Thank you, Zola, for this blog post contribution.
Eco-friendly weddings are trending. As more people become mindful of the impact waste has on the planet, couples are opting for more sustainable practices on their wedding day.
An average wedding produces 400 pounds of garbage a year. Annually, 63 tons of CO2 get released into the air from weddings. The wedding industry as a whole has a bad reputation for being wasteful, as many of the elements that go into a wedding day are single-use such as decor, food, fashion.
Going green on your wedding day isn’t just good for the planet: it’s good for your wallet too. Many sustainable wedding tips, such as buying a secondhand dress or veil, are actually cheaper options than buying brand new, single-use items.
Check out these eco-friendly wedding ideas to have a sustainable wedding worth celebrating:
- Choose an eco-conscious venue: Working with like-minded vendors is essential in order to pull off your eco-friendly wedding. The vendor with perhaps the most control over how eco-friendly your celebration will be is your wedding venue! Start conversations about sustainability early, before you sign on the dotted line. Ask about their environmental certifications, such as LEED certifications and Energy Star ratings, and ask about the venue’s waste removal practices.
- Go paperless: Reduce the need for printed materials by going paperless! The digital revolution makes this easy. You can set up a free wedding website in order to communicate details with guests, and send digital save-the-dates and invites. Track your wedding planning online with a digital wedding planner, and set up a wedding specific email address to keep saved documents from your vendors all in one place (no need for printed packets, Google Docs will get the job done!)
- Host the ceremony and reception outside: You can cut down on electricity by hosting your ceremony and reception outdoors. Also consider hosting the ceremony and reception at the same location to cut down on carbon emissions from travel.
- Stage a sustainable exit: Say goodbye to your wedding day and hello to your new married life with an eco-friendly exit strategy. Don’t litter your way out the door with a confetti toss – consider instead a green alternative such as a leaf toss.
- Arrange transportation: Consider renting a shuttle to take your guests to and from the wedding venue. This will reduce the need for multiple cars onsite, and eliminate drinking and driving. Win-win!
- Choose seasonal flowers: Sustainable floral is another great way to cut down your carbon footprint. Purchase flowers from a local vendor and make sure your bulbs are in season to prevent the need for cross-country transportation.
- Rent your tuxes: Cut costs and still look good with rented tuxes. Your groomsmen will thank you for saving them the cash.
- Buy vintage accessories: Add vintage pieces into your wedding fashion. Whether you choose to purchase a second-hand dress, or simply rock a vintage veil or earrings, you can look chic and timeless with fashion accessories from decades past.
- Embrace candlelight: Cut the electricity and set a romantic mood with a candlelight reception. This lighting alternative also helps keep bugs away if you’re hosting your party outside.
- Hire the right caterer: Food waste is a huge contributor to your wedding day’s impact on the environment. Choose a farm-to-table caterer that will serve a seasonal menu with ingredients purchased from small, local farmers. Ask about grazing tables as a way to reduce clunky and wasteful displays, and see what vegetarian and vegan menu offerings they offer.
Discover more eco-friendly wedding ideas with this visual from Zola below!
Go to Zola for more useful graphics! (This is just one of many).
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