NICE DAY FOR A...GREEN WEDDING

With the  260,000 couples who married last year showering  £4.2 billion on their nuptials, the eco-spending power is immense.

The choice is not "lentils and hair shirts" versus caviar and satin. Going green could save you money - quite attractive when the average bill for the bride (or her dad) will this year be £18,500.

So how can you have a green wedding without looking like a medieval peasant? 

Katie Fewings, who runs an ethical weddings website, practised what she preached when she and architect fiance Jamie (pictured) walked down the aisle.

Katie, 29, from Hove in Sussex, said: "We made our own invitations from recycled material, the wedding dress was organic cotton, and I got a Fair Trade wedding ring.

"Jamie checked that the diamonds were not 'blood diamonds' -  mined to finance war.

"At the reception we had real petal confetti and fair trade wine and chocolates.

"Though we honeymooned in Costa Rica, we stayed at environmentally responsible resorts from which the local community benefited. In all it cost about £8,000."

And she looked stunning.

Rosie Ames of GreenUnion said  the single best green wedding choice is to buy as much of the food, drink and flowers locally - preferably organic - or opt for fair trade supplies.

You can send invitations by e-mail and cut transport emissions by having the wedding and reception in the same venue or close enough to walk - or by ferrying guests around in a minibus.

Brides could wear a vintage wedding dress or keep it in the family by having mum's or grandma's tailored anew.

Rosie advocates a British honeymoon  - Bournemouth was hotter than the Costas at Easter.

But if you want (perfectly reasonably) to go abroad try using the train or offset your emissions through schemes like tree planting  run by a certified offset company. 

Then you can pledge your troth without a moment's guilt.

* Try www.greenunion.co.uk, www.ethicalweddings.com or www.ourgreenweddinglist.com