Many of us are looking for more ways to be sustainable in our daily lives. If you’re getting married soon, you’ll be pleased to know that there are many ways that you can make your special day a little more environmentally friendly. Here are some of the best eco-friendly wedding ideas.
While it’s likely that you won’t be able to make every aspect of your wedding day completely sustainable, it’s great to try. Even small changes can have an extremely positive impact on the environment.
Sustainable wedding ideas
Choose a sustainable venue
You might want to look specifically at venues that are doing what they can to support the environment. There are many ways to do this, such as reducing food waste and plastic use. These venues may have their environmental efforts published on their websites or social media channels, so it’s worth checking these out to see what you can find.
When it comes to weddings, another great way to increase sustainability is to choose an eco-friendly venue that’s not too far from your home. This would hopefully lead to less travel for your guests, saving on emissions and reducing your wedding’s carbon footprint. Read our blog on how to find the perfect wedding venue.
Travel sustainably to your wedding venue
We’re sure that you want to travel in style to your special day, and there are ways that you can do this. When it comes to your wedding guests, you should try to encourage lift-sharing where you can. Think about guests coming from the same direction or even town.
If you want to have the guests mingling before the wedding even starts, you could organise transport for guests. You might choose a simple minibus or maybe something a little more fancy. Whichever option you choose, lift-sharing or organising transport is a great way to make your wedding more eco-friendly.
Saying yes to the dress
Of course, you will want your wedding dress to be perfect, and who said that it can’t be sustainable at the same time? Here are three ways that you can make your wedding dress choice more eco-friendly.
- Choose from ethical wedding dress suppliers
- Consider a second-hand option to reduce your environmental impact
- Look into vintage wedding dress options
- See if there are options to rent your wedding dress
- Sell your dress after the big day
Reusable decorations for your sustainable wedding
Your wedding decor plays an important role in sharing your wedding style and theme, and you can take steps to make them more environmentally friendly. One option is to use reusable decorations. These may be from an events company, or you might find them yourself in a second-hand shop.
After you’ve finished with these decorations, you can sell them or pass them on to someone else for them to enjoy at their event. There are plenty of lovely options available for reusable decorations. Our wedding planners near Manchester can support you with all aspects of event planning.
Food considerations
The food at your wedding can have a big impact on the environment. It’s a good idea to use local produce for guests, as this can help to limit your wedding’s carbon footprint.
If you want to reduce food waste, it’s also a good idea to have a sit-down meal rather than opting for a buffet at your wedding. This means that the amount of food can be calculated better so that less is likely to be wasted.
Make your own wedding favours
Wedding favours are a great way to thank your guests for attending. There are so many lovely options. If you’re looking for ways to create a more sustainable wedding, why not make your own wedding favours? Read our blog on the best wedding party favour ideas.
Use digital invitations
There are so many simple ways to create stunning wedding invitations online, so you don’t need to rely on the use of paper quite as much. Many couples are opting to send out digital invitations via email to help reduce the amount of paper or cardboard being used. This is a great way to be more sustainable.
Use candles
Depending on the location of your wedding, you can use candles to bring light to the rooms. Candles are a great way to light up an area and they are much more affordable too.
Speak to your venue before the big day to see if they have any fire safety requirements that you need to adhere to.
Have a sustainable wedding cake
Your cake will be a special part of your day and you can even make it more sustainable too. Consider speaking to local businesses such as bakeries and cake makers about the cakes they offer. You could even suggest they use sustainable produce if they don’t already. Read our blog on wedding cake table designs.
Post wedding donations
You will likely receive many wedding gifts on your special day. Some couples may request gifts, money or even a donation to a charity close to their hearts.
Some guests may get you gifts that you already have, but that’s not the end of the world. Instead, you can either pass the gift to someone else or sell it, making the whole process more eco-friendly!
Other eco-friendly wedding ideas
- Beeswax candles
- Potted plants for wedding decor
- Have an ethical honeymoon
- Choose seasonal flowers for all wedding flowers
- Consider an outdoor wedding to promote eco-friendly practices – read our blog on marquee weddings
- Shop local for all wedding elements
- Use recycled fabrics and recycled paper for wedding decorations
- Use sustainable materials for wedding stationery
We hope that you’ve found this blog helpful regarding eco-friendly wedding ideas. There are so many amazing ways that you can make your special day more environmentally friendly and still have the most beautiful time.
We’re on hand to help you with all of your wedding planning needs, from eco-friendly options to much more. We can offer you as much or as little support as you require for your green wedding. Just get in touch with our friendly team today. Let’s see how we can bring your eco-friendly ideas to life.
