"Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks (Hoesung Lee, Chairman IPCC)".
Did you know that in just a few hours, a wedding can produce as much waste as 65% of a home's wastage for the year? Frightening isn't it? We think so too. There are some excellent ways you can help reduce your impact on our environment while you celebrate in style. You may not be able to implement all of these ideas but even just one or two will help.
Spread the word about these things to consider...
Your venue - an outdoor venue takes the cake for being a sustainable option. If you have your heart set on a specific location and aren't sure what they're doing to keep themselves accountable, don't be afraid to just ask! Consider the amount of travel involved in getting to your wedding, get married where you want to for sure, but if you're throwing a few different ideas around and aren't totally committed to one, think about your guest list and where people are coming from.
Your invites - there are loads of sustainable options when it comes to invitations. This right here is probably the easiest item to tick off your sustainability checklist. Opt for virtual invitations, or a website. If this isn't entirely practical for you then there are plenty of recycled paper options out there as well.
Transportation - making sure everyone gets to where they need to be on time is super important (especially when it's a destination wedding). Take the guesswork out of the equation for your guests and organise group transfers for those who don't want to rent a car and those who aren't able to stay at the same location. By preplanning you'll be reducing carbon emissions, a win for everyone..
What are you wearing? - you know you're highly unlikely to ever wear your wedding dress again...listen to your gut, it's usually right! Think about borrowing or hiring bridal ware or buying second hand. If you absolutely must buy something new, think about working with an eco-friendly designer.
Flower Power - find a florist that puts sustainability into practice. Most businesses will advertise on their website that they are serious about sustainability. A great alternative to so many fresh flowers are dried flowers, potted succulents or potted flowers. why stop there? Use them as gifts for your guests or take them home yourself and plant them. Dried flower arrangements can be on sold after your event or reused around the home. Or you can hire someone who uses artificial flowers so you can be sure they are being re-used over and over again. Aiming for zero waste feels good.
P-plates - consider a plant-based menu. If plant based is absolutely not your jam but you still want to be mindful of your impact on the earth, think about making half of the menu a plant lovers paradise. Ask your caterer if they are sourcing food that is in season and produced locally. It's a great idea to source your alcohol locally if possible as well.
What a waste - reduce food wastage. Where are all of the leftovers going? Generally all that food is going straight in the bin. Plated meals create less waste than a buffet, if you do go for the buffet option speak to your caterer about saving leftovers. Have them put together some takeaway meals for guests or if you're allowed to donate to a homeless shelter or refuge we are sure it would be greatly appreciated.
Reusable decor - focus on décor for your ceremony and reception that can be used again or at least recycled. Think about hiring arbours, chairs & everything in between. Macramé, palm leaves, dried flowers, glassware, vintage wares. Keep away from confetti, sky lanterns and balloons. There are some beautiful alternatives out there, you just need to look.
Wedding favours - we love a seating chart (like a 'please be seeded' seating chart) which acts as a your wedding favours too. Another idea could be to DIY your own, succulents in pots, herbs, seedlings, cacti - it's all in the planning. Edible favours go down a treat so think locally produced spice/sweets/honey for example, or opt to donate to a charity in your guests name.
If you have any other ideas about how to create a more sustainable event we would love to hear from you x
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