Eco-Friendly Wedding Ideas
When it comes to waste, there are very few events that produce as much of it as a wedding day. From food to flowers to the invitation suites sent to your guests, there are plenty of things that will go to waste after your wedding day is over. Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn't have food, or flowers or invitations at your wedding, but what I am proposing is looking into more sustainable options for your wedding day!
There is a plethora of ways to be more eco-friendly and sustainably minded when planning and executing your wedding day, and these ideas are not meant to scare you off from enjoying any particular item or agenda on your wedding day. The list that I am providing is only here to give you some alternatives and ways to make a bigger eco-friendly impact!
Recycled Paper Invitations
While it’s true that paper invitations are one of the biggest sources of waste at a wedding, most couples still prefer them and for obvious reasons! While it’s true that you could lower the amount of waste by either going digital or losing most of your guest list, what most couples don’t think about is the recycled option. Paper invitations have many benefits like the fact that they are great reminders that can be hung on the fridge, and they are excellent pieces of memorabilia. Handmade and recycled paper options are becoming very popular alternatives and some of them even add a bit of flair! Etsy is a great place to find loads of sellers who are specializing in recycled paper goods, and wedding invites are only one of the many items that are available! While some sellers specialize in just making the paper, others will handle the printing of the actual invite as well! So don’t give up on the paper invitation just yet, there are still options for you!
These invitations made by Portland Stationer Selkie Stationery feature hand-cut recycled paper embossed with a custom monogrammed seal.
Second-Hand Jewelry
While this idea won’t appeal to some, the idea of reusing jewelry like necklaces and rings from a relative or a thrift shop is an appealing way to be eco-friendly and save a load of money. Gold and silver are expensive and the diamonds and gemstones that usually sit within a wedding ring or necklace are also not getting any cheaper, that is unless you go used! Even jewelry stores have seen the appeal in used, secondhand jewelry! Most jewelers will have a case or two of traded-in rings, necklaces or earrings for you to buy at a discounted price. There’s also a certain amount of uniqueness in getting second-hand jewelry, especially if it’s from a relative. Now, the level of difference that buying used over new jewelry really makes is kinda up in the air. While it’s certainly more sustainable, the real difference is made by the action that you take and what it says about the jewelry industry as a whole!
This necklace was an heirloom piece the bride wore to honor her late Grandmother, which had been passed down to her from her Mother.
Get Married Outdoors
While the idea of an outdoor wedding is far from new, it’s always a good option for those looking to leave less of an impact! For starters, having your wedding day outdoors alleviates the need for major amounts of utilities, and the locations available are far more plentiful than you’d think. If you’re really looking to minimize your footprint, then consider having your wedding at a non-traditional outdoor venue! You could pick a campground in a national park, or simply hike to a nearby forest and set up there! Of course, it’s important to make sure that you’re following state and local guidelines, but you’ll find that most natural areas are usable and available to be renovated into a wedding area for an afternoon! The biggest caveat to this idea is that in order to truly be eco-friendly, you need to make sure to “leave no trace”. While most people are mindful of this, a wedding day can be overwhelming and long, thus it may be prudent to alleviate some of the potential mess ahead of time!
This secluded spot provided an epic backdrop without a single added piece of decor!
Find a Venue with Built-In Decor
On the topic of natural outdoor venues, picking a location for your wedding that already has a plethora of natural decor options is another great way to be eco-friendly! While most venues are a pretty blank canvas, there are some that have magnificent grounds! Picking a location with a well-dressed walkway and ceremony space is a great way to not only save loads of money on floral arrangements and decor but is also a great way to cut down on the number of flowers that will be inevitably thrown out after the wedding! A great set of questions to ask any potential venue is in relation to their grounds on site. Are they well kept? Do they have in-season flowers blooming? Can you set up your ceremony and or reception in the midst of the outdoor grounds?
This Gazeebo at Lakeside Gardens in Oregon features potted hanging florals which are sustainable and add an incredible floral element with zero waste!
Use Actual Plates and Utensils
Moving on to another way to reduce your paper waste, using actual plates and silverware is a great way to reduce your addition to the mountains of trash at the dump! While it’s true that using actual dishes and utensils will still require water and soap for the cleaning, those items can also be found and used in eco-friendly amounts in order to further offset the amount of waste that is produced! The average wedding produces 400-lbs. of waste and a healthy portion of that comes from paper dishes and plastic silverware. Now, if you absolutely cannot find enough plates or utensils or you simply don’t have the ability to clean it all, then there are still ways to reduce your waste. For example, gathering the paper plates together and using them as a fire starter is a great way to reuse your wasted paper goods! Regardless of which way you choose to go, there are plenty of ways to reduce your paper waste. In fact, the next idea will help you with this greatly!
This stunning tablescape features porcelain dinnerware, brushed copper flatware and vintage glasses that add texture and color as well as plenty of visual interest for guests.
Rent What You Can
Renting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste that one might produce. It’s eco-friendly and can save you a lot of time and money, or both! To put it into practical terms, let’s use the above idea! If you decided to rent your dishes and silverware for your wedding, you’d not only be saving money and time on having to buy the items yourself and clean them up at the end, but you would also be saving resources that needn’t be used! Truth be told, most big items on the wedding day are already rented; the venue, the tuxes, the caterers, the music and the list goes on and on. So why not try renting out some of the other items as well! Another great item to rent is the flowers! That’s right, you can indeed rent flowers and there are places that specialize in it! Silk flowers are sustainable and eco-friendly! While they may not be real, they are far from fake looking! Even us photographers will use silk flowers when shooting things like the rings, shoes and other attire-related details!
This incredible blush ceremony space at the World Trade Center in Seattle, WA was created fully by the use of rentals, including the silk florals!
Go Local for Your Food
Food is one of the top items contributing to wedding day waste and with so many people ordering expensive, non-local options, it’s no surprise that the eco-friendliness of wedding day food is usually pretty low! But that can be changed! While there’s no way to be perfectly sure what everyone will eat and the amount of food that is needed, there are ways to minimize the waste and even save yourself some money! Having your wedding day meal be prepared from local ingredients and items that are in season is a great way to reduce your use of limited resources while saving yourself some money! If you’re worried about the amount of food that will get thrown away, consider having a set portion meal, where each guest is served a specific amount of food. That way you can minimize the amount of wasted food that’s leftover or not eaten!
This plated dinner from a local restaurant created a feast for the eyes as well as the palette!
Donate Your Leftover Decor
This is a great option! Donating your wedding decor is a great way to not only help out another happy couple who may not be as fortunate as yourself, but it’s also a great way to reduce the number of resources consumed to keep producing the same wedding materials. Often, the items that one would donate are in almost new condition as they are usually only used for the one day, and lightly used at that! Sustainable, eco-friendly and generous!
The vintage decor used for table centerpieces in this reception were all sourced from second-hand shops!
With that, I hope that you found this blog not only informative but inspiring! Each of us can do our part to make our limited natural resources go a bit further! While I certainly wouldn’t encourage you to not have the wedding day of your dreams, I would encourage you to think about the way that you can make the biggest difference for yourself, your budget and the world!
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