When planning a wedding, it is becoming more popular to think of the planet and opt for something greener. In this post we will share some of our eco friendly wedding ideas to make sure your big day is great for the planet as well as you.
There are so many things to consider and with flowers, seating plans and a dress to sort out, it’s no surprise that sustainability may be low on the list of your priorities.
However, planning an eco-friendly wedding doesn’t have to be hard work, as it’s so easy to incorporate ‘greener’ thinking from the beginning. You can easily cut down your waste without missing out on any important details. Here are some tips on how to have an eco-friendly wedding and to make sure your big day doesn’t have a negative effect on the environment.
Eco friendly wedding ideas: the venue
Your venue is likely to be the first thing you organise and finding somewhere eco conscious may feel restrictive. Don’t worry, an eco-friendly venue doesn’t have to be a field or a farm - although these can be very fun. There are several ways you can make your venue choice a green one. You can look at the Green Building Information Gateway which will tell you which hotels and event spaces have Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design certifications and good Energy Star ratings.
Green wedding attire
No, it doesn’t have to be a green coloured wedding dress! To some, your wedding dress is probably the most special dress you’re ever going to wear. Wedding dresses are only ever worn once and there are tonnes of beautiful wedding dresses in charity shops or on second hand shopping sites such as Vinted which are just waiting to be worn again. Shop around for pre-loved dresses and suits, you’ll find this will also save you money too.
Eco-friendly wedding supplies
Another key part of your day will be sourcing eco friendly wedding supplies, from invitations to favours and decorations there are sustainable options available to you.
Wedding favours
You could forgo wedding favours altogether, but if you don’t want to miss out on any traditional details then simply choose wedding favours that have a positive impact on the environment. Some options include seed packets so your guests can plant a tree, put keepsakes into recycled gift boxes or you could give a donation to an environmental charity in your guests’ name.
Sustainable invitations
Make use of technology and send out e-invites and rather than sending out reems of paper with maps and hotels and information on it. You could create a web page or private Facebook event to give people all the information they need for the big day. If you are set on sending out invites though, choose recycled paper, or upcycled fabrics. You could even look for companies that give back to the environment such as Paper Culture who plant a tree for every order they receive. You could even order plantable seed invitations from a company like Blooming Heck.
Ready-made decorations
When it comes to your decorations and you’ve purchased a full wedding package, then go with what the venue has to offer. If you’re planning to decorate yourself, opt for wedding hire from a catering equipment hire company such as Plato. Tablecloths, chair covers, and chair sashes, can be hired for the day. This equipment is then reused time and time again, avoiding single use. Also, remember to stock up on 100% biodegradable petal confetti.
Eco friendly wedding plates
If the idea of serving up your wedding breakfast on disposable plates doesn’t appeal, then hiring is the way to go. If you aren’t going to use your plates again and again, then hiring them from somewhere where they will be professionally cleaned and re-used is the best way to ensure you are using eco friendly wedding plates, while still having that luxury feel to your meal.
Rent, don’t buy
We all know that single-use plates, cups, glasses, and cutlery, are bad for the environment, Reusable wedding supplies such as plates and other crockery can be supplied easily, and you won’t have to spend the next day clearing them up.
Choose flowers wisely
Flowers are a big part of most people’s weddings, but many end up dying and going in the bin afterwards. Perhaps look into getting them pressed or preserved so you can keep them forever. If you have always imagined yourself with cut flowers, be wise with your choices, choose a local florist and seasonal flowers to keep the carbon footprint down.