The Green Scene

For the engagement: Canadian Diamonds
We’ve all seen the movie Blood Diamond, and by now we should all be familiar with the controversy surrounding conflict diamonds. Be a responsible consumer when purchasing your W-day bling, and ask for a certificate of origin with your purchase. The stones used by Polar Bear Diamonds are mined from the tundra of the Canadian Arctic, and are certified by the government of the Northwest Territories. Additionally, all of their diamonds are mined, cut and polished in Canada, in a factory in Yellowknife, by 100% Canadian employees. For more information, go to polarbeardiamond.com.

During the planning: Plantable Invites
Announce your big day in an earth-friendly way with plantable paper invites from Botanical Paperworks. These beautiful, hand-made invites are embedded with wildflower seeds that bloom when the paper is planted. The special seed paper is made with compostable fibres and high-quality, easy-growing wildflower seeds including Bird's Eye, Clarkia, Coreopsis, Poppy, Catchfly and Snap Dragon. For more information, go to botanicalpaperworks.com.

During the ceremony: Wilderness Wedding
What could be more romantic than saying “I do” in a chapel situated deep in the Canadian wilderness? At Mulvehill Creek Wilderness Inn & Wedding Chapel, couples can marry in a unique 500 square foot chapel nestled in 125 acres of wooded peninsula. Located on the picturesque shores of Revelstoke, British Columbia, the site was awarded the Environmentally Responsible Tourism Award by Tourism BC in 1999 and can be rented in its entirety, sleeping up to 18 people. For more information, go to mulvehillcreek.com.

At the reception: Carbon Positive Wine
Raise your glass to the world’s first carbon positive wine. Lifford Wine Agency’s Plantatree Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines are now available in select LCBO outlets across Ontario. Together with Tree Canada, the agency will plant one tree for every bottle of wine sold—with a goal to plant 100,000 trees in their first year. The trees, to be planted in Sudbury beginning in spring ’08, will each absorb approximately 650 pounds of carbon over the course of their life span. The wines are made from grapes grown using sustainable agricultural practices and are imported in bulk to reduce carbon output. They also support local businesses as they’re bottled locally in environmentally friendly plastic bottles and packaged in locally produced cartons made from recycled paper.

On the honeymoon: Sustainable Tourism
Your honeymoon deserves to be as earth-friendly as your wedding day. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts offer a variety of eco-chic options for a greener getaway. A pioneer in responsible tourism practices, for years Fairmont have incorporated energy efficient lighting, water-conserving showerheads and toilet aerators in all of their luxury hotels. In 1990, their Canadian hotels created The Fairmont Green Partnership, literally writing the book on sustainable best practices in the lodging industry. Today, the chain strives to minimize the impact their hotels have on the planet through resource conservation and best practices. For more information, go to fairmont.com