So, you’re getting married, huh? Congratulations, that’s great news! But hold on a second, before you start planning your dream wedding, let’s think about the planet. Yes, the planet. You know, that thing we all live on and are handing over to our children. As I type, it is Earth Day, a perfect day to share some thoughts and ideas with y’all.
Now, I’m not saying your wedding is going to single-handedly destroy the planet, but hey, every little bit helps, right? So, let’s make yours a sustainable celebration!
Start with your venue – look for a venue that has a good sustainable policy and ideally uses renewable energy, recycles waste, and has green practices in place. It is not offensive to ask what they are doing – in a few years it will likely be a requirement that they need to have this publicly available anyway.
Instead of sending out paper invitations, why not send out smoke signals? Or carrier pigeons? Talk about a unique wedding invitation!
OK, ok… but do you really need to send a “save the date”? Can you just tell people the date or send via email/whatsapp/facebook/insta etc. rather than use paper or card to post?
Can your invitations (if needed) be on recyclable paper or, even better, seeded paper (I use this for reserved seating signs – personalisation and a green gift in one!)
And instead of hiring a limousine, why not ride a unicycle to the ceremony? You’ll definitely turn some heads!
Still got your attention? Well, ok again I’m going to an extreme, but emissions! If you would like a wedding car, maybe fit as many people in it as possible, saving a second car or taxi. Live nearby? Be unique, enjoy the admiring glances and walk?
Encourage your guests to reduce their transportation emissions and give them the details of routes via public transport, encourage guests to carpool, or consider arranging a mini bus service to and from stations or local areas where there are lots of guests to help reduce the number of cars on the road.
And when it comes to food, forget about the steak and lobster. Let’s serve up some grass clippings and tree bark. Yum! Okay, maybe not. But seriously, consider using locally-sourced, organic ingredients. Your guests will appreciate it, and you’ll be supporting local businesses as well as reducing the carbon footprint of your day! Plant based food choices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, are a lot tastier these days than they used to be, I reckon half the people there would not know the difference!
Choose sustainable decorations. Yes it is tempting to buy lots of pretty stuff, from cheap websites *cough* Shein *cough* but I really encourage you to hire theming pieces before buying, because what will you do with it after anyway?
There are loads of amazing themers out there, check out who I follow on insta for a starting point if you need one. If you are going DIY, try to use using locally sourced and sustainable materials for decorations such as flowers, table centrepieces, and favours.
For anything left, consider donating or repurposing items. Flowers could go to a hospital or nursing home, decorations could be gifted. Also, as nice as chandeliers are, try to use LED lights and candles instead of electricity.
Ensure your guests know that you are keen to minimise waste, and you can give them this message by using reusable plates, glasses, and cutlery, and compostable materials for food waste. Shame them if you must by provide recycling and compost bins in obvious places to encourage guests to dispose of waste responsibly.
All jokes aside, planning a sustainable wedding is a great way to show your love for the planet while celebrating your love for each other. So, let’s all do our part and make your wedding one to remember – in a good way!
By following these tips, you can have a beautiful wedding ceremony while minimising its impact on the environment.
And thanks to the Fullers for their inspo for this post
Happy Earth Day!
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