Even people who are environmentally conscious in their everyday lives, can overlook these values while planning an event like a wedding. We're all for helping the planet but we are not here to tell our that couples that in order to have an eco-conscious wedding they need to get married in a hemp dress in a treehouse made from salvaged driftwood. Instead, we're helping our couples realize small swaps that you can make without sacrificing your budget, vision or style.
#1 Eco - invites
Millions of trees are chopped every year to make paper products so one way to minimize your environmental impact is going paperless. Save on paper, ink and postage by going paperless.
Create a professional looking wedding invite website which you can customise with photos, anecdotes about how you first met and how you got engaged along with details about the day.
If this isn't for you, instead you could use recycled-content stationary paper which can also be recycled. Recycled paper production uses up to 50% less water than virgin paper and fewer chemical processes. Another popular choice is seed embedded eco-paper which can be planted and enjoyed months later!
#2 Hire your wedding décor
The ugly truth behind weddings is that they're very wasteful. According to Sky Ocean Rescue, a typical UK wedding generates around 18kg of plastic waste, which equates to thousands of tonnes every year or the weight of 40 blue whales.
Try using reusable items like tableware, vases, candlesticks, backdrops which you can easily hire from local companies, like Eco-Deco. It not only saves you time, money and energy, but cuts down on your carbon footprint, as it saves you driving around; sourcing, ordering online and often ending up with one-time-used items and the hassle of selling or worse, throwing it away.
#3 Choose a conscientious venue
Some venues will have certain practices embedded into their business model such as waste recycling, renewable energy providers, eco-friendly cleaning products, policies on single-use plastics, working with local suppliers and may even offset their emissions. Do have these conversations with the venue, if they haven't considered these principals then you as the client can influence how they do business going forward. Unleash that inner Bridezilla when it comes to making demands that have a positive impact on the environment.
#4 Guest travel is a biggie
One of the most significant environmental impacts associated with a wedding will often be the travel to and from the location. The more local the venue is to your friends and family, the better. However should you choose to go further afield, then look at public transport options for your guests as well as car pooling. Try to have your ceremony and reception in the same place to help reduce transport.
Lastly you could choose to offset your travel emissions... (You can do this through Eco-Deco!...)
#5 Flowers: Local.. seasonal... and try reusable!
Tonnes of fresh flowers (often a significant chunk of the wedding budget) are often left at the venue and binned the following day. An alternative to consider is hiring re-useable artificial flowers arrangements. With fantastic artificial stems now on the market you could choose a combination of both local/seasonal fresh flowers and exotic / non-seasonal artificial arrangements.
#6 Do we really need wedding favours?
All too often we see single use wedding favours wrapped up in pretty packaging, only to be left discarded on the table and swept up with the waste at the end of the evening. Of course, the most eco-friendly wedding favour would be the no-wedding favour option. Charity donations are also becoming a popular choice. Another kinder to the planet option... why not make your own jam / honey? You could even package them up in re-used glass jars.
#7 Low carbon menu
Whether you are getting a catering company in or if it's through your venue you can make it more sustainable by using local produce, fair trade and organic. This will reduce emissions associated with travel and will support local farmers. If you can't go meat free then go with less meat. The proteins beef, lamb and pork have the highest carbon footprint so avoid these if you'd like to lower your menu's emissions. Cut costs as well as food waste and emissions by swerving the dessert and serving out your wedding cake instead.
#8 Dress and Diamond
One way to support environmentally ethical bridal wear is to buy a vintage or pre-loved dress. If you're buying a new dress, support a designer who ensures it's supply chain is ethical, no child or forced labour, fair working conditions, ethically sourced materials.
For those who want their rings to have socially responsible origins; making a positive difference to the livelihoods, working conditions and the communities of the miners, choose conflict free precious stones and Fairtrade mined metals. Some jewellers offer ‘make your own wedding rings’ workshops where you can choose your design, materials and any additional personalisation. Also consider recycled metals, pre-loved or vintage.
#9 Biodegradable confetti
Provide for or remind guests to bring biodegradable confetti. Many venues have already banned non-biodegradable which can tend to linger and can end up in water ways. Avoid paper confetti, glitter and silk rose petals
#10 Can we ban balloon installations please?
Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup reports that across a 5 year period almost 300,000 balloons were found along U.S. beaches. Marine conservationists and biologists in the UK have called for balloon bans because once they make their way into the water, they can resemble sea life consumed by marine animals such as sea turtles, fish and sea birds. Even balloons that are marketed as being 'degradable' take a long time to break down. So, a no to balloons and to a similar effect, any single-use plastics. Cut back on your waste by hiring reusable wedding décor - I know just the site that could help you with that...
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