Columbus might not be the mecca of ‘green weddings’ quite yet, but wedding planners say that more and more local couples are latching on to the idea of creating a sustainable celebration of their union.

“It’s still that trend of people being much more timid about it and being afraid it’s going to cost more and be more overwhelming,” said Angela Petro, owner of Two Caterers, a Columbus wedding planning company that was recognized by CEO Magazine as the best green business of 2010. “Like anything, you take baby steps so people can see it’s doable without being overwhelming.”

Here are some tips to help you leave a larger impression on the hearts and minds of your guests than on the Earth.

Choose items that can be reused when possible. Whether dinnerware and glassware or decorations, if you utilize items that will survive more than one celebration, you’ll cut down the amount of waste significantly.

If you do choose to use disposable items, elect to use something that’s compostable or easily recycled. Emilie Duncan, owner of Emilie Duncan Event Planning, says VerTerra plates are one popular option.

“(VerTerra) collects leaves and hot presses them into really cool plates,” she said. “They’re reusable and completely biodegradable.”

You also can’t assume that every guest will know the difference between compostables, recyclables and regular trash. Petro recommends signage for each bin designed to match the overall theme of the wedding.

You can even hire a local company, such as Eartha Limited, to come to your wedding and process all the waste for you.

Purchasing local products matters; the less distance goods travel, the less fuel and packaging is used. A plethora of local food and flower choices are available in Columbus. Petro often decorates with sunflowers from Anderson Orchard (the sunflower guy) at the North Market, which come from within 10 miles of downtown.

“If that’s not an option, choose things you can reuse or return to nature,” Petro said. “We’ll do things like incorporate rocks and stones and fallen branches – natural materials. Afterwards, it’s something we can reuse again, compost, chop up or throw back into the yard.”

When planning your menu, seasonal and local food and drinks will create a distinctive spread that will impress your guests, and their palates. A trip to a local farmers market will provide delicious dinner inspiration, and C-bus’ craft breweries and distilleries can stock your bar with signature drinks that will awe your out-of-town guests. Plus, there’s probably no dessert item that complements wedding cake better than Jeni’s Ice Cream.

What about the clothes? Green wedding consultants recommend against renting tuxedoes. The chemicals that go into dry cleaning tuxes are hardly ever ‘green.’ Instead, opt to wear a suit you already own. For the bride, Duncan also recommends choosing a dress from an organic dressmaker and/or looking for garments that incorporate materials like organic cotton and humanely harvested silk.

Choose your venue wisely. “Goodale Park is absolutely beautiful and you can rent it,” Duncan said. The home of ComFest isn’t the only highly coveted outdoor wedding destination in Columbus. The Whetstone Park of Roses also offers unbelievable scenery that can’t be replicated with store-bought decorations, and Hoover Y Park is another oft-overlooked scenic spot.

Plan a departure that’s more Earth-friendly and more romantic, like a tandem bicycle or pedicab. Not only is alternative transport cheaper than a limo and better for the environment, the charming gesture will make a lasting impression on your guests.

Be mindful when choosing wedding favors; is the gift something the guest will use again? If it isn’t, consider homemade food items, and support the locavore movement by giving away jars of local jam or honey, Petro said.

“We see brides doing the etched glasses and really, when you take it home – it’s junk,” she said.

Green-up your wedding invites with wildflowers. Recycled paper can add a natural touch to wedding invitations, or skip the snail mail altogether and opt for email invitations. You can turn your invitations into a lasting symbol of your growing love by making them plantable.

“A few years ago, we made handmade invitations, and we made the paper and imbedded wildflower seeds in them and asked people to plant them after the wedding,” Duncan said. “It was nicely green, but not over the top.”