Everything You Should Know about Making a Sustainable Wedding
For most people, it’s a great feeling to get engaged. Finally, you can now plan your sustainable wedding just the way you always dreamt. While your wedding day can be the most exciting experience, it can also be quite wasteful.
If you’re socially conscious, you may want to identify ways of making your wedding sustainable. This means you’ll have to choose an unconventional path for your wedding. Ideally, you can opt for eco-friendly services, products, and resources to minimize wastage.
Here are things to consider when planning your wedding to ensure sustainability.
1. Rent, Don’t Buy
There are companies out there that allow you to lease reusable items, instead of buying them. For example, it’s wise to hire plates, utensils, linens, and decorations. The rental package usually includes washing and laundering services.
Some venues will also provide linens as part of the package. Rented China is also a great option than paper plates. Plus, it can help to improve the overall look of your wedding venue.
You can also hire wedding dresses and suits to save on the cost of buying. Ideally, single-use of anything is not great for the environment.
2. Use Paperless or Eco-Friendly Invitations
With the growth of technology and the internet, it’s easy to go paperless with almost everything, including wedding invitations. As long as you have the list of your guests, create a Whatsapp group for your wedding. This costs you almost nothing.
Or, choose to use a service like PaperlessPost to sent paperless invitations.
Alternatively, consider using recycled paper or materials such as wood, leather, and upcycled fabrics. Be sure to work with services that give back to the environment. You can also use seed paper, which is biodegradable, to print menus, programs, and invitations.
You can find seed paper from a company like Botanical PaperWorks. Seed paper usually includes seeds, and when you plant it in a pot of soil, the paper spouts into flowers.
3. Find a Sustainable Venue
When shopping around for venues, it’s encouraged to pick a spot that takes sustainability seriously. They should be focused on limiting their carbon footprint and using recyclable materials.
It’s advisable to pick venues and hotels with Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certifications and Energy Star ratings. Try reducing your energy usage by opting for an outdoor wedding, like on a vineyard or farm.
If the outdoors doesn’t work for you, there are several ways to go green. For example, you can have your reception and ceremony in one place. This eliminates travelling from one point to another. Or find a venue with plenty of sunlight.
4. Opt for Biodegradable Products
Biodegradable products can make your wedding waste-free. If you choose to use disposable serving ware, choose those that are biodegradable. Vessels, utensils, favour wrappings, food trays, and to-go boxes all have biodegradable alternatives.
Some great stores to find biodegradable products, include Ecofetti, Ecopartytime, and BioandChic. Or, you can also opt for a paper wedding dress, which is still beautiful and elegant. Instead of hiring tables, you may want to reuse real bourbon barrels as tables.
5. Donate, Reuse, or Recycle
After the wedding, it’s not advisable to dispose of whatever products you use. Instead, create a list of all the products you bought. Then, identify reusable products, those you’ll donate, and those that can be recycled.
Be sure to identify charity organizations that will benefit from the products you have. Also, let your guests know that you’ll be donating to a meaningful cause. In this case, ask them to bring charitable donations instead of typical gifts.
Many food banks across the country will be glad to accept unserved food. Just be sure to make arrangements with your caterers and the receiving banks. You can also donate leftover flowers to companies, such as Repeat Roses, Floranthropy, and Random Acts of Flowers
6. Shop Local
Another great idea is to opt for local products. This is particularly advisable when shopping for flowers. Opt for potted herbs instead of cut flowers, which might also be costly.
Local-grown products will keep your cost down, as you’ll not have to spend more on logistics. Work with caterers and bakers who use local and sustainable ingredients and foods.
Final Thoughts
Planning a sustainable wedding can keep your overall cost down, and also reduce your carbon footprint. Nowadays, there’s an eco-friendly option for just about anything you may want to use or buy for your wedding.
Take the time to identify the best alternatives for your dress, utensils, linens, gifts, and more. Keep in mind that you can also have an ethical honeymoon. The best way to do this is by supporting local hotels and attractions.
Inasmuch as environmental conservation is a collective responsibility, it all starts with you. What you do can inspire others to follow the same path.
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