You’re an eco-warrior but still want to have the wedding? This post is for you!
As someone who is passionate about environmental sustainability, I struggle with the wedding industry. It’s a huge reason why, for a long time, I said I’d never do full-time wedding photography. Do I want my couples to have their dream wedding day? Absolutely! Do I want it to be memorable, unique, and one-of-a-kind? Of course! But the industry has blown up so much in the past 10 years and, as I learned from my own wedding, it’s getting out of hand. As the expectations get higher, so does the impact.
Many of those Pinterest-worthy inspo boards rely heavily on single-use materials. What spends just a few hours on a reception table later spends decades in a landfill. But I’m here to tell you, you don’t have to sacrifice your wedding day out of fear for the planet. There’s plenty of creative ways to make your wedding day more sustainable.
Here are my top 10 recommendations for my brides looking to save money, protect the planet, and still have a memorable and gorgeous day!!
1. DIY in nonspecific ways.
Adding a name and date on each decor item renders it useless after the wedding day. If you don’t plan on displaying that floor-length mirror in your home, don’t personalize it. Make your wedding decor something that can either be repurposed or enjoyed secondhand. Focus on timeless, reusable decor elements, like chalkboard signage that can be wiped clean.
2. Skip the bridal party.
Yup, I said it. Many of my couples who enjoy their wedding day the most are the ones who actually choose not to have a bridal party. You save on gifts and flowers; they save on wardrobe. And none of those little personalized trinkets end up in the garbage. You can still invite your closest gals to get ready with you and even ask them to wear a certain color palette! This way, they have free rein to choose something they already own or choose something they would wear again. The processional stays focused entirely on you, your friends don’t have to stand up front, and you can still take plenty of photos with your favorite people at the reception.
3. Aluminum over plastic.
If you can’t have glassware or don’t have a catering company that offers it, go with aluminum over plastic! Aluminum cups are 7 times more likely to be successfully recycled than plastic (Calma, 2019). Aluminum is infinitely recyclable and can be melted down without losing quality. Swapping to aluminum or renting glassware from a catering company significantly reduces the amount of waste that your event creates.
4. Potted over cut flowers.
I love a big colorful bouquet as much as the next girl, trust me! But it’s important to think about how it got there; cut floral arrangements often require transnational refrigerated transportation and are a result of pesticide-heavy farming. In place of those floral arrangements, there are great ways to support local businesses. Consider renting ferns or flowering plants to line your walkway. Use potted herbs or flowers for your centerpieces and let your guests take them home at the end of the night! If you still want arrangements and bouquets, consider finding a local flower farm that grows native plants in season.
5. Choose your vendors intentionally.
Partnering with eco-conscious vendors drastically reduces your wedding’s footprint. Work with a local caterer who crafts seasonal, farm-to-table menus to support nearby growers and cut transport emissions. Instead of buying single-use decor, rent your tablescapes, signage, and lighting from local event rental companies. For your wardrobe, choose rented suits and opt for a vintage, pre-loved gown, or choose a designer committed to ethical production and sustainable fabrics like organic silk, hemp, or linen. Intentional vendor choices make a lasting impact with minimal waste.
6. Opt for digital invitations.
This is one I sorely overlooked for my own wedding. Technology today allows you to design equally gorgeous, interactive invitations without using any paper or postage. You can still support your favorite graphic designer by having them create the layout, but send the invites digitally. Print a few for your scrapbook and your flat lay photos and you haven’t missed a thing!
7. Compostable takeout containers.
It’s unbelievably hard to get the food count right for big events. You definitely don’t want to run out, but catering companies often throw away copious amounts of food at the end of the night. One easy fix: provide compostable containers for guests to take home excess food at the end of the night so it doesn’t go to waste.
8. Craft an eco-friendly registry.
Choosing eco-friendly household items can be an intimidating switch. Now’s the time to ask for that bamboo dish rack, ethically sourced 100% organic cotton sheets, or glass storage containers. It also exposes your friends and family to environmentally-friendly brands in the process! Better yet, skip the registry altogether to reduce your overall carbon footprint through shipping and packaging. Create digital “funds” that your family and friends can contribute to towards experiences or your house savings instead.
9. Support local when choosing favors.
Tiny trinkets often end up in the trash a week after the wedding. Look around your community and see who you can support that supports your values! Is there a local bee keeper that would supply small glass jars of honey? A coffee shop that sells in compostable bags? You could even thank your guests by making donations in their name to an environmental nonprofit. The options are endless… it’s amazing what you can come up with when you make intentional decisions!
10. Elope!
You knew it was coming… The ultimate way to decrease your wedding’s carbon footprint is to downsize your event. Consider having a micro-wedding (under 50 people) or just elope with your top 10 people (and hire me to take the pictures 😉 ) Wedding waste largely comes from guest travel, food waste, and mass event logistics. Decreasing your guest count inherently decreases your impact. Pick a beautiful outdoor spot, focus on your life-partner, and adhere to “Leave No Trace” Principles. You can always host a local reception later to celebrate with more of your people. And, bonus, it often decreases a lot of the cost and stress when it’s labeled an “anniversary celebration” rather than a wedding reception.
Thanks for reading Esther’s Journal! I hope these ideas inspire you to make intentional choices as you plan your wedding. Feel free to leave thoughts, comments & suggestions below!
Sources:
Calma, J. (2019, September 12). Aluminum is recycling’s new best friend, but it’s complicated. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/12/20862775/aluminum-recycling-water-tech-plastic-manufacturing-cocacola-pepsi-apple
Geyer, Roland, et al. “Production, Use, and Fate of All Plastics Ever Made.” Science Advances, vol. 3, no. 7, 2017, p. e1700782, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782.
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