An increasing number of couples look to have a more eco friendly wedding. Without too much effort, your wedding can stand proud for your eco friendly goals and message. As a result, it will also reduce waste and save you money too. The rewards will just keep giving as you and your guests will feel great about your wedding as one that didn’t cost the Earth.
A more eco friendly wedding in five easy choices
1. Your eco friendly wedding venue choice
Choosing a venue near you supports local. Even better a venue where you can stay in one place for the ceremony, celebration and even overnight. This will all help reduce costs and carbon footprint. Look for a venue that champions local sustainable suppliers and products. Also a venue with a ‘Leave No Trace’ policy or one that firmly believes in low wastage, recycling, reducing the amount of energy and material used to bring the day together. Choose a wedding venue that prides itself on its own sustainability and who helps couples plan for a more eco friendly wedding.
2. Your eco friendly wedding food choice
Think seasonal, local, organic & free-range where possible. Local farmers will ensure freshness from farm to doorstep and you’ll find meat and vegetables that will be cheaper, more plentiful and unpackaged. Cut down on the amount of meat if possible by offering vegetarian and vegan options. By doing this, it will save so much waste and reduce your environmental impact. Slow cooking and graze tables all encourage sharing, eating when hungry and food being available for a longer time which will avoid food going to waste. Vegan choices can be amazing and could introduce your guests to new menus they would love to know about.
3. Your eco friendly wedding flower choice
Local and seasonal flower choice reduce environmental impact, support local and save money on flying in out-of-season flowers. Avoid floral foam or oasis, which is the equivalent to harmful single-use plastic and won’t break down in landfill. Alternatively, use pots or recycled jam jars for plants, like herbs and succulents, which can be kept after the wedding or given out as favours. Skip the plastic flowers and look at dried everlasting flowers you can take home too. Think about how floral backdrops can be moved from ceremony to celebration along with moveable ceremony flower arrangements so that you can make the most of them for the day. Local sustainable florists will also use eco friendly floristry methods and flowers from local growers where possible.
Examples of British seasonal flower choices: Spring: tulips, white daffodils, lilac, ranunculus and guilder roses. Summer: Peonies, larkspur, nigella, sweet peas, sunflowers and roses. Autumn: Dahlias, calla lilies, hydrangeas and snapdragons. Winter: Hellebores, berried ivy, jasmine, narcissus, poinsettia and anenomes.
4. Your eco friendly wedding props choice
Up-cycle, recycle, repurpose, hire or purchase pre-loved. Hiring props can open up amazing choices. By using a local vintage or sustainable prop hire company this will also keep the travelling for the supplier to a minimum. You could also ask your friends or neighbours if they have anything suitable. Your bride friends may still have their wedding props stored away somewhere. Check selling groups or e-bay for wedding bundle prop sales which you could later resell afterwards too. Your eco friendly wedding venue may already have some ideas for you too.
5. Your eco friendly wedding dress
This could be your choice of an ethical designer wedding dress, a vintage preloved dress, a local dress-maker who uses environmentally-friendly fabrics or upcycles wedding dresses. Also consider charities such as ‘Brides do Good’ or charity shops such as Oxfam and then use a local alterations service to make it right for you. It might even be a wedding dress in the family you could redesign and have altered.
Wedding Suppliers
Venue: Wellington Wood in Norfolk
Sustainable Prop Hire company: Samphire Vintage Props
Photographer: Vicky Plum Photography
Wedding Dress: Naya Bridal
Here were just 5 easy choices for a more eco friendly wedding. I hope this has given you some ideas to see how easy it can be to plan for a more sustainable wedding.
If you would like to discover more choices (15 to be precise!) you can download our little booklet here Eco Friendly Wedding Choices booklet.
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