Check out Green Couples, Green Weddings, Part 1 for the first part of our green weddings special.

Bridal registries were once a way for a couple to furnish and supply their new home together. Today, more and more couples are either already living together when they get married, or have already furnished a house on their own. Although there are greener choices in registries, a gift registry can be superfluous for green couples who already have what they need. What to do when family members and friends will still want to give the couple a gift to celebrate their commitment?

Instead of registering for things you may not need, why not create a way for your loved ones to donate money, in honor of your vows, to the green charity of your choice? The IDo Foundation and JustGive.org allow couples to give instead of get on their special day. JustGive also provides info for donating your wedding flowers, leftover food, or wedding dress after the festivities are over, so those things that made your day wonderful can be reused and brighten someone else's day

Wedding favors can be green, too. Instead of spending money on trinkets that will inevitably end up in the bottom of someone's purse or gathering dust in a drawer, why not buy something that can actually be put to use, specifically use greening our planet? Plant-A-Memory can create bookmarks, placecards, and other paper items that can be planted. Embedded seeds in the paper grow into beautiful flowers. Seed packets, flower bulbs, or saplings can also be a thoughtful favor that can green a guest's home.

And once the vows are said and done, happy eco-couples will want to get away, and there's no reason why the honeymoon can't be green, too. The International Ecotourism Society and ResponsibleTravel.com can help couples find vacations that are environmentally and socially sustainable. And if you can't swing an ecotrip, you can always offset your travel (and maybe that of your guests, as well) through CarbonFund.org or DriveNeutral.org.

Photo credit: Chicago Joinery, producer of beautiful eco-friendly wooden jewelry.

Many engaged couples spend countless hours planning a ceremony that reflects who they are. Until recently, however, green couples had limited options when it came to lessening their big day's big footprint, but since more couples are considering the environmental impact of their vows, multiple new resources and vendors are catering to a more sustainable clientele.

There's a growing group of brides and grooms who are choosing to simplify their ceremonies. For those of us (myself included) who want to eschew a fancy ceremony in favor of something simpler and/or non-traditional, IndieBride is a lifesaver. There are plenty of sustainable brides (and grooms!) who share their ideas, experiences, and advice on working outside of the traditional wedding industry DIY (doing it yourself).

The new Portovert Magazine is "the first and only magazine for eco-savvy brides and grooms", and has resources and tips for all types of weddings, from intimate ceremonies to lavish receptions. For those couples who still want the big traditional ceremony, but not the big impact on the earth, their Responsible Resources offer organic florists and caterers, tree-free invitations, and vintage gowns. Organic Weddings is another great site that provides vendors and resources.

Diamonds are the traditional stone for wedding settings, but industrial production methods can be extremely draining both environmentally and socially. Jewelers like greenKarat and Brilliant Earth combine conflict-free and created stones with recycled metals for settings to produce beautiful and sustainable rings.

Those green couples who choose to create a gift registry can forget about the traditional big-box stores in favor of more eco-friendly home stores. We registered at Gaiam, although GreenFeet has a variety of products, including organic bedding and towels and recycled glassware.