Tie the knot, eco-style

June is the most popular month for getting hitched, followed by August, September and October. So, for many of you brides and grooms out there, it’s not too late to make your big day an eco-friendly occasion. Here are some ways to have a great time while conserving, reusing and being conscious about the impact on the environment.

Wed outdoors and nearby: Find a beautiful spot in nature, where there is no need for air-conditioning. Hold both the ceremony and the reception there and keep it within a day’s drive, so there’s less travel involved.

Cull your invite list: Weddings are expensive and you cannot invite everyone you know. So, try to keep your guests to close family members and friends.

Ditch the disposables: This goes for a lot of things. Instead of single-use utensils and plates, use real dishes and cutlery; cloth napkins, rather than paper. And so on.

Thoughtful favors: Instead of some mass-produced, cheap wedding favors, try something people will actually use. Food items (jam, cookies) are a good choice. Other ideas: flower seeds, a plant, a reusable shopping bag.

Register locally: In addition to sourcing as much as you can locally (think caterer and florist), try registering for gifts at a local store (like Collier Hardware in downtown Chico).