How to Have a Sustainable Wedding
Photo by Veronica Varos Photography.
From food waste to paper goods, weddings can generate more waste than we’d like. The good news is that creating a day that is more sustainably conscious is not as difficult as it may seem and can actually help you to save some money at the same time! There are a lot of little things that can be done to help make your special day easier on the environment. Our wedding experts discuss four ways we’ve found can help you make a big impact with a smaller carbon footprint on your special day.
Bring on Biodegradable and Reusable
Today, protecting the environment is as easy as it is important: very. With countless advancements in eco-friendly technology, wedding vendors and businesses have made it easier than ever to find and use biodegradable materials, reusable décor, natural and sustainable foods, and so much more in your wedding.
Instead of plastic disposable dishware, there are biodegradable options for dishes, serving pieces and utensils. If you’d prefer to limit your trash, there are now many options to rent or buy used dishes and utensils that can be washed and reused after the event.
When it comes to décor, secondhand and vintage finds can add character and uniqueness to your wedding. Spend some time checking local flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores for forgotten treasures and give them a second life as a part of your décor. There are always an abundance of candle votives and table settings, such as mismatched antique china and serving ware, that you can also incorporate throughout the ceremony and reception.
Photo via Cink Art.
Invitations with More Impact and Less Waste
The traditional use of save-the-dates, invitations, programs, menus and thank-you notes all add up to the use of a whole lot of paper. One way to help limit paper waste is through the use of recycled paper or seed paper. Seed paper can be planted directly into the ground; when planted in soil, the paper biodegrades and the seeds sprout, leaving no waste behind.
We spoke with Cink Deveas of Cink Art, a preferred Walk the Aisle stationery vendor, about the impact that sustainability has had on wedding invitations and stationery. “Online invitations are being used by some, but many couples are looking to create both traditional and more individual printed custom wedding invitations with an interest in being conscious of the environment and keep paper use down.”
For the lover of traditional paper wedding goods, Deveas recommends including your rehearsal dinner invitation in your stationery ensemble to save the cost and carbon impact of a second mailing. Have guests respond to the rehearsal dinner via email or phone instead of a reply card. In the same vein, she suggests eliminating RSVP cards and prompting invitees to RSVP on your wedding website with their meal choices and attendance status. “As much as it pains us stationers to advise this since we love the paper, right now in these uncertain times for weddings, driving traffic to your wedding website where you can update your guests on what is going on with the wedding is a good thing.”
If you love paper as much Cink Art does and still would like an RSVP card in your wedding stationery, Deveas proposes creating an RSVP card that is a postcard instead of requiring an RSVP envelope. These will be included in the ensemble already stamped, so your guests simply fill in their information and pop them in the mail.
Vintage and Ethical Details
No matter your style for your wedding day, there is always room for vintage and ethical touches. Choosing an antique diamond that has been in the family to be upcycled to a new wedding band or engagement ring made to your taste is a great way to be ethically and environmentally responsible.
Many jewelers are now committed to using precious metals and stones that have come from older pieces of jewelry, so ask your local jeweler to see if they offer repurposed options. If you prefer new, be sure to confirm that your jeweler is committed to selling conflict-free diamonds. Or inquire about their lab-produced stones; stones like moissanite have less of an environmental impact but just as much glamor as a diamond.
Choosing to wear your mother’s wedding gown or your grandmother’s antique jewelry will not only add style and sentimental value to your big day, but it will minimize what needs to be purchased thus creating less of a wasteful impact. Incorporating family heirlooms or special items you or your family already own adds another layer of uniqueness that will make your wedding day extra memorable.
Photo by BOB Photography.
Dual-Purpose Decorations
A simple, cost-effective and creative way to really make an eco-friendly impact is with your floral arrangements and decorations. Instead of using cut flowers to decorate for the ceremony and reception, choose potted plants and flowers that will live well past your wedding day.
Large baskets with flowing ferns, luscious lavender plants or vibrant flowers can add great color and depth on your day and in your photos. Using small potted plants or succulents on your guest tables can serve double duty to hold place cards or notes of thanks to guests that they can then take home as a wedding favor. Get creative with mason jars, natural or painted terra cotta pots, vintage teacups or whatever you’d like to hold and showcase the greenery and add your own personal touch.
If you do choose to use cut floral arrangements or bouquets, you can give them a longer life by donating them to a nursing home, hospital or shelter so that others will continue to find joy in them beyond your wedding day.
There are countless wonderful ways to plan and have a sustainable wedding. With just a few small changes like we have given above you can make a huge impact to reduce waste and create a smaller carbon footprint all while still having the wedding of your dreams. For more ideas and features, head over to our Pinterest board dedicated to sustainable wedding ideas. Let us know if you choose to incorporate any of these eco-friendly concepts into your special day!