Green Outdoor Wedding: Eco-Friendly Tips For Nature-Loving Couples

Planning an outdoor wedding? Congratulations! Now, how do you make it environmentally sustainable?

First, you'll want to consider the location. Opting for a local venue will reduce the carbon footprint of your guests' travel. If you can, choose a venue with a LEED certification or Energy Star rating. Outdoor spaces like farms, gardens, forests, and vineyards tend to be more eco-friendly and may have built-in decor, reducing the need for additional decorations.

Next, think about your vendors. Hire caterers and florists who source locally and use sustainable practices. Choose a caterer with a Green Restaurant Certification and opt for a plated meal over a buffet to reduce food waste. Ask your florist to use chicken wire instead of floral foam, and consider potted plants or rent-and-return silk florals instead of cut flowers.

When it comes to decorations, less is more. Use candles instead of electric lighting, and rent reusable decor, furniture, and linens. Opt for digital invitations and wedding websites to cut down on paper waste, and provide biodegradable or compostable cutlery and dishware.

For your wedding attire, go vintage! Shop second-hand for your dress, suit, or tux, or rent your outfit to reduce costs and environmental impact. Opt for ethical and antique jewellery, and lab-grown diamonds.

Finally, be mindful of your exit. Instead of confetti or rice, consider a leaf toss or dried flowers.

By implementing these ideas, you'll be well on your way to having a beautiful and sustainable outdoor wedding!

Choose a local venue

Choosing a local venue for your wedding is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Here are some tips to help you select a sustainable location for your big day:

Consider the Destination

It is important to choose a venue that is conveniently located for the majority of your guests. By selecting a local venue, you can cut down on plane travel and car emissions. If you and your partner are from the same town, consider getting married close by. If you opt for a destination wedding, research the location's sustainability performance before making a decision.

Choose a Sustainable Venue

When selecting a venue, look for places with LEED certifications (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and Energy Star ratings. Outdoor spaces such as farms and gardens tend to be more eco-friendly. Additionally, ensure that the venue offers free WiFi to enable digital communication and reduce the need for paper materials.

Find a Dual Ceremony-Reception Site

Opt for a venue that can accommodate both your ceremony and reception. This will reduce carbon emissions from guest and vendor transportation. Holding your ceremony and/or reception outdoors can also decrease electricity usage.

Use Local Vendors

Partner with local vendors who share your sustainability values. Ask about their environmental commitment and request documents outlining their practices. Using local vendors reduces transportation emissions and supports the local economy.

Offer Shuttle Transportation

Provide shuttle transportation for your guests to curb drinking and driving, and reduce the need for multiple cars. This is also typically the preferred method of travel by wedding venues.

Stage a Green Exit

Plan an eco-friendly wedding exit that is venue-approved and has minimal impact and cleanup. For example, consider a leaf toss instead of confetti.

Send sustainable invites

When it comes to sending out invites for your wedding, there are a few ways to make this process more environmentally sustainable. Firstly, you could opt for digital invites instead of paper ones. This is a great way to cut down on waste and can be a more convenient option for your guests. There are plenty of stylish options available online, such as Paperless Post, which offers a suite of wedding "paper goods" and premium event management features.

If you would prefer to send physical invites, there are still ways to make this process eco-friendly. You can choose recycled paper, upcycled fabric, leather, or wood. Some companies, like Paper Culture, offer 100% post-recycled paper invites, and they even plant a tree for every order they receive. Botanical Paperworks is another great option, as they print their invites on seed-infused paper that can be planted and turned into flowers.

Another way to make your invites more sustainable is to support local stationers. Collaborate with a local stationer to source the right materials, such as recycled paper, and add a personal touch with a rubber stamp or embosser for the return address. You can also work with a calligrapher for gorgeous hand-addressing, which not only adds a special touch but also supports a small business.

Opt for an eco-friendly exit toss

If you're looking for an eco-friendly alternative to the traditional wedding exit toss, there are plenty of options to choose from that are just as festive and beautiful. Here are some ideas for a nature-friendly send-off:

Dried Flowers and Herbs

Using dried flowers and herbs is an eco-friendly and fragrant option for your wedding exit toss. Lavender, for example, not only looks pretty but also has a calming scent. Other options include rose petals, dried eucalyptus, and a mix of microflowers. You can estimate about half a cup per guest if you're using cones or sachets, or one cup per guest if you prefer a basket or bowl for a more generous toss.

Leaves

Leaves are an excellent choice for an eco-friendly wedding exit, especially since they're readily available from nature! Opt for leaves that complement your wedding aesthetic and theme. For instance, olive leaves are perfect for an elegant outdoor celebration, while fall leaves like oak or maple are ideal for an autumn-themed wedding. You can even cut out leaves that match your wedding theme from paper or other eco-friendly materials.

Biodegradable Confetti

If you love the look of confetti but want to avoid the environmental impact, there's good news! Biodegradable and eco-friendly tossing confetti is available. You can also make your own DIY biodegradable shimmer confetti for a fun and eco-conscious alternative. This is a great option if your venue doesn't allow fresh petals, as they can sometimes harm the grass.

Dissolvable Confetti

Dissolvable confetti is another eco-friendly option that won't harm the environment. It still gives you the fun and festive feel of traditional confetti, but it dissolves so you don't have to worry about the cleanup or any negative impact on nature.

Fresh Flower Petals

Using fresh flower petals is a beautiful and classic idea for your wedding exit toss. You can provide your guests with rose petals or a mix of colourful petals to shower you and your spouse as you exit the ceremony. This option not only looks stunning but also creates a romantic and fragrant moment.

These eco-friendly wedding exit toss ideas will not only make for gorgeous photos but also ensure that you're celebrating your special day in a way that's kind to the planet.

Use local vendors

Using local vendors is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

Choose Local Food and Beverage Vendors

Opting for local caterers and beverage suppliers is an effective way to reduce the carbon emissions associated with your wedding. Food and drinks that are sourced locally and produced seasonally will have a lower carbon footprint than those that need to be transported over long distances. This also applies to your wedding cake. If you can, choose a caterer with a Green Restaurant Certification, and consider a vegetarian or vegan menu, as plant-based meals generally consume fewer resources.

Source Local Flowers

Flowers can be a large contributor to waste at weddings. To reduce this, you could opt for potted plants instead of cut flowers, or use local blooms and seasonal flowers. This will not only reduce the environmental impact of transport but also provide business for local florists and growers. You could even ask your guests to take the potted plants home as wedding favours, ensuring they live on long after your special day.

Hire Local Musicians and Entertainers

Hiring local musicians and entertainers is another way to support your community and reduce the environmental impact of your wedding. Local artists will not have to travel far, reducing carbon emissions, and you will be contributing to the local creative economy.

Opt for Local Stationery and Decor

When it comes to stationery and decor, there are also ways to go local. For your invitations and other stationery, consider using recycled paper or seed paper, which can be planted and grown into flowers. You could even source recycled paper from a local stationer. For decor, you could rent items like tables, chairs, linens, and silverware from local companies, reducing the need for new purchases and supporting local businesses.

Choose Local Wedding Favours

If you plan to give wedding favours to your guests, consider supporting local businesses by sourcing these items locally. Edible treats like jam or honey from nearby farms are a great option, and your guests will get a taste of the local area.

Using local vendors is a fantastic way to make your wedding more environmentally sustainable. By choosing local options for food and beverages, flowers, stationery and decor, wedding favours, and entertainment, you can significantly reduce your event's carbon footprint and support your local community.

Rent your decor and fashion

Renting your decor and fashion is a great way to make your outdoor wedding more environmentally sustainable. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Renting Decor

• Opt for renting decor items such as lighting, backdrops, canopies, photo booths, linens, and centrepieces instead of buying new. This can help you save money and reduce waste. Look for rental companies that offer sustainable and eco-friendly options.
• Check out online platforms such as Rent My Wedding, Ship Our Wedding, and Etsy, which offer a wide range of rental decor options for weddings. These sites often provide free shipping, easy setup, and DIY kits.
• Facebook groups and marketplaces are also great places to find second-hand or rentable decor items. You can also resell your decor after the wedding to other couples.
• When choosing a venue, select one with built-in decor, such as vineyards or greenhouses, to reduce the need for additional decorations.
• Consider using potted flowers or plants instead of cut flowers. This way, they can be reused or transplanted after the event.
• Use natural materials, recycled paper, upcycled fabrics, leather, and wood for your decor. You can also look for ways to reuse, recycle, or donate your decor after the wedding.

Renting Fashion

• For the wedding party's attire, consider renting instead of buying. This is especially useful for items that you may not wear again, such as tuxedos. Websites like The Black Tux and Generation Tux offer rental options.
• When choosing your wedding attire, opt for second-hand, vintage, or borrowed pieces. You can find these at thrift stores, estate sales, or online marketplaces.
• If you're purchasing new, look for dress designers and jewellers who use sustainable practices, recycled fabrics, or lab-grown stones. Grace Loves Lace, Sanyukta Shrestha, Reformation Bridal, and Brilliant Earth are some popular options.
• Propose with a family heirloom or shop for vintage engagement rings at estate jewellery stores. You can also consider lab-grown diamonds or alternative stones to reduce the environmental impact.

Frequently asked questions