*Collaborative Post*
Most couples want their wedding to leave a lasting impact in the hearts and memories of their guests. But unfortunately, many weddings also have a negative impact on the environment. If you’re an eco-conscious couple, hosting a sustainable event is bound to be high on your priority list. But with so many elements and moving parts to bring together for the big day, how can you ensure each aspect of your wedding echoes your sustainable values?
Today, we will explain how to seamlessly plan a beautifully sustainable wedding with minimal stress.
Keep it simple
A dreamlike, fairytale wedding doesn’t have to cost thousands of pounds and includes vast quantities of lavish decorations. Oftentimes, it’s the minimally elegant weddings which make the biggest statement and take your breath away. Choosing a naturally beautiful wedding venue that already follows sustainable practices means that most of the work is already done for you and allows you to draw on the scenery rather than buying in fabric drapes, expensive centrepieces and exotic bouquets.
For inspiration, look for rustic, minimal and earthy wedding themes. You can find hundreds of photos to spark your creativity – try to find ways to make each element of your wedding decor as simple yet beautiful as possible. A recycled glass bottle with a few stems of lavender or cut flowers and a single twine bow wrapped around it makes for a sustainable and stunning centrepiece; whilst a simple wicker archway in front of your favourite woodland river needs nothing more than you and your guests to become a gorgeous wedding setting.
Use local resources
Shockingly, thousands of tonnes of single-use plastics are typically used and left behind at weddings over the course of just one year. That’s a lot of waste! The easiest way to avoid contributing to this figure is to be careful not to use anything that comes wrapped in plastic for your wedding, including single-use plates. By using local suppliers rather than ordering mass-produced items from overseas, you’ll be reducing the environmental impact of your purchases in more ways than one.
Not only will choosing small local businesses mean that you’re opting for more sustainable packaging, but you’ll also be significantly reducing the carbon footprint of your items’ travel and you won’t be contributing to unfair labour practices. Much like with fast fashion, many wedding items can be tempting due to their low costs – but it’s important to carefully consider each aspect you add to your wedding. Will you use it again after the big day?
Choose alternative catering options
Traditional wedding breakfasts consist of a three-course meal, and guests are also usually offered canapés post-ceremony and an array of sweet treats as evening falls – plus another table full of savoury food such as burgers and chips later on in the night. Whilst it can be enjoyable to overindulge on occasion, the average wedding produces around £500 worth of leftover food go to waste. So if you’re looking for an easy way to boost the eco-credentials of your special day, simply cut down on the amount of food you put out for your guests.
Alternative catering options are becoming popular amongst sustainably-minded couples, as they can help to reduce food waste and also work out as a more cost-effective option. Buffets or barbecues is a great way to help avoid wasted courses, and food trucks work brilliantly for the evening reception, as meals are made to order and often come with takeaway boxes so nothing goes to waste.
Consider renting your attire
If you’re a hopeless romantic, you may well have been planning your perfect wedding dress since you were a little girl. But there’s no rule that says only a brand-new dress can suit a dream wedding. Renting your wedding dress allows those that have already been made to be reused rather than collecting dust or being thrown away, and it also cuts down on a large amount of carbon emissions and resources used to make these elaborate gowns.
If you can, a great option would be choosing natural fabrics and avoiding silk will further reduce the impact of your chosen dress, as the processes used to create synthetic fabrics use large amounts of water and chemicals. Silk is highly unsustainable despite being biodegradable and is responsible for the exploitation and cruelty of both the animals it’s harvested from and the human workers who extract the thread.
Opt for a staycation honeymoon
A big part of weddings that often goes overlooked when calculating their sustainability is the honeymoon. Why concentrate so much effort on creating a beautifully sustainable wedding day, just to ramp up your carbon footprint by jetting off to a remote tropical island? Whilst it may not offer a dramatic change in scenery, there’s plenty of romance to be found closer to home.
Why not spend a long weekend in a cottage by the coast, where you can enjoy long walks and some local attractions? The benefit of a honeymoon staycation is you can easily bring along your dog, and you don’t need to spend so much on flights or accommodation, either. With less stress and an already comfortable environment, a staycation may be just what you need after spending many frantic months wedding planning your special day.
Keep your goal in mind
Whilst planning your green wedding, you’ll inevitably be tempted by advertising, friends and family to choose items or include elements that don’t necessarily align with your eco-friendly values. Try to keep sustainability at the forefront of your mind when making any decisions for your big day, so that you and your partner can feel as proud as possible once the event rolls around. Choosing to host an environmentally friendly wedding is an honourable decision and it lays the path for others to follow – making a huge difference in protecting our planet.
