Sustainable weddings have been on trend for years. Weddings can be extravagant affairs with a lot of waste, but with a little forethought, an eco-friendly event is more attainable. Making your wedding green not only reduces your impact on the environment, but it also reduces the impact on your budget. Have a mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle for your upcoming wedding by starting with these tips.
Look for a Green Venue
Today’s hotels and event venues have many ways to reduce their carbon footprint, from using solar panels to composting on-site. Look for venues that have multiple sustainable initiatives in place that support green operations. Some buildings get certified through federal or state programs to indicate their commitment to sustainability. Under the Canada Green Building Council, hotels can be audited to receive a green key rating of one to five to demonstrate their current environmental efforts. Holding your wedding in a green environment and housing your guests in green hotels can make a big difference in your own environmental impact.
Sustainable Ways For Wedding Attire
Fashion has a huge impact on the environment. Creating dresses and tuxes that might only be worn once or twice takes a lot of resources. Instead of buying new, rent or buy a used wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses. If you do buy new items, look for sustainable fashion that is made of recycled or sustainable materials and made in ethical working conditions. Check for social responsibility statements by the corporate office. Shop locally or use brands that limit packaging.
Reuse or Rent Décor
Decorations and flowers are items that can end up in landfills after the wedding. Talk to the wedding venue about wedding decorations that you can reuse or rent. Shop locally for reused decorations on social media or in second-hand stores. Ask your friends to reuse their wedding decorations. Even if your colors aren’t the same, the greenery and glass vases will fit into any color scheme. Plan to offer your own wedding decorations to others after your wedding.
Create a Sustainable Wedding Gift Registry
Register with stores that are eco-friendly and sell items made from recycled materials, are Fair Trade Certified or made locally. You may also want to give guests an option to help give money toward your honeymoon or another large purchase. Some couples even ask guests to give to charity instead of giving a gift, especially when the couple already has everything they need in their home.
Sustainable Menu Items
The menu is another place where planning ahead can make your wedding more sustainable. Start by thinking about seasonal foods for the wedding. Anything that can be sourced locally is usually a better choice for the environment. Serving local wines and delicacies also supports your community. Plant-based menus are also more eco-friendly and usually less expensive than serving seafood and meats.
Ask your caterer about their own process to reduce waste. Rent dishes and flatware for serving. Although those items will need to be washed, it will keep a lot of waste out of landfills. Instead of a buffet, choose a plated dinner. Buffets require a lot of extra food for serving, which often goes to waste.
Make Small Changes To Your Wedding
Before buying items for your wedding, think about the impact on the environment. Candles and balloons might be traditional decorations, but both are not sustainable. Balloons just get tossed into a landfill after the wedding. Candles made of paraffin wax, which is a petroleum product, are not eco-friendly. Printed invitations use a lot of paper. Find eco-friendly options instead.
Think of ways you can be more sustainable on your special day to really enjoy your wedding, knowing that you’re not a burden to the environment.
