, and Olivia Luca.
Tip: Find a green dry cleaner to get your togs ready for prime time.
Difficulty level: Easy
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