Did you know the average wedding can be quite a strain on the planet?
I found some reports (skyoceanrescue.com, 2018) about UK weddings in particular, and even though I had my suspicions about this subject, I definitely did not expect this.
The numbers are eye-opening – the average UK wedding can create as much as 14.5 tonnes/KG of CO2, significantly higher than the annual per capita emissions.
These figures really put things into perspective, don’t they?
As I was researching ways to make special occasions more planet-friendly, it struck me how important it is to consider our environmental impact while planning a wedding.
Let’s look at some simple yet effective ways to ensure your big day is both beautiful and Earth-friendly, without losing any of its charm.
Choose Your Venue Wisely
When planning your green wedding, picking the right venue is key to keeping your celebration’s impact on the earth low.
Look for places that advertise about being eco-friendly. They should use clean energy sources, like solar power, and have options for recycling and composting to cut down on waste.
It’s a good idea to ask if they’re LEED-certified (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which means they’re really serious about being green.
These venues might also work with local groups that care about the environment and can offer tips on making your wedding more eco-friendly.
Choosing a place that shares your values not only helps the planet but also starts your shared future on a positive note.
Send Eco-Friendly Invitations
When it comes to invitations, you can do a bit for the planet by choosing eco-friendly options. Go for digital invites to cut down on paper waste and make your wedding stationery more Earth-friendly.
If you’re into something you can touch, pick recycled paper for your invites. This choice supports good practices and cuts down on the need for new resources. You can also go for soy-based ink and paper from sustainable sources to show your love for the environment even more.
How about using online platforms for RSVPs and sharing wedding details cuts back on paper use and makes things easier for your guests.
Sustainable Decor Ideas
After looking into eco-friendly invites, we’re diving into sustainable decor ideas next. These ideas not only show you care about our planet but also make your wedding stand out. Let’s check out three easy ways to do this:
- Upcycle and reuse: Try using upcycled items and buying used wedding decor. You can even sell them after your big day to help them get more use and cut down on waste.
- Energy-efficient lighting: Go for candlelight and LED bulbs to create a cozy and energy-saving setting.
- Natural and reusable decor: Use things from nature, live plants, and rent silk flowers. Picking items you can use again over throwaway ones greatly reduces your celebration’s impact on the environment.
Ethical Attire Options
Choosing ethical attire for your special day isn’t just good for the environment but also supports fair work.
Why not rent a wedding dress or suit or go for second-hand to cut down on fashion waste? The fashion world adds to 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, after all.
Look for kind materials like organic cotton, hemp, or Tencel. Supporting brands that care about fair work and use eco-friendly materials truly makes a difference.
With all the new fashion technology, your eco-friendly attire can still create that WOW effect, don’t worry about that!
Choose Green Catering Options
After thinking about dressing ethically, it’s time to talk about how choosing green for your catering can make a big difference for the planet at your wedding.
Going for sustainable catering helps local farmers and keeps our earth happy. Here’s what you can do to help:
- Pick local and organic: Go for caterers who use organic, local, and Fairtrade ingredients. This cuts down on your event’s carbon footprint and supports nearby farming.
- Choose a vegan menu: Having vegan or vegetarian dishes lowers waste and the carbon emissions of your wedding meal. I choose this one for my wedding and none of my guest had any complaints!
- Plated dinners are better than buffets: With plated dinners, you can manage how much gets served better, which means less food is wasted.
Talk about how to handle leftover food with your caterer. It sometimes optional that any extra food gets donated or at least not thrown away as garbage.
Selecting a Ring
Choosing responsible rings, like lab-grown diamonds or old-school vintage ones, also really help cut down on the environmental impact of your big day.
By picking stones that don’t cause conflicts and using metals that are fairly mined, you’re not flipping people that are part of the process the (ring)finger. (Sorry, had to)
When you look for designers who put a lot of thought into being eco-friendly, you’re making sure your ring choices show off the kind of celebration that cares for each other and the earth in equal measure.
Did you know there even is a “smog-free ring” nowadays?
Eco-Friendly Transportation
I myself had a bit of a struggle with this one. I really wanted the old school Volkswagen T1 van. I was a bit conflicted between the new electric option, or the old school one.
But, fortunately I found one which was rebuilt with an electric motor, but the exterior was intact. So, I got lucky I guess.
But when you or your partner are less lucky but really want that one car, which might be a powerhouse but also kind of a smogmobile, it is a bit of a difficult problem.
Even though it’s not a perfect solution, you could consider carbon offsetting. Or, consider another car that is more eco-friendly.
Sometimes, it can be quite difficult to find a good balance between giving and taking to and from the planet. Especially when you see a lot of people not giving a f**k.
Giving to Charity
Adding a touch of charity to your wedding plans is a great way to make your big day even more special. By choosing ways to give back that match your values, you’re doing good and encouraging others to think about sustainability too.
Here are simple ways to bring charitable giving into your celebration:
- Choose charity wedding favors to back causes you care about, like protecting nature or helping local communities. This makes each guest’s attendance even more impactful.
- Invite guests to help with reforestation by giving them seeds as wedding favors. This helps the planet by capturing carbon and shows your dedication to keeping the earth green.
- Donate to charities instead of giving out the usual wedding favors. This way, you’re directly supporting organizations that work on important issues and making a positive difference.
Make Eco-Friendly DIY Goodbye Gifts
Make DIY gifts for those goodbye gifts when the party ends. I’m not even sure that this is done everywhere, but if you know what I mean, you can consider this.
These eco-friendly DIY goodbye gifts can be personal, thoughtful, and eco-friendly when they are tailored to reflect the couple’s personality, values, and the theme of the wedding.
By adding personalized touches, such as initials or meaningful quotes, they show appreciation for each guest.
