Cutting down on consumption is at the heart of being green, according to Green Wedding author Navarro.

The bride may wear white, but we’ve noticed the prevailing ethos at many weddings these days is green, as more couples opt for eco-conscious celebrations. What does this mean for guests? You can start by taking the green mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle” to heart. “Wear something you already own rather than go out and buy something new,” suggests Mireya Navarro, author of the book Green Wedding: Planning Your Eco-Friendly Celebration (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2009). Vintage is another option.

While some couples are choosing alternative registries that allow guests to contribute to honeymoon trips or favorite causes, Navarro notes there are also plenty of green stores both on- and offline. “Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn have green lines,” she says. “But remember the idea of being green is to cut down on consumption. Find out what the couple needs. If [the gift] sits in a closet it isn’t very green.”

For presentation, choose wrapping paper and cards made from post-consumer waste that is biodegradable — some items even come embedded with plantable seeds. Of course, the greenest choice is no wrapping at all. “If the couple requests no gift wrapping or packaging, abide by that,” says Navarro, whose favorite wedding gift (cash) is  — literally  — the greenest gift of all. It’s portable, exchange-proof, and doesn’t require a lot of packaging!

We love Navarro’s eco-conscious ideas — they’re smart, not tacky. Do you have any tips for planning a green wedding?

Tags: Amp, Anthropology, author, Gift, Gift wrapping, Giving, Hospitality/Recreation, Mireya Navarro, Pottery Barn, Wedding