The great news is that choosing a socially conscious wedding location can actually help couples save money. These locations generally cost a lot less than most traditional wedding venues, may require less decorating, and, because they are not the first places couples usually consider for a wedding, are usually easier to book than traditional wedding venues.

CWN: For those who are not entirely familiar with your organization, give our readers an introduction to the AABGA and the resources it offers to its member groups.

DS: The AABGA is a 501c3 association that provides benefits and services to people in the public garden industry. We try to act as a resource center to our members, by offering information and organizing regular conferences throughout the United States.

CWN: What is the role of botanical gardens and arboreta in our society?

DS: The role of our member groups is three-fold: to provide displays of beautiful plants, so that the public can see them; to educate the public about the role of the plants in the greater world; and conservation, as they work to ensure that plant species do not disappear. On the most basic of levels, botanical gardens and arboreta are cultural institutions were people can come and see beautiful plants.

CWN: If a couple is looking to have their wedding at a socially conscious wedding location, what would a botanical garden or arboreta have to offer?

The San Diego Natural History Museum offers rental locations for wedding receptions, including a recently opened 90,000 square foot "green" addition. Their four-story Grand Atrium is one of San Diego's great public spaces, providing orientation to all of their internal galleries, the theater, museum store, and their Environmental Science Education Center. Proceeds from wedding events support the Academy, an organization that plays a vital role in the research, education, and exhibition of the natural world, with a special focus on southern California.

"We got married in a nature park, which has an outdoor chapel and a lodge for the reception," says Rosemary, a graduate student in astronomy. "Before and after the wedding guests were able to go hiking or canoeing, play volleyball, or simply stroll around the park."

Rosemary and Gary saw their location choice both as an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and as a reflection of their priorities and values.

Rosemary's final words of advice for other couples considering a back-to-nature location: "In the end, it's your day and you should do what you believe in"

"Judy Budnitz and Jeff Linnell held their wedding ceremony in a bookstore instead of a temple. They served cupcakes instead of a tiered butter-cream cake. They gave out books instead of conventional party favors. Their wedding was anything but typical, but for the happy couple, it was the perfect way to tie the knot.

The pair was married at the Housing Works Used Book Café in New York, part of a not-for-profit agency that helps homeless people with AIDS. The venue allowed the couple to integrate their charitable lifestyle into their wedding day."

Elegant Weddings. "Weddings With Heart." Winter, 2003.

"Registering for that waffle iron can mean more than a few hot breakfasts if you do it through the I Do Foundation, a nonprofit group that helps couples make charitable donations part of their wedding. When you create a registry at www.idofoundation.org, a percentage of the money spent on gifts is donated to a charity of your choice."

I Do Foundation
The I Do Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, whose mission is to bring a charitable focus to special life events. The Foundation helps engaged couples raise charitable wedding donations through three channels:

Gift Registry: When couples register with our partners-including Target, Linens 'N Things and Amazon.com-up to 8% of all spending is donated.
Travel: The I Do Foundation's partner, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, donates 5% of all honeymoon packages and 4% of guest hotel lodging purchases.
Donation Registry: With our flexible Donation Registry, guests can make a donation directly to charity in place of, or in addition to, traditional gifts.
Favors for Charity: The Favors for Charity program allows couples to make donations in honor of their guests in place of (or in addition to) traditional favors.