Tips for a More Sustainable Wedding

Your wedding day is meant to be one of the most special and memorable moments of your life—and it should be! However, weddings also produce an excessive amount of waste. It is estimated that a typical wedding ceremony results in 400 pounds of garbage. With rising costs and other wedding-related stressors, it can feel daunting to consider the environment during the planning process. But it doesn’t have to be. There are simple—and often cost effective—ways to make your wedding more environmentally friendly.

8 Tips for a Green Wedding

Interested in planning a more sustainable wedding, but not sure where to start? Here are few tips to help you navigate the process and create the eco-friendly wedding of your dreams. 

1. Consider a sustainable wedding venue. With a growing emphasis on the environment, there are wedding venues that place sustainability at the forefront. This is the easiest way to make your wedding more eco-friendly because the venue will do the heavy lifting. Do they have recycling and composting bins available on-site? Do they use rentals? Can they connect you with other eco-friendly vendors? Ask questions like these before booking your venue to ensure they take sustainability seriously. 
2. Be mindful of the vendors you hire. If sustainability is important to you, it should also be important to any vendors you work with. Make this a top priority, so the people helping you create your special day share your vision for a wedding with a low carbon footprint. 
3. Keep the guest list small. While this may not be an option or everyone, consider a micro-wedding. This will lessen your carbon footprint plus it is also a way to save money. Keep the guest list to only the most important people in your life. It will make for a special, intimate, and eco-friendly celebration.
4. Choose eco-friendly invitations. There are a variety of sustainable—and beautiful—invitations available today. It’s never been easier to find options made from eco-friendly alternatives, such as recycled paper, upcycled fabric and wood, to name a few. This will improve your environmental impact while also making your invitations stand out. Or you can forgo physical invitations all together and opt for a virtual approach. Get creative and eco-friendly at the same time!
5. Avoid single-use products. Single-use plastics cause significant harm to the environment, so try to avoid incorporating them into your wedding. Swap out products like plates and utensils for reusable ones. And after the wedding, sell or donate any left-over décor or products instead of throwing them away. 
6. Get married outside. Having trouble finding an eco-friendly venue? Enjoy your special day outdoors. Not only can you save money by using the beauty of nature as your backdrop, but you also help the environment by cutting down on the need for florals and other decorations.
7. Opt out of the confetti or rice toss. This is a tradition we should all say goodbye to. While it makes for a great photo moment, it is not eco-friendly. Dried flowers are a beautiful alternative, and if you really want confetti, dissolvable options are now available. 
8. Give the gift of sustainability. Guest favors and wedding party gifts are a wonderful way to say thank you for taking the time to celebrate with you. However, try and avoid items that will get thrown away or never used. Instead, give the gift of sustainability. Opt for an eco-friendly thank you that will not only be unique but will also help your loved ones start their own journey with sustainability. For instance, the LaVie water purifier is a great option that helps reduce single-use plastics. Not to mention it can be customized to make it extra special.

Small Steps Make a Difference

Living more sustainably can feel overwhelming—and this is especially true when trying to plan your perfect wedding. We hope these simple tips will help you make small, but impactful changes. Give yourself—and the environment—the eco-friendly wedding of your dreams. 

Natural Sustenance cares about the environment and offers health and wellbeing products that help, not harm. Enjoyed this post? Check out our blog library for more helpful resources and sustainability news.