In the 4th century BC, Greek brides wore fiery yellow or red to protect them from evil spirits. In biblical times, blue was the chosen color to best represent purity when entering the sanctity of marriage, and, by the 18th century, the white gown had replaced the blue gown as an outward symbol of bridal chastity.

In modernity, hints of color are creeping back onto wedding dresses, but the color being mostly talked about is green! You want to wear eggshell? If you are eco-friendly at heart, even your white wedding will be green.

Here are some ideas for getting the look you want while keeping an eye on sustainability.

Your Vision: A Custom Gown Fit for a Princess
Unfortunately, polyester is petroleum-based. According to the Organic Exchange (www.organicexchange.org), the USDA indicates that approximately 6 pounds of pesticides are used per acre in the growing of “natural” cotton! Un-dyed, unbleached, certified organic cotton, silk, or hemp-silk are the most environmentally-sound way to go for making a custom dress.

Another point to pay attention to is fair trade. If you know the source of your fabrics and attire, you’ll have a better idea of the working conditions under which they were made and the journey they made to your doorstep.

Ambatalia in Mill Valley, CA, deals exclusively in sustainable fabrics and offers custom sewing.

Your Vision: Vintage
Perfect! Recycling vintage attire is your lowest impact option. It can also end up saving you big bucks. Many brides have luck finding a near perfect dress on E-bay or at a favorite vintage consignment store. There may also be a dress in your family that carries the sentimentality of having been worn by your mother or grandmother. A well cared-for dress can be preserved for generations.

Once you find the gown, the key is good tailoring. Have your trusted tailor fit your vintage gown to your every curve. You could also have those puffed sleeves altered if they are not your style. If you want to add a hint of color, see about having items tinted with natural vegetable dyes.

Your Vision: Looking Your Best
Investing in a dress that you won’t be able to resist wearing again is a great recycling opportunity. If you choose a comfortable, elegant dress that becomes you, you can feel good about not restricting its use to a one-time runway show. The bottom line is that any dress you wear down the aisle is, de facto, your wedding dress. And, if you look stunning in chartreuse or chocolate brown, get on with your bad self.