Ah, weddings – the perfect blend of love, laughter, and a whole lot of planning-induced stress! You want to make your big day as eco-friendly as possible without turning into a compost heap of stress and leaving a huge carbon footprint behind? Well, buckle up your recycled seatbelt, because we’ve got some top tips on how to say “I do” to sustainability without sacrificing style or sanity! But first, let’s address the elephant in the room – why bother with an eco-friendly wedding in the first place? Well, aside from saving the planet (no biggie), going green for your nuptials can actually save you some green too! That’s right, folks – sustainable weddings are not only better for the environment, but they can also be easier on your wallet. And who doesn’t love saving money, am I right?
So, whether you’re a tree-hugging hippie or just someone who wants to do their part to leave the world a little better than they found it, let’s turn your wedding day into a love story that Mother Earth would swipe right on. So, grab your reusable champagne flute and let’s dive into the wild world of eco-friendly weddings!
Why Choose a Sustainable Wedding?
Choosing a sustainable wedding benefits the environment, cuts down on waste, and encourages ethical companies. Couples that have reduced their carbon impact can enjoy their big day. The Knot found that the typical wedding generates 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tonnes of CO2. Adopting a sustainable lifestyle can dramatically reduce these figures.
Choose The Right Vendors
In order to have a more sustainable wedding, you need to work with the right vendors who support your vision and eco-friendly wedding venues. With so many options out there, you can easily find vendors who have eco-friendly practices and sustainable wedding locations. Before you sign a contract, make sure to ask all the right questions and be certain that the vendor will be going for a more sustainable approach. Ask them for some examples as well.
Pick Out an Eco-Friendly Venue
The most easiest way to have an eco-friendly wedding is by picking a venue that prioritises sustainability. I also recommend sticking to the same venue for the ceremony and reception to reduce the emissions from cars on the road.
I know you’re probably wondering how to find a sustainable wedding venue, well I’ve got your back! The perfect venue would be incorporating renewable energy resources and recycling in different ways. Check out a list of questions to ask your potential venue to make sure they are environmentally friendly:
- Do you have rentals?
- Are solar generators available?
- Do you have any local vendors to connect with?
- Do they practice sustainable options like solar-powered energy, rainwater harvesting or more?
Another way to be more sustainable with your wedding venue is to go for places that have a permanent infrastructure. If you’re getting something custom built or setting up a marquee, that won’t be an environmentally friendly choice.
Go For a Micro Wedding
If you didn’t already know, micro weddings are a big trend right now. It’s basically bigger than an elopement but smaller than a full-blown wedding. When you cut-down your guests list, you automatically reduce your carbon footprint. There are so many more benefits of a micro-wedding: such as it’s not financially straining, it offers you more flexibility with venues and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed with the whole wedding planning process.
Go For Virtual Eco Wedding Invitations
We live in a digital world, so why be wasteful with your wedding invites? Everything is being done digitally these days, which is why virtual invitations are quite popular. You can simply email or message everyone the invites and have them RSVP the same way. This is honestly one of the easiest way to be less wasteful.
Natural Touch with Flowers
Flowers add a touch of magic to weddings. Traditional choices can have an environmental impact. Embrace native organic or dried flowers to decorate your ceremony and reception areas. Potted plants or succulents make eco alternatives and thoughtful favours for your guests.
Reuse Flowers
A wedding is incomplete without flowers and they are a stunning way to dress up your venue. There are so many ways to reuse flowers, here are some of my favourites:
- Use the same floral arrangements for your ceremony and reception
- Use the bridal party’s bouquets as decor for the cake table during the reception
- Potted plants make great centre pieces and can be taken home after the day is over
Sustainable Celebrations – Rent whatever you can
Buying single use items that will be thrown out after use is terrible for the environment. There are so many renting companies out there and you can easily find something that suits your needs. From wedding centrepieces and silverware to table liners and napkins; there are endless options available. You just need to put in some research and time to find the best vendors that match your wedding theme.
Skip Buffets
Buffets are a big NO when it comes to a sustainable wedding. It causes a lot of food wastage, which is very bad for the environment. Even if you are not having an eco-friendly wedding, I would not recommend going for a buffet for your wedding. Having a plated dinner will make sure you have just enough food to feed the guests.
Put Together an Eco-Friendly Registry
If you want an environmentally conscious lifestyle, then I would recommend creating a wedding registry that supports your practice. As your guests will browse the options, maybe they’ll also be inspired to follow in your footsteps.
DIY Your Wedding Decor
Making your own wedding decor is a great pre-wedding activity and allows you to get creative and more personal. You can even upcycle some of the things from your own home. There are so many great ways to reuse tin cans, wine bottles and reuse glass jars. Head over to Pinterest to find ideas and get crafty!
Eco-Friendly Attire
Second-hand Wedding Attire
Another important aspect of a sustainable wedding is choosing eco-friendly attire. There are several options available for eco-friendly wedding dresses, suits, and accessories.
– Rent or borrow your attire: Consider renting or borrowing your wedding dress or suit instead of purchasing a new one. This helps reduce the amount of waste associated with the fashion industry.
– Opt for eco-friendly fabrics: Look for dresses, suits, and accessories made from sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics, such as organic cotton, hemp, or linen. These materials are biodegradable and have a lower environmental impact than conventional fabrics.
– Consider second-hand options: Consider purchasing your attire from a second-hand shop or vintage stores, consignment shops, or online platforms. There are many beautiful and sustainable options available at thrift stores and consignment shops where you can purchase pre-owned wedding dresses and suits.
By choosing eco-friendly attire for your wedding, you can contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry and minimize the environmental impact of your wedding. This reduces textile waste and supports ethical fashion practices by opting for second hand attire.
Repurpose Wedding Items In Your Home
Did you know that you can actually use many items from your wedding as home decor? Not only does it make a great keepsake, but also reduces waste. Monograms, card box, message board; they all make great decor.
Think Locally
Supporting local is one of my favourite ways to be more sustainable while also helping your community grow and be positively impacted by your event. Think local flowers, food, stationary, designers, jewellers and musicians.
Elevate your wedding feast with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients that celebrate the flavours of the region. Partner with caterers who prioritize sustainable practices, minimizing food waste and championing composting initiatives. Your guests will savour the fresh, flavourful fare while honouring the planet with each delectable bite.
Keep Wedding Local
Another thing to think about is where your guests are coming from. I know that wedding destinations are super fun, but they are not environmentally friendly. With so many people flying to a far-off location, it does have an impact on the environment. Think about where most of your guests live and find a wedding venue that everyone can travel to easily.
Make Your Own Wedding Favours – Give back thoughtfully
Another great way to have an eco-friendly wedding is to make your own favours! Not only does this make things more personal, but you can also customise things to your liking. Homemade candles, handmade soaps, baking kits, seed poches; these are all some amazing ideas.
You can also skip wedding favours all together. They are becoming less and less popular since people usually leave them behind.
Instead continue the spirit of generosity by supporting causes that matter to you. Of favours consider donating to a conservation organisation or offering seedlings for guests to plant and nurture. Your wedding isn’t about love but about making a positive impact, on the world.
When you start organising your wedding keep in mind that each eco- conscious decision you make contributes, to a better more sustainable future. By incorporating sustainability into your wedding planning, you are not just creating lasting memories. Also leaving behind a legacy of love and environmental responsibility, for generations. Let your special day showcase the beauty of love, nature and the impact of decisions.
I hope this blog helped you to understand more about sustainable weddings and how you can have one. With trends changing so frequently, we have become quite wasteful and don’t think much about the negative impact it has on the environment. Weddings leave a huge carbon footprint, so eco-friendly practices like these can make a huge difference.
