Whilst not being a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, I think it’s lovely to celebrate being in love – love for your family, your friends, the world, and of course your special someone.

So I’ve put together my top tips for sharing your love during this loved-up time of year – and for planning a more eco-friendly, ethical or natural wedding.

A romantic sustainable meal for two…

Images: Cotswold Cooks; Organic Buffet; Cotswold Cooks; ChangeKitchen; Organic Buffet; Easy Gourmet

Say ‘no’ to the chain restaurants and find somewhere near to you from The Sustainable Restaurant Association’s directory of sustainable restaurants in the UK.  If you’re near to Dover, why not book a meal at The Coastguard pub and restaurant and enjoy a dinner of local produce.  Or, for a dinner of organic food and locally caught seafood with a difference how about Cafebarge – a Dutch barge in Argyll.

Those getting married who want a menu full of ethical, organic, local or seasonal ingredients should look no further than some fabulous caters like Cotswold Cooks (Wiltshire), Easy Gourmet (London), ChangeKitchen (Midlands), Eco Cusine (London), Organic Buffet or Tabiah Wedding Services (specialising in Asian weddings).  More caterers be found on our directory.

Gifts that give back…

If you’re rather last minute (like me) and want to give a gift that’s less self-indulgent, why not protect an acre of rainforest or buy a rainforest tree from Cool Earth.  Cool Earth works with local rainforest communities to protect rainforest from being cut down – this is good for the indigenous communities, protects areas with high levels of biodiversity and keeps carbon where it belongs.

£30 protects 1/2 an acre and keeps 130 tonnes of CO2 safely locked up.  Recently the indigenous communities in an area of the rainforest called Ashaninka have been hit by devasting floods that have destroyed homes, crops and vegetables gardens.  This Valentine’s we’ve protected 1/2 an acre.

Sweetly smelling organic flowers…

Images: Green and Gorgeous; The Paper Florist; Organic Blooms; Dale Cottage Farm; Green and Gorgeous; The Real Cut Flower Garden

It may be too late to send someone a bunch of organic or fairly traded flowers this Valentine’s Day, but if you’re planning a wedding there are so many lovely alternative options to traditional wedding flowers.

If you’re looking for local, seasonal, fieldgrown or ethically sourced flowers why not consider one of the following Dale Cottage Farm (Worcestershire), The Real Cut Flower Garden (Hereford), BareBlooms (Welsh Borders), Green and Gorgeous (Oxfordshire), Organic Blooms (Gloucestershire), The Plantsmiths (Yorkshire), Catkin (Lincolnshire), Blossom (Manchester), Blooming Green (Kent) or JW Blooms (Somerset).

And for those wanting something truly original and different, why not look at The Paper Florist for everlasting flowers you can treasure forever.  A full list of wedding florists can be found here.

With this fairly traded ring…

Images: Mahailia Jewellery Design; Oria Jewellery; April Doubleday; Chocolate Couture; Fifi Bijoux; Glasswing Jewellery

Rings are a symbol of eternal love and exchanged as tokens of that love.  What could be more meaningul that to give rings that have been made from metals that have been mined responsibly and fairly traded, handcrafted by local artisans or even created from recycled precious metals.

Some of our favourites are Glasswing Jewellery, April Doubleday, Oria Jewellery, Chocolate Couture, Fifi Bijoux, Karina Anne and Mahailia Jewellery Design.  For more ethical jewellery companies look here.

Natural nights away…

Images: Tribes; Eco Retreats; The Green House Hotel; Huntstile Organic Farm; The Green House Hotel; Tribes

Whether it’s a romantic weekend away or your honeymoon, book somewhere that is low impact and sustainable whilst still being luxurious.  There’s The Green House Hotel in Bournemouth, Eco Retreats in Wales, or Huntstile Organic Farm in Somerset.

Or for a luxury honeymoon to exotic locations like Africa, Nepal or South America visit Tribes, the original fair trade travel company.  More honeymoon spots can be found here.