How to Make Your Wedding Day More Eco Friendly
- Madison Neumann
- Jul 10, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 20
Possibly the only sad fact about weddings is that the average celebration creates a ton of waste. You may have taken notice to this while planning your own big day - not only is it tough on the environment, but it can be tough on your wallet, too. Luckily, I have a ton of helpful tips on how to create a more sustainable wedding day!
Start With Your Venue
Choosing a venue that already has lots of natural beauty to offer means a lesser need for florals and other decor - therefore, less waste.
Don't be afraid to ask your venue about any eco-friendly practices they participate in as well; how they power their space, if they recycle, etc.
Minimize Single-Use Decor
So much of the brand new decor purchased for weddings sadly never gets used again, but there are a few options for minimizing this.
Renting: In addition to rental companies, many florists, venues, and vendors provide rentals for popular items like vases, candlestick holders, glassware, table numbers, and tons more.
Purchase Secondhand: Spend some time leading up to the big day with your partner by visiting your local thrift stores. For our wedding, my husband and I took a few months to thrift for things like rugs, photo frames, glassware, and more. We got to spend time together and were able to save a ton of money. After, we kept the items we wanted, gave some to friends and family, and listed the rest on Facebook marketplace.
Speaking of, if thrifting isn't your vibe, resale websites are crawling with wedding decor - there are even Facebook groups specifically dedicated to local wedding buying and reselling.
Utilize Wedding Websites
Wedding websites are a great place to organize information for your wedding, gather RSVPs, create your wedding registry, and more! These websites help cut down on the waste that can be involved with physically sending invitations and other correspondence back and forth between you and your guests. We used Zola for our wedding and absolutely loved it! Quick set up and easy tracking for gifts and RSVPs.
Let Your Wedding Party Select Their Own Looks
By allowing your wedding party to choose what they wear, you're helping the environment in a few ways. It lets your wedding party to choose where they shop, including secondhand stores - they are also more likely to pick something they really love and will wear more than just one time.
If mismatched isn't your vibe, choose an easy color/and or fabric and allow your party to go from there. Some popular options are black, navy, velvet, etc.
Purchase Your Wedding Looks Secondhand
Thrift stores are often filled with wedding gowns, suits, tuxes, pre-wedding party outfits, white robes, pajamas, and so much more. If sorting through the racks for these items doesn't appeal to you, the thrift store isn't the only place to look! We mentioned Facebook marketplace, but there's also reseller apps like Depop and Poshmark, and curated vintage online sellers that take the work out of the search for great secondhand finds. Previously owned accessories like shoes, bags, and veils are all out there ready for the next bride/groom.
Be Mindful of Favor Selections, or Nix Them Altogether
The most wasted item I see on wedding days is definitely the favors. Tables full of extra favors in single-use packaging and/or plastic sit untouched, with no option but to throw them away.
It's fun to get creative with this! Opt for something more practical like an edible treat or a small plant of some kind. Providing a fun guest experience like a photo booth or ice cream cart is a super memorable gift as well - opt for a bubble exit after your ceremony, and let the guests take home the bubble wands.
You can also always nix the favors altogether - you already show your appreciation to your guests in so many other ways throughout the day!
Don't Forget Your Exit!
Confetti photos are so beautiful, but traditional confetti does some major damage to the environment. Make sure the confetti you’re buying is made of biodegradable materials, or go for the bubbles or a shower of flower pedals as you exit instead.
At The End of The Night, Think Twice About What You’re Throwing Out
Your wedding outfits, decor, and even your catering can all have a new life after your big day. Outfits and decor can be donated, resold, or kept and repurposed for future occasions.
Some catering companies and venues will work with local organizations or donate food. If this is not something your venue or catering service typically provides, local food banks will sometimes do pickups from events and utilize the food however they can. It is something that can hugely minimize waste and help your community, so it’s absolutely worth looking into!
Weddings featured in this post:
Emily & Logan
Ann & Chris
Brooklyn & Harrison
Ashley & Harrison
