How would you rate your  “green IQ”?  Do you conserve electricity by turning the lights off each time you leave a room? Do you have a recycle bin in your kitchen? How about driving a hybrid car? Almost all of us try – in big and small ways – to do our part to make the earth a bit greener.

But consider this Washington state couple. Pete Geyer and Andrea Parrish raised the funds needed for their July 31^st wedding by collecting and recycling over 400,000 aluminum cans. Well, they actually collected just over 280,000 cans with the balance received in donations from United Recycling Services, Alcoa Aluminum, and citizens around the world.  All said and done, Pete and Andrea collected 5 tons of aluminum worth about $3,800!

At just under $4000, their wedding budget was modest, to say the least. But this environmentally conscious couple had a real interest in protecting our earth and in starting their new life together without the burden of paying off an expensive and elaborate wedding. So, by collecting cans and planning a backyard potluck reception with lots of DIY elements, they achieved their goal and are joyfully anticipating the day they say “I Do.”

Now that this creative couple has officially “crushed” their goal (40 days early, no less) you’d think they’d never want to see another aluminum can as long as they both shall live! Quite the contrary, Pete and Andrea continue to collect, and donations continue to pour in. Going forward, 40% of monies raised will help fund their (as yet unplanned) honeymoon. The remaining 60% will be divided between two of their favorite charities: Doctors Without Borders and the Rim Country Land Institute. Their story has inspired brides and others around the globe to discover how they can use funds from recycling to reach their own goals. You can share your comments with Andrea and Pete and learn more about their heartwarming story by visiting their website: Wedding Cans.

All photos courtesy of the Wedding Cans website.