6 ways to make your wedding eco-friendly 🌿 💍

Congratulations on your engagement and for choosing to explore a more eco-friendly wedding!

Planning a sustainable wedding is an exciting journey, though it might feel overwhelming at times.

It's possible to have an amazing and memorable wedding while sticking to your goal of being sustainable. Learn how to do it with these tips!

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Planning an eco-friendly wedding is a meaningful way to celebrate while caring for the planet.

Traditional weddings often have a high environmental impact, producing waste, using significant resources, and generating emissions through travel and decor.

By making sustainable choices, you can reduce waste, minimize your wedding’s carbon footprint, and support eco-conscious businesses!

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The venue is one of the biggest contributors to a wedding's environmental impact due to high energy use for heating, cooling, and lighting these spaces, along with transportation emissions for guests who attend. Opting for a sustainable or nearby location can help reduce this footprint.

Make eco-friendly choices when selecting a venue. Opt for:

• Outdoor spaces: Consider outdoor venues, such as parks, gardens, or beach locations.

• Eco-certified venues: Look for venues with environmental certifications, like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or Green Seal. These certifications show that a venue meets specific standards.

• Reduced guest travel emissions: Choose a venue close to where most guests live or offer group transportation, like shuttle buses or carpooling options to reduce travel emissions.

• Renewable energy sources: Venues fully or even partially powered by solar or wind energy are great choices.

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When choosing wedding invitations, eco-friendly options can help reduce waste and lower emissions. Look into:

• Digital invitations: These save paper, eliminate delivery emissions, and are budget-friendly. Plus, tracking RSVPs online is easy and efficient!

• Plantable or recycled paper: If you prefer physical invites, plantable seed paper grows into flowers or herbs, while recycled paper reduces the demand for new materials and keeps waste to a minimum.

Both choices support a more sustainable wedding, making them beautiful and eco-conscious!

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Eco-friendly decor and flowers add beauty to your wedding while supporting sustainability. Look for:

• Reusable decor: Rent or borrow decorations to reduce waste. Items like arches, candle holders, and backdrops can be reused and are often more cost-effective than buying new ones. You can often find these items being sold or given away by newlyweds on wedding and bridal groups on Facebook.

• Potted plants: Use potted plants or herbs instead of cut flowers. They make gorgeous centerpieces and can be gifted or planted afterward!

• Locally sourced flowers: Choosing locally grown flowers or eco-florists not only lowers transport emissions, but also ensures fresher and often more affordable options.

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Catering can have a significant impact on the environment, from food production to waste disposal. Making sustainable choices not only benefits the planet, but can also enhance your wedding experience. Plan to include:

• Local and organic ingredients: Opt for locally sourced and organic ingredients to reduce the carbon footprint of transporting food long distances. Local produce is often fresher and supports local farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture practices​.

• Plant-based options: Incorporating plant-based dishes into your menu is an effective way to lower your wedding's environmental impact. Plant-based meals generally require fewer resources to produce and generate less greenhouse gas emissions compared to meat-based options​.

• Minimal food waste: Work with your caterer to plan portion sizes wisely and consider options for repurposing leftovers. Many caterers can donate excess food to local shelters or food banks, ensuring that leftovers don’t go to waste​.

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Choosing sustainable wedding attire can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your big day. Fast fashion contributes to significant waste, with the average wedding dress often worn only once and then discarded.

By making thoughtful choices about your attire, you can help reduce waste and promote more sustainable practices in the fashion industry.​

Eco-friendly options include:

• Second-hand attire: Second-hand clothing reduces demand for new production and often features unique designs.

• Rental options: Many companies offer a wide selection of beautiful wedding dresses and suits for rent, allowing you to wear something stunning without the waste.

• Sustainable designers: If you prefer new attire, look for designers who focus on ethical practices, using eco-friendly materials and fair labor standards to create their garments.​

Choosing sustainable wedding attire not only helps the environment, but also adds a unique touch to your celebration!

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For a more sustainable celebration, select eco-friendly favors that are meaningful and useful, ensuring that guests will appreciate them and not throw them away. Consider:

• Donations to charities: Instead of traditional favors, consider donating to a charity that is important to you both. Then display a small sign at each table explaining that the donation was made in honor of your guests. You can even explain why you chose that charity and how the donation will be used. This meaningful gesture not only helps those in need, but also avoids creating waste.

• Edible gifts: Treat your guests to delicious, locally sourced treats such as honey, jams, or homemade cookies. Edible favors are not only delightful but also practical!

• Small plants: Give guests potted plants or herbs they can take home and nurture. This adds a touch of nature and serves as a lasting reminder of your special day.

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Consider implementing one or two eco-friendly swaps for your wedding. Remember, every small change contributes to a more sustainable celebration.

Remember these steps: