Vermont Vows Magazine

Did you know that the average American wedding produces 800 pounds of garbage?

Emily Anderson, author of Eco-Chic Weddings, encourage brides to think about "the repurposeful wedding;" seeing how many things from your wedding can be used again. If you're buying fabric for tables or other decor, think about colors and patterns you can use in your home later, refashioned as curtains or pillowcases, for example.

"Reduce, reuse, recycle," says Kate Harrison, author of the Green Bride Guide, who used an oriental carpet from her mother's house as an aisle runner at her wedding. Used items like votive holders are available for pennies on the dollar on eBay. Rentals are also, of course, a form of recycling-the big issue is ensuring that the rental provider cleans linens and other items in a sustainable way after the event.

"Your wedding isn't about how much money you spend or how big it is-it's about how you envision your beliefs and your values," says Anderson.