Weddings are an exciting time filled with love, laughter, family and friends. Many couples spend months and even years planning to ensure it is absolutely perfect. However, when it comes to protecting our planet, it is important to strive for sustainability, not perfection! According to The Green Bride, the average wedding in the United States produces 400-600 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of Co2. This means that just one wedding can produce as many co2 emissions as five people would in a whole year! So, if you are ready to start making a change, keep reading for a list of 12 great ways you can make your special day more eco-friendly:

1. Choosing an Eco-Friendly Venue:

Choose a venue with owners who take sustainability and making eco-friendly decisions seriously. A few things to think about when deciding on a venue include the source of the venue’s energy and if it is renewable, if there are water conservation measures in place, how the venue cares for its natural surroundings and local community, and how this venue handles waste generated on site. Make sure to ask these questions so that you are aware of what you are actually supporting by throwing an event there. It can also be helpful to book with a venue that hosts both ceremonies and receptions to keep guests from driving back and forth.

 

2. Eco-Friendly Invitations

Today, there are so many ways to tell your friends and family to save the date that doesn’t waste so much paper. Invitations can be made with alternative materials like upcycled fabrics, leather or wood. Seed paper is a great choice too, this biodegradable material sprouts into flowers when planted. Make the switch, the Earth will thank you!

 

3. The Registry

When creating your registry, it is important to ensure you are registering for eco-friendly items that support sustainability. You can even opt for a charity registry that asks guests to donate to organizations that are working hard to protect our environment. Some examples are Natural Resources Defense Council, Friends of the Earth, or Greenpeace Fund just to name a few! Always research the organizations you are asking your guests to support too.

 

4. Sustainable Jewelry

When you are searching for the perfect piece of jewelry to compliment your outfit on this special day, you need to make sure you are aware of its origins. Ask the jeweler if the stone is ‘conflict free’ and where it was mined. Also, don’t forget to ask them if these stones were cut and polished under fair trade standards. Ask about the metal too and if it is recycled.

 

5. Decorating the Venue

When decorating your venue, avoid any single use items like paper plates or plastic cups. Escape that waste, visit a thrift store and pick up some vintage or secondhand tableware instead of buying new. There are also eco friendly party supplies websites like EcoPartyTime.com with a variety of eco friendly choices for any celebration!

 

6. Eco-Friendly Party Totes

Most party favors or bags are packed with wasteful packaging that only ends up all over the venue floor by the end of the night. Think sustainably and create your own eco friendly welcome tote for your wedding guests! You can take boxed or reusable water bottles, a glass jar with snacks like nuts and candy, throw all of that in a reusable fabric tote to take home to use again and again!

 

7. Choosing Designers and Stylists

When you are choosing a designer for your dresses or tuxes, ensure that you are supporting ethical people and businesses. Certain designers use recycled fabrics and try to incorporate other positive business practices, those are the ones to look for. It is also far more eco-friendly to simply re use and rent dresses and tuxes if that is something you are comfortable with. Also, pay attention to the hair and makeup stylists you hire and the products they choose to use. When booking, ask about their product line and ensure these products were not tested on animals.

 

8. Sustainable Flower Arrangements

There are so many different options when deciding on your flower arrangements for your wedding, but is important to make sure you are making the choices that are eco-friendly and sustainable. It is common to carry potted plants instead of cutting flowers so that they may be replanted or displayed at home. It has also become very common today to buy wooden sustainable flowers that you can keep with you forever! Renting flowers from businesses who do so is also a fantastic and eco-friendly option. However, if you have your heart absolutely set on carrying real cut flowers, choose seasonal blooms that were grown locally and donate them afterwards! You can also find a sustainable florist online that can help you.

 

9. Eco Friendly Wedding Cake

When looking for an eco-friendly wedding cake, ensure you are asking the baker questions like if they are sourcing organic, local and fair-trade ingredients. If fruits are part of the recipe, make sure only seasonal fruits are incorporated. You can also ask the baker to use reusable cake décor such as ribbons instead of plastic pieces.

 

10. Sustainable Catering

It is important to be asking your caterer for the reception a lot of questions regarding the sourcing of their food. Look for those that focus on local and seasonal cuisine. Ask them about the sourcing of their proteins such as beef and seafood. There are many caterers that are farm to table and the less that this food has traveled, the more eco-friendly it is since a smaller distance leaves a smaller carbon footprint. It can be even more beneficial to the environment to stick to a vegan meal as well.

 

11. Food Waste

Food waste is such a huge problem that usually comes with having a wedding. However, there are so many ways you can help to drastically reduce the waste produced at your wedding. First, it is more ecofriendly to have a plated dinner than a buffet where a lot of food is often not eaten and thrown away after. If you are set on a buffet style dinner, encourage family, friends and even venue staff to take home leftovers. Another great option is donating any extra food that you can to food banks or local homeless shelters. You can also work with the venue owner and set up a disposable system so that guests can discard their waste in the proper bins.

 

12. Stop the Exit Toss Littering

Throwing little pieces of paper or rice after the ceremony is a very common practice that is not healthy for our ecosystem. Create an eco-friendly confetti with lavender, rose petals, herbs or even just mixed-up flowers, it looks way prettier too!

 

Conclusion

Weddings are a large contributor to waste and leave such a hefty carbon footprint on our planet and there are over 2 million weddings every year in the United States alone. This is why it is so important that we are being conscious of the choices we make. Be realistic with yourself and your partner, decide what is really important to you and what is really necessary for your celebration, avoid waste that just isn’t worth it. Every eco friendly change you make, no matter how small will have a healthy impact on our planet. We hope you will use at least one of these tips for the next wedding you plan! Subscribe to our newsletter for more eco-friendly tips!