Did you know that you can have a wonderful wedding and still be able to protect the environment? Let’s be honest, weddings require a lot of resources, and by that I don’t only mean money. You have the food, flowers, invitations, wedding favors, and the list goes on. You’re also celebrating with your guests, so basically, your consumption increases. But also, you definitely don’t want too much waste from your special day. Having a sustainable wedding isn’t actually that hard. You can start by considering these six simple steps for an eco-conscious event. Keep reading!
When picking your venue, consider the places that are already beautiful on their own. A garden venue with lush greeneries and surrounding blooms will only require minimal additional decors. Plus, it also saves you from spending a fortune for the venue styling alone.
Here’s a fact: freshly cut flowers aren’t good for the environment. They require many chemicals in order to prolong their cycle, so the air ends up getting polluted. Instead of using cut flowers for your centerpieces, opt for potted plants like orchids or begonia. And you can even double them as your giveaways!
We know it’s totally a different experience to be able to hold and send out print invitations to your guests, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be eco-conscious anymore! Look for suppliers that use sustainable or recycled materials for their print products, and have them do your save-the-dates, programs, and thank-you cards as well. Just as you would like to have an environmentally friendly wedding, it’s a great thing that many vendors have also began practicing sustainability too!
If buying a dress that you’ll only wear once doesn’t feel right for you, then you should definitely consider renting one! Luckily, there are many beautiful stores with a wide selection of designs. We’ve actually seen brides who wore rented dresses for their special day. Not only did they look sophisticated, they were also able to save resources.
Give your guests something that they can grow themselves—a pack of seeds or potted plants, for instance. You may also want to give them edible favors, just use a packaging that they can reuse or recycle afterwards. Remember, your choice of wedding favors can have a big impact on the environment.
Instead of sourcing all your wedding essentials from abroad, go local instead! This way you cut down your carbon footprint by supporting your local vendors and suppliers. Ask your caterer to use produce that is in season, so the resources will also not be put to waste.