Well – I am now a married woman! Planning our wedding has been an exciting (and stressful) chapter of my life that I am honestly glad is over. Our wedding was amazing – and imperfectly sustainable in all the best ways. Many couples these days are looking to celebrate their special day in a way that reflects their sustainability values. Making your wedding more sustainable doesn’t mean sacrificing the beauty or significance of the day. In fact, it can enhance the meaningfulness of your celebrations. Here are the best tips on how to make your wedding more sustainable.
1. Be mindful about the venue you select
Opt for a venue that values sustainability. This could be a location that uses renewable energy, has excellent recycling policies, or is situated in a natural setting that reduces the need for additional decorations. Outdoor venues like botanical gardens, beaches, or farms not only provide stunning backdrops but also reduce the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning.
2. Consider transportation and travel
Select a venue close to the majority of your guests to minimize travel emissions. We picked a bed and breakfast for our venue that was located in close proximity to the majority of our guests. Encourage carpooling, or arrange group transportation like buses or vans to reduce the number of vehicles used. If some guests must fly, consider compensating for carbon emissions by investing in carbon offsets.
3. Buy a secondhand dress
A great option for a sustainable wedding is to wear a vintage or secondhand wedding dress. Perhaps you can wear (or alter) a family member’s dress! Not only is this planet-friendly, but it also adds a story and sentimentality to your wedding attire.
4. Pick sustainable wedding rings
For the rings, consider buying them secondhand or from an antique jeweler in your area. I decided to not even buy a wedding band, as I love my 1940s engagement ring and didn’t see the need to add anything onto it. If you must buy the rings new, buy them from companies that value sustainability and reduce their waste throughout the production process.
5. Be smart about your menu and the caterer
Select a caterer who uses local, organic, and seasonal food if possible. Consider a vegetarian or vegan menu as plant-based foods generally have a lower environmental impact than meat. Ensure that your caterer can use regular non-disposable plates and utensils too.
6. Consider digital invites
Digital invitations are an eco-friendly alternative to paper ones and can be as elegant and personalized as traditional invitations. If you prefer physical invites, opt for those made from recycled paper (what we did!) or sustainable materials like bamboo, hemp, or organic cotton.
7. Decorate your sustainable wedding with the planet in mind
Decorations are a vital part of wedding aesthetics but often contribute to waste. Opt for natural decor like potted plants, flowers, stones, and biodegradable confetti. You can rent decorations or use items that guests can take home as favors. Choose local and seasonal flowers to reduce the carbon footprint associated with importing blooms.
8. Do sustainable wedding favors or none at all
Favors are a lovely way to thank guests, but they can often become waste if guests don’t actually use them. Choose eco-friendly wedding favors like seed packets, small potted plants, soaps, or edible treats (like honey or jam). Many couples are eliminating favors altogether, so that is another option.
9. Have a plan for waste at the end of the night
Communicate with your vendors about your desire to minimize waste well in advance of the wedding and work together to implement good waste management practices. Set up recycling bins around the venue and ensure that food waste is composted. Have a plan for what to do with leftover food and/or desserts at the end of the night too. Because our wedding was held at a bed and breakfast, the leftover cupcakes we had were left with guests staying at the inn that night.
A sustainable wedding is not only about making eco-friendly choices but also about celebrating your union in a way that respects and honors the environment. These steps not only help reduce your wedding’s environmental impact but also set a meaningful precedent for your life together. How did you make your wedding more sustainable??
Love,
Jenna ♥
Congratulations!! I am wishing you a lifetime of happiness together! You are so right that more people are opting for homemade wedding favors. At a wedding my husband and I attended recently, the favors were homemade soaps.
Huge congratulations! I love the idea of an antique engagement ring. I have a few rings that I’ve bought from antique shops and I love looking at them and wondering about the life of the person who wore it before me! x