Green Wedding: Eco-Friendly Tips For Your Big Day

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but it's also an opportunity to make choices that are environmentally conscious. From invitations to attire, catering to transportation, there are many ways to reduce waste and support ethical and sustainable practices.

A typical wedding generates around 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of CO2 emissions. By committing to a sustainable wedding, you can reduce waste, support ethical businesses, and inspire your guests to adopt eco-friendly practices.

- Choose a local venue to cut down on travel emissions.

- Opt for digital invitations or use recycled paper or plantable seed paper.

- Source local and seasonal flowers and consider potted plants that can be reused or donated after the event.

- Use natural decorations like flowers, leaves, and wood, and rent decor items instead of buying new.

- Serve organic, locally-sourced food and consider a vegetarian or vegan menu to reduce environmental impact.

- Provide guests with reusable items, edible favors, or experiences as wedding favors.

- Encourage carpooling or provide a shuttle service for guests, and opt for eco-friendly transportation options like bicycles or electric cars.

Choose an eco-friendly venue, like a local outdoor space or one with LEED certifications

Choosing an eco-friendly venue is one of the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding. When selecting a venue, consider opting for a local outdoor space or one with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications. Here are some tips to help you choose a venue that aligns with your sustainability goals:

Opt for a Local Outdoor Space:

• Minimise travel emissions: Choosing a local venue that is conveniently located for most of your guests will significantly reduce travel emissions. Consider getting married in your hometown or a nearby area to cut down on plane and car travel.
• Embrace nature: Opting for an outdoor wedding in a local park, botanical garden, or even your backyard can create a stunning, natural backdrop for your ceremony. It also minimises the need for additional decorations and lighting, reducing waste and energy consumption.
• Support conservation: Booking a wedding at a national park or beach can provide funding for conservation and cleanup efforts, allowing your celebration to contribute directly to environmental initiatives.

Select a Venue with LEED Certifications:

• Green Building Information Gateway: Use this resource to search for hotels and event spaces with LEED certifications. These venues prioritise sustainability and implement eco-conscious practices.
• Energy Star ratings: In addition to LEED certifications, look for venues with Energy Star ratings, indicating their commitment to energy efficiency and environmental leadership.
• Sustainable practices: Venues with LEED certifications often have eco-conscious initiatives in place, such as energy-efficient lighting, water conservation measures, and waste reduction programs. This ensures that your celebration aligns with your sustainability values.

By choosing an eco-friendly venue, whether it's a local outdoor space or a LEED-certified location, you can minimise the carbon footprint of your wedding and create a celebration that respects and honours the planet.

Opt for digital invites or use recycled/plantable paper

One of the simplest ways to make your wedding eco-friendly is to opt for digital invites. This is a great way to reduce paper waste and make the process more convenient for your guests, allowing them to RSVP with just a click. There are many online platforms and design options to create personalised digital invitations.

However, if you prefer physical invitations, you can still make eco-friendly choices. Choose recycled paper to reduce the demand for new paper production and divert waste from landfills. Look for paper made from post-consumer recycled materials or certified by reputable sustainability organisations. You can also opt for seed paper, embedded with wildflower seeds that can be planted after use, allowing your guests to watch your love grow long after your wedding day. As the paper decomposes, it nourishes the soil and supports local biodiversity.

Another option is to use alternative materials for your invitations, such as upcycled fabrics, leather, or wood. Look for companies that give back to the environment and print your invitations, programs, and menus on seed paper. Paper Source now offers seeded paper, so you can buy high-quality cardstock and print your plantable wedding invitations at home.

If you want to take it a step further, you can also skip paper wedding invitations entirely and go digital with Paperless Post, which offers a range of digital "paper goods". You can also use Greenvelope, which offers similar services.

Wear second-hand or eco-friendly attire, like attire made from sustainable fabrics

Wearing eco-friendly attire is an important aspect of hosting an eco-friendly wedding. Here are some tips to help you choose environmentally conscious clothing options for your special day:

Choose Sustainable Fabrics

Select wedding attire made from sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, or Tencel. These materials are grown and harvested using environmentally friendly practices, minimizing the use of pesticides and synthetic chemicals. Not only are these fabrics better for the planet, but they also offer superior comfort and breathability, ensuring that you feel confident and comfortable throughout your wedding day.

Rent or Buy Second-Hand

Embrace the circular economy by renting or buying second-hand wedding attire. This reduces the demand for new clothing production and extends the lifespan of existing garments. Explore rental services and consignment shops to find your perfect outfit, or consider borrowing from a family member or friend. By choosing second-hand or rental options, you can reduce waste and support sustainable fashion practices without compromising on style or quality.

Support Ethical Designers

Seek out and support designers who prioritize ethical and sustainable practices in their production processes. Look for brands that use eco-friendly materials, pay fair wages to workers, and prioritize transparency and accountability in their supply chains. By choosing these designers, you invest in high-quality, responsibly made wedding attire and contribute to positive change within the fashion industry.

Vintage and Heirloom Pieces

Consider wearing a vintage dress or veil. You can borrow from a family member or friend, or purchase a pre-loved item from a consignment shop or online marketplace. Antique veils and accessories add a unique, timeless touch to your look while also being eco-friendly.

Resell or Donate Your Attire

After your wedding, consider reselling or donating your attire to extend its lifespan and prevent it from ending up in a landfill. There are websites and boutiques dedicated to reselling pre-loved wedding attire, or you can donate your dress to a charity bridal store, which will then sell it to support various causes.

Serve local, organic, vegetarian food and biodegradable cutlery

One of the simplest ways to make your wedding eco-friendly is to be mindful of the food you serve and the cutlery your guests use. Opting for local, organic, and vegetarian food, as well as biodegradable cutlery, can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your wedding.

When it comes to food, choosing local and seasonal options is key. Transporting food over long distances contributes to carbon emissions, so sourcing your food from local farmers and producers is an easy way to reduce your wedding's carbon footprint. Not only does this support local businesses, but it also ensures that your menu reflects the freshest, seasonal ingredients available.

You can take this a step further by opting for a vegetarian or vegan menu. Plant-based meals require fewer resources to produce and have a lower environmental impact than meat-based dishes. This doesn't mean you have to sacrifice taste or impressing your guests. In fact, you can delight them with creative and flavorful dishes that showcase the best of what's in season.

If you're hiring a caterer, look for one with a sustainable ethos. Ask about their sourcing practices, how they dispose of food waste, and whether they can donate any leftovers. Some caterers, like Orla McAndrew Catering, even offer zero-waste wedding meals using rescued surplus produce.

To further reduce waste, consider setting up a grazing table. This trendy alternative to traditional food displays allows guests to sample multiple menu items from a single table, cutting down on the need for extra containers and displays.

And don't forget about drinks! Choose local wineries, distilleries, and breweries to supply your alcohol, and opt for organic options, which are produced without pesticides, fertilizers, dyes, or GMOs.

Finally, when it comes to cutlery, skip the traditional china and glassware, and opt for biodegradable plates and utensils. Bamboo plates, corn syrup utensils, and biodegradable straws are all excellent options that won't end up in landfills.

By serving local, organic, vegetarian food and providing biodegradable cutlery, you can make your wedding eco-friendlier and show your guests that sustainability is possible without sacrificing style or taste.

Use natural, rented, or vintage decor

Using natural, rented, or vintage decor is a great way to make your wedding eco-friendly. Here are some tips to achieve this:

Natural Decor

Using natural elements like flowers, leaves, and wood for decorations is a beautiful way to create an eco-friendly atmosphere. Opt for locally sourced and seasonal blooms to minimise the carbon footprint associated with transportation. You can also incorporate wooden accents such as driftwood, branches, or reclaimed wood furniture to add a rustic yet elegant touch. If you're feeling creative, you can even make your own decorations from natural materials found in your surroundings.

Potted Plants and Succulents

Instead of cut flowers, consider using potted plants and succulents as centrepieces or decorations. They can be reused after the wedding, either by you or your guests, and they require less maintenance than fresh-cut flowers. This is a unique way to decorate your wedding while being eco-conscious.

Rent Decor Items

Instead of buying new decorations, consider renting them. This reduces waste and saves money. Rent table linens, centrepieces, lighting fixtures, furniture, and even chandeliers. By renting, you also support local businesses that offer these services.

Vintage and Second-Hand Decor

Head to thrift stores, antique shops, or vintage markets to find unique and eco-friendly decorations. You can discover hidden treasures like mason jars, candle holders, seating, vases, and rugs. Not only will you save money, but you'll also give pre-loved items a new lease of life.

Repurpose and Reuse

Get creative and repurpose items you already own or borrow from friends and family. Transform everyday objects into decorative pieces for your wedding. This not only reduces waste but also adds a personal touch to your special day.

Minimalist Approach

Consider embracing the beauty of simplicity and opting for a minimalist decor approach. Choose a venue with breathtaking views or host your wedding outdoors, surrounded by nature's splendour. By doing so, you can create an intimate and serene atmosphere that highlights the inherent beauty of your surroundings.

Frequently asked questions