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.
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bookmark_borderHow To Be a Sustainable Wedding Guest
Hey earth muffins! No doubt about it, wedding season is upon us! The summer months seem to be synonymous with weddings, which means you might find yourself at a ceremony or two this year. π°ββοΈ While you obviously have little control if the wedding itself is eco-friendly, there are still ways you can be a sustainable wedding guest! Every small thing counts, so make it a goal of yours to reduce your impact on the planet at all events this summer.
~ Wear a secondhand outfit.
This is one of the easiest ways to be a sustainable wedding guest. Instead of buying a new dress for every wedding, shop your closet and be a proud outfit repeater. Or, borrow something from a friend! If you need to find something more specific, hit up all the secondhand stores in your area. You’d be surprised at how many cute fancy dresses are at the thrift store!
Read More β₯bookmark_borderGreat Eco-Friendly Wedding Gifts to Give This Summer
Hey earth muffins! Wedding season is upon us. π Summer is a very popular time to get hitched, which means you might find yourself spending a few weekends celebrating couples in your life. I’m a sucker for a good wedding – so much romance! Plus, it is totally possible to have a sustainable wedding if that is important to you. On the flip side, even if you are just a guest at a wedding it doesn’t mean you can’t keep your green values alive! Today, I will be sharing a list of my favorite eco-friendly wedding gifts to give this summer. π Let’s jump right into it!
~Money or a gift card
While this might not seem like a “special” gift, it is definitely a pratical one. The couple will be more than happy if you give them some cash to spend on whatever they choose! To make this gift even more green, try thrifting the wedding card or buying it from a local business as well. If you don’t think money is a good enough gift, get them a gift card (or e-card) to use on their honeymoon! This could be for Airbnb to help out with housing costs or for an experience you know they will love. If you really want to get creative, you could even give them money/gift cards for 12 experiences that they can do throughout their first year of marriage. A great way to gift them dates for a year!
~Stainless steel, glass, or wooden kitchen utensils
Many wedding registries include houseware and kitchen items for the couple’s new house or apartment. If they have any items on the list that are made of sustainable materials, purchase them! Having good kitchen products made of high quality materials (like stainless steel, glass, or wood) will allow them to have them for a long time. Makes for great eco-friendly wedding gifts for sure! It’s a nice way for them to think of you whenever they are cooking a delicious meal too. π³
~Artwork from Etsy for their new home/apartment
While not an entirely sustainable gift option, I suggest supporting small business Etsy artists for the happy couple. Many shops on Etsy sell art that is made to order, which reduces the possibility of creating extra waste. Plus, Etsy offsets all carbon emitted during their shipping process! There are many great pieces to choose from, but here are some of my top recommendations:
- Dried flower art – you could use some flowers from the wedding bouquet or centerpieces!
- Custom painting of the church the couple was married in
- Spotify QR code art – when scanned, this can take you to the first dance song!
- Custom painting of the couple in an art style that will match their new home
~Soy wax candles
Soy candles make a great gift, especially if the couple already lives together before getting married. If they already live together, they often already have many of the typical house/kitchen products on registries… So get them some amazing candles to spruce up their home! Soy candles are much more sustainable than paraffin wax ones; plus, I find that they often have better scents! You can buy soy candles almost anywhere now as well; try looking at some local small businesses or ordering some off Etsy.
~A care package of your favorite eco swaps!
If you know the couple is interested in making their house more green, create a gift box of all your favorite eco swaps! This eco-friendly wedding gifts post cannot be complete without a plug for a nice care package. π From bathroom products to kitchen utensils, there are so many options to customize a gift that you know they will love (and more importantly, actually use). I suggest going the extra mile and packing the gift in a compost bin – saves on single use wrapping paper AND adds another practical gift to your present. It will be the talk of the wedding for sure! π
~Potted plants for their home
While not a gift for everyone, houseplants make a great gift if the happy couple has a green thumb. I suggest picking a plant that is easy to grow or has a high probability of staying alive… Wouldn’t want a dead plant reminding them of their wedding!
Final Thoughts About Eco-Friendly Wedding Gifts
This wedding season, be conscious about the gifts you are giving! Even if the wedding itself isn’t sustainable, you can ensure that your contribution to the event is. While not really that special, money and gift cards are always a great option. If the wedding registry has some sustainable housewares, definitely scoop those up! Even if they aren’t on the registry, I think soy candles and plants are excellent gifts to give as well. Or, you can go the creative route and invest in some customized artwork for the couple’s new home. What eco-friendly gifts will you be giving this upcoming wedding season?
Love,
Jenna β₯