There are so many different ways for you to turn your wedding ceremony and reception into a greener, more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible event. Allow your wedding favors to go green, for example, and help the environment while saving yourself some money in the process.

- Rather than using traditional favors, donate between $1 and $2 per guest to your favorite environmental association or organization and print something in the programs to let your guests know about it.

- Visit a website like http://www.idofoundation.org where you can find out about a multitude of different ways to raise money for charity through wedding favors, honey moon and even your gift registry.

 - Give each and every one of your guests an 11-watt compact fluorescent light bulb. By replacing a 50 watt incandescent bulb with their wedding favor, each of your guests will be saving an incredible 685 lbs worth of carbon dioxide, counteracting the carbon dioxide that was released into the atmosphere by your guests traveling to your wedding. Carbon dioxide released into the air contributes to global warming, so this particular wedding favor could be doing a world of good.

- Consider gifting something recycled and handmade, such as a handmade paper bookmark with wildflower seeds embedded inside. This is an extremely beautiful, thoughtful and useful gift that your guests will get enjoyment out of after the wedding. If you do not want to give a bookmark, consider individually packaging a small envelope of wildflower seeds for each of your guests.

- Get tree saplings from the National Arbor Day Foundation, available through http://www.arborday.org and give them to each of your guests.

- There are a number of edible earth friendly wedding favors, including delicious organic milk and dark chocolate candy bars that are earth friendly and elegant. Each of these bars comes with an at risk animal featured on its cover, and the covers come in enough colors that there is no doubt you’ll be able to find one that suits the colors of your special event.

The Green World Project, available at http://www.greenworldproject.org offers evergreen tree seedling favors that come presented in a stylish little tube with instructions both on using the tube as a bird feeder, and planting the tree sapling!

- There are also a number of companies out there that specifically craft wedding favors that are environmentally responsible and eco friendly, such as Favors 4 Wedding, located at http://www.plantamemory.com, which offers a myriad of different and unique wedding favors including seed favors and flower bulb wedding favors that come in a multitude of different design options and color options as well.

- You may also consider simply opting for something handmade. Paint pictures for all of your guests, or write them special messages. Create handmade bookmarks or other unique favors. Tie in something natural, biodegradable, reusable, or otherwise ecologically friendly and you have a treat that your guests will surely love.

Turning your wedding reception and ceremony into a green celebration is not difficult, it only takes a little bit of creativity and a serious love for the world around you.

Everyone loves jewelry, but unfortunately it has been made apparent to us in recent years that the jewelry that we so enjoy wearing bears the mark of the harm to both our planet and humanity. Luckily, there are a number of ecologically responsible and ethical alternatives to the types of jewelry that are found to be sourced in ways that are both unsustainable and highly destructive. There is a brand new market that is emerging that revolves around using recycled precious metals and synthetic precious gems in addition to jewelry that is crafted from recycled goods like glass, plastic and other natural elements.

Wearing jewelry always seems to have played an invaluable role in the society of humans, with jewelry objects dating back to pre historic Africa. The importance to jewelry remains consistent even today for a number of reasons, including as an amulet, ornament, a symbol of wealth or a variety of other purposes. Silver and gold mining processes throughout the years, however, have devastated ecosystems and thousands of miles worth of waterways which has devastated the future for this beautiful and unique trade. Additionally, diamond mining has become largely a blood diamond trade, with these blood diamond exports becoming responsible for numerous heinous crimes committed on humanity as they are funding wars through illegal sale.

There are plenty of ecologically responsible and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional styles of jewelry, but they require that you do a little bit of research into sourcing, environmental practices and labor associated with their manufacture. Fair trade practices are slowly being introduced into the jewelry industry, though it will take time to achieve the primary goals of these practices. The endeavors for artisans and jewelers who are working to supply ecologically friendly alternatives to jewelry are continuing to help develop the level of change that is necessary on a widespread basis in order to create a truly sustainable industry for jewelry and other similar items.

Another available option is recycled jewelry, with the majority of all recycled jewelry being handmade today. There are many stunning and beautiful pieces available that are constructed from handmade wood components and recycled metal components that would otherwise end up in a trash heap. One of the best places to find a showcase of stunning handmade artwork composed of recycled components is on the online website Etsy, available at http://www.etsy.com. Here you will find a number of innovative independent artists who are crafting their own unique eco friendly jewelry from some truly surprising elements.

Artisans all over the world are working hard to eliminate the strife associated with the traditional jewelry trade in favor of a natural and eco friendly jewelry industry comprised of recycled components, natural elements, synthetically created gemstones and recycled metals. The more the word gets out about this incredible movement, the more people will begin to turn to the beauty of organic and ecologically friendly jewelry in favor of the traditional gold, silver, diamond and gemstone jewelry that is eating up our ecosystem.