Weddings, like any other celebration, may generate more waste than you anticipated. But, it need not be that way. More and more couples have been making more environmentally conscious choices for their wedding.
In reality, it may be harder to ensure a perfectly- zero waste wedding celebration. However, making small, conscious decisions over every detail of your wedding planning can make a big difference. By choosing the right vendors and products, you can have a wedding that is not only beautiful but also good for the environment.
Go for an Outdoor Wedding Venue
You can never go wrong with nature as your perfect wedding backdrop! With an outdoor wedding, you will need minimal decorations because your picturesque au naturel backdrop can remain as it is. Not only is it perfect for the photos, but less decorations almost always means much less waste.
If you want to still add a little color to the altar to let it stand out, try these hexagon wedding arch decorated with flowers or flowy fabric. They are lightweight and easy to set-up, and it will automatically add that sprinkle of elegance to your wedding ceremony.
Tie the Knot with Heirloom Wedding Bands
One way to be sustainable is to cut wedding costs, whenever you can. Instead of spending a fortune on wedding bands, tie the knot with family heirlooms instead. If your parents have old wedding jewelries that they want to give you as wedding gifts, use them instead of buying new ones. You may redesign or resize them with local jewelers for an affordable price.
Because of its malleable nature, you can mold recycled gold into any shape you want! You could even use recycled gold to make new jewelry instead of having to buy new rings from a jeweler if you wanted something customized but don’t have the budget for it.
Because recycling is good for the environment in so many ways (less energy consumption during manufacturing processes), many people choose to use recycled materials over raw ones whenever possible when making their products or purchasing goods made by others instead of making them themselves. This is because it reduces carbon emissions overall to less waste generated as well.
Opt for “Conflict-free Diamonds”
When you’re choosing a wedding ring, there are many different ways of thinking about it. Some people choose a conflict-free diamond, others want to support sustainable practices and yet others want to avoid plastic rings altogether. But how do you know which option is right for you?
It’s important to note that the term “conflict-free” doesn’t necessarily mean that diamonds are completely eco-friendly—it just means they haven’t been mined in conflict zones like Sierra Leone or Angola (and yes, there are legitimate reasons why you might want a diamond from one of these areas). Sometimes these mines operate under dangerous conditions and don’t use ethical labor practices.
Globally speaking, various cases of labor exploitation amongst diamond miners are widespread across the diamond industry—hence why so many companies now sell “conflict-free” stones or “laboratory-grown” diamonds instead.`
Shop for Eco-friendly Wedding Dresses
When shopping for wedding dresses, there are definitely more eco-friendly and affordable options in the market. Choose fabrics that are from recycled or organic materials.
Wedding Dress Made From Recycled Materials: If you prefer a classic look but want to feel good about contributing to the environment, try a vintage 1950s wedding dress made from recycled silk or cotton. These dresses were created before the advent of plastic buttons and other modern decorations, so they’re less likely to contain harmful chemicals than some of their newer counterparts.
Wedding Dress Made From Organic Materials: For an even more natural option, consider shopping for an organic fabric like hemp instead. This versatile material comes in many different textures and colors (including white), making it easy for brides who want something simple but still unique.
If you want to be eco-friendly, and at the same time save a lot of money, another option is to rent. There are many ready-made gowns for rent online and even in local stores. If you are up for it, some local thrift shops have formal gowns that might surprise you.
Consider Biodegradable Utensils
Disposable and single-use plastics are top waste materials that continue to fill landfills and pollute oceans. As much as possible, cut this out of the celebration by opting for more eco-friendly products.
You may choose to rent ceramics or glasswares that are reusable, or opt for paper tableware kits if you prefer disposable dinnerware. They are sturdy, stylish, and as convenient as their plastic counterparts, without the detrimental environmental impact.
Less is More with Micro Weddings
Weddings are known to be over the top, extravagant celebrations in which couples and even their guests go all-out. If you can afford to, and you choose to have a huge crowd on your wedding day, you can do so by all means.
However, having to accommodate a large crowd also means more decorations, more tables, more space, more food, and ultimately, more expenses. Sadly, this could also mean more trash- from decorations to food waste. It is almost always inevitable to generate a considerable amount of waste during large gatherings.
One way to be sustainable is to limit your guest list to only your closest family and friends. Your wedding should be all about you, and it does not get any less special when you spend your special day with a smaller group of people.
You may want to have a micro wedding, which is an even small wedding celebration, with just around 20 people for your wedding day. More and more couples opt for micro weddings, as they are not only more intimate and less expensive, but are also more sustainable and eco-friendly.
There are plenty of ways to have an eco-friendly wedding. You need not to worry because while it is difficult to achieve a perfectly sustainable wedding nowadays, taking into account sustainability into every wedding planning decision, big or small, will go a long way.
