As someone who planned their own wedding, I know first hand how challenging it can be to balance your desire for a beautiful and memorable event with your commitment to sustainability.
My husband and I were determined to have a memorable celebration that also minimized waste and incorporated DIY touches, like the wedding invitations we made with seed paper and our post-church fun walk through Central Park to head to the restaurant in the West Side of NYC.
While our wedding wasn't perfectly zero-waste, we were happy with the way everything turned out, from my mom's wedding gown I wore, to the toast in the beautiful location of Central Park and the cupcakes we served after dinner in take-away boxes for guests who were already full.
Saying 'I do' to an eco-friendly wedding not only helps the planet but also creates a beautiful and sustainable celebration of love.
Here are 8 simple ways to make your big day more environmentally friendly
- 1 - Choose a green venue: consider having your wedding in a natural setting instead of a traditional event space. Also one location for both ceremony and reception will reduce transportation needs.
- 2 - Send eco-friendly invitations: using recycled paper, seed paper or electronic invitations
- 3 - Decorate with sustainable materials: Use locally sourced and biodegradable materials like fresh flowers and natural fabrics of linen and cotton.
- 4 - Minimize food waste by planning your menu carefully or offering take away options.
- 5 - Give eco-friendly favors: give your guests something eco-friendly and that they can use, like seeds, soaps, candles or plants.
- 6 - Unique Wedding Confetti gifts that are biodegradable: paper in pretty shapes or for a bohemian feel: olive leaves and fresh herbs, good options are Rosemary, Lavender and Thyme. Fresh wildflower or dried leaves if it’s Autumn.
- 7 - Rent/Recycle/Reuse decorations: from previous weddings to reduce waste or decorations that can be repurposed or recycled after the wedding.
- 8 - Donate what is left after the party that you know you won’t reuse, to someone else for future events.
Whether it's choosing sustainable materials, minimizing waste, or encouraging eco-friendly transportation, there are many simple yet impactful steps you can take to make your big day memorable, beautiful and more environmentally friendly.
So why not say 'I do' to a sustainable celebration of love? :)
X Carol
- Photo Credit: Sonia Wedding Planner
- Location: Casale Centurione Abruzzo
