Rethinking Weddings
An average wedding produces tons of waste and CO2 emissions. Everything at your wedding has an impact on the environment, from single use decor to food scraps, leaving a significant environmental footprint. However, wedding planning can be overwhelming and with an eco-friendly wedding, it will take some research as well. But trying to host a zero waste wedding is far better than not doing anything at all!
You just need a little planning and a pinch of creativity to host a celebration that is both meaningful and environmentally friendly. Add your unique and personalised touches reflecting your style and do your part for the planet.
Let us help you with some tips to make your traditional wedding zero-waste and reduce impact on the environment:
Planning A Zero Waste Wedding
Thoughtful Venue
The venue will have a big impact on the amount of waste produced on your big day, so looking out for a space that goes well with your values of zero waste wedding will make a lot of difference. Whatever venue you choose, ask whether they have recycling and composting options or search for local companies that can do this work for you. The companies will also provide proper waste baskets for segregation and some will even pick up the bins up the bins after the event.
Find a venue that already has some decorations and will require less rentals. Wedding venues in places like San Francisco or Malibu can offer an outdoor venue to enjoy natural beauty. A space that is naturally attractive and the reusable decor will save you from tons of emissions with no extra costs as well.
Make sure your venue is easily reachable by most of your guests to decrease the travel-related emission. Moreover, you cannot use destination wedding and eco-friendly wedding in the same sentence. Flying all your guests to a far away location in another country will contribute to CO2 emissions. If you still plan on doing it, keep your guest list short and make a vacation out of it.
Eco-Friendly Invitations
When people receive an invitation, it only stays till the wedding date and goes straight to the dustbin. It is a waste of paper and emits carbon while delivering. Now, you and your partner can send out save-the-date and invitation cards by making it digital. Everyone is using the internet, so there are many websites that offer beautiful save-the-date templates that you can send via email. You can customize it on your own and add an option to add the event directly to the personal calendar.
If you really want to opt to send a physical card, save the extra paper by creating the RSVP online by just adding your website URL or a QR code to the card. You can also use recycled paper or use ‘seed paper.’ While there’s no guarantee everyone will recycle or plant their invitations, it is better to offer these options for a more eco-conscious wedding.
Sustainable Décor Choices
Compostable is great but reusable is even better. There are so many ways to avoid waste when it comes to your wedding. The best way to avoid overspending and adopt zero waste is to rent. Try renting all your decorations from local shops so it does not go to waste. You can also choose decor that is not plastic and can be reused. DIY or upcycle secondhand items to minimize waste. Instead of plastic confetti or bubbles, go for dried petals or hole-punched leaves.
Flowers are a major part of the decor. Looking for a local florist that uses sustainable farming practices. Potted plants are also a great alternative and can even be used in your garden. It also doesn’t come in a plastic packaging. Moreover, consider donating your wedding decorations to a local charity or NGOs to bring joy to someone else.
Dining Arrangements
Since food is the life of any party, don’t let any of it go to waste. Try to order what is really necessary and what your guests actually need. Resort to using reusable tableware, glassware and cloth napkins. You can always bring a container to take home excess food.
Another option is to find if there’s any farm in your locality who is willing to take food scarps for animals. If this is not available, keep compost bins so the waste does not contribute to the toxic air emissions and harm our climate. In addition to this, donating leftovers to a local shelter could really brighten someone’s day.
Wedding Favors And Gifts
You can encourage your guests to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and start their own journey at the same time. There are plenty of ways to get creative with sustainable wedding favors in your own budget by getting top selling categories of pre-loved items from places like Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace. Create little goodie bags in a to filled with zero-waste products like herb kits, seed packets, succulents, consumables, bamboo straws, tote, water bottle, shampoo bars, or lip balm. You can also take this opportunity to support local artisans that incorporate sustainable practices while making their products.
Ethical Wedding Attire And Makeup
The search for a wedding dress is a long and tedious process. It is very much possible that it will be in your attic for the rest of its life so it is clever to not spend a fortune for a single use. Luckily you can go for local brands, renting or buying pre-loved wedding attire. Supporting designers with ethical practices can make a huge effort without harming our environment. It will make you look gorgeous without contributing negatively to the environment.
Another way is to rent out wedding attire and save a lot of money. You can return the dress for so many women to enjoy and make memories in after you. If you want to keep it as sovereign, be thrifty, look at your local thrift shops or surf online for a second hand piece.
Go for a makeup brand that uses natural ingredients and refillable packaging that you can afford. Look for an eco-friendly salon near you to get your make-up done. If you cannot find one, ask the makeup artist if they-d be willing to use cruelty-free makeup brands.
However, it’s best to use the makeup you already own. Otherwise, tell your makeup artist to avoid using makeup wipes and single use applications. Ditch the fake eyelashes that you might use because they are very likely to become microplastics and hairsprays that are not good for the environment. Organic products are not only better for the environment, but they’re better for your body.
To Summarise
Sustainability is about putting in the effort to be conscious and accepting practices that are great for the planet and not about perfection. Every small change matters, so create an unforgettable day that honors your love as well as the planet.