Making your wedding stress-free and guilt-free

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Living sustainably and environmentally-consciously is something that many like-minded brides-to-be want to incorporate into their big day. 

Spring weddings are the perfect time to host an eco-friendly wedding, as you can easily incorporate natural and fresh elements into your event.

Benefits of a sustainable wedding

A sustainable wedding boasts several benefits that will give you peace of mind when planning your big day.

• Reduced carbon footprint. Due to the nature of weddings, it produces a lot of CO2 due to factors like travel and electricity usage. By focusing on sustainable options and using a carbon footprint calculator, you can significantly reduce these numbers.

• Waste reduction: Using recyclable options, compostable elements, and reusable items for elements like decor and table setting can reduce the amount of waste your event produces. You can also opt to use sustainable materials, which can help preserve natural resources.

• Economically Beneficial: Sustainable weddings can be cost-effective if you opt for renting out certain items instead of purchasing brand new items. Using locally sourced in-season produce can also bring down costs as it reduces the need to have items delivered. This also creates an added boost to the local economies.

• Social impact: An event like this can serve as an inspiration to guests to be more sustainable in their own lives. It also creates a meaningful and memorable experience for those involved.

• Unique experience: the nature of eco-friendly events allows for a personalized touch that will make it stand out. The efforts to source locally and in-season elements add a layer of authenticity and freshness.

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Eco-friendly Venues

When choosing a sustainable venue for your wedding, you have the option of choosing a local venue which can reduce travel emissions by a large margin. Other suitable options that tie in with your environmentally-friendly plans include venues that use sustainable practices, or even an outdoor wedding venue. 

• Outdoor venues: Consist of gardens, farms, vineyards, parks, and nature reserves. These offer farm to table catering options, less energy is used during the event.

• Indoor spaces: The best indoor spaces that will align with your needs would be the LEED-certified buildings, which are created with an energy efficient design and by using sustainable materials. Other options are conservatories which offer the best of indoors and outdoors in a singular space. Another fun option would be repurposing historic buildings.

• Specialized spaces: There are venues that prioritize sustainable efforts in their operations. You can consider eco-friendly lodges, urban rooftop gardens that have green spaces with city views as the backdrop, as well as solar-powered venues that use renewable energy to operate.

• Waterfront venues: There are many resorts that use sustainable practices. You can also consider lakeside venues, which offer fantastic views with minimal environmental impact.

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Attire Options

Spring weddings call for outfits made from lighter fabrics and simple designs. It is easy to make sustainable choices in your outfits, as well as the ones for the rest of the bridal party.

• You want to look at designers that use sustainable materials and fair labor practices in their production process.

• Fabrics you want to be on the look out for are materials like organic cotton or recycled fabric.

• If there is an heirloom dress that you can use as your ‘something borrowed’ why not upcycle it and give the dress a modern spring twist.

• Instead of buying a brand new dress that may not be worn again, you can consider renting one. The same can be applied to the groom’s tuxedo.

• For your bridesmaids, you can pick out dresses that will be suitable to wear againa after the wedding.

• The bridal party can be encouraged to choose outfits that they can mix and match with items they already own.

• Look at locally sourced accessories, or eco-friendly jewelry that is made from recycled materials.

• Instead of using jewelry has a headpiece, why not opt for freshly made headpieces or crowns made from in-season flowers.

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Sustainable Decor Ideas

Florals play a huge role in the decor of a wedding venue. You want to opt for in-season blooms like tulips, daffodils, lilacs and peonies. These floral options can work in tandem with a pastel color scheme to highlight the season.

Floral and general decor

A unique centerpiece idea, you can use potplants. After the event they can be replanted elsewhere. Seasonal flower arrangements made from locally sourced blooms will also make a beautiful centerpiece.

For other decor elements, you can have living walls as a backdrop, biodegradable confetti, reusable signage, chandeliers made from greenery, as well as flowers and natural items serving as decor pieces.

Reception

Instead of purchasing pieces for your event, you can rent out furniture or pick out reusable linen for your table settings. 

For lighting, opt for LED lighting, which has a lower negative impact on the environment. You can also line your tables with eco-friendly candles made from soy or beeswax.

For place cards and menus, you can print on recycled paper or opt for placing QR codes for guests to view digitally.

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Conscious catering

Light meals are ideal for spring weddings. Some great dining options are salads, grilled meats, and fresh fruit. Seasonal options like asparagus, strawberries, and rhubarb can make the menu as well. 

When picking out your caterer, you want to look for farm-to-table caterers who specialize in using fresh produce and seasonal flavors in their meals. As a side note, keep an eye out for zero-waste caterers or those who follow similar ethical and sustainable practices. 

In terms of seasonal meals you can opt for plant-based or vegetation options as meals, or if you prefer meat, look for ethically-sourced options. If you are having an option like lobster shipped in from Maine, you want to choose a supplier that follows sustainable fishing practices that preserves sealife. 

In terms of dining, look at bio-degradable or reusable serving ware in order to minimize the waste produced. Another idea would be to use filtered water in reusable containers instead of providing guests with bottled water. 

In a bid to promote zero waste, leftovers can be offered to guests to take home, or they can be donated to local charities.

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Favors and Gifts

Giving your guests a token of appreciation is a great way of saying thank you for attending your event. 

• Plants: Guests can be given little bags of seeds to be planted at their homes. Potted plants or succulents in biodegradable containers are also a great keepsake.

• Treats: Mini jars or locally sourced preserves, artisanal treats in recycled packaging, or coffee/loose leaf tea in reusable containers will also make a cute and functional treat to take home.

•Eco-friendly gifts: For something a little more lasting, you can give your guests personalized wooden coasters, reusable glass or stainless steel straws packed in wedding-themed pouches, or bamboo-made bathroom essentials.

Natural items: Gifting soy or beeswax candles, potpourri, or handmade soap in reusable containers are both functional and provide a lasting memento for guests.

For the bridal couple

Instead of traditional gifting, the bridal couple can request that guests make donations to environmental causes in their own names.

Another environmentally-fun idea would be to have a tree planting initiative where guests donate and plant a tree in honor of the wedding couple,

Relating to guests

• Guest list: Depending on the venue size, having an intimate event can help reduce environmental impact.

• The bridal couple can encourage guests to wear sustainable attire to the wedding.  

• Instead of posting paper invitations to your guests you can send out digital invitations. In addition to this, you can create a wedding website to share details of your event. You can also make use of QR codes as an easier and paperless way for guests to access the day’s programs or menu during the reception.

• Transportation: To reduce emissions, you can arrange for group transport for your guests or encourage carpooling. Alternative you can provide information on public transits to and from the the venue

Timeline and Research

Weddings require a lot of time and effort during the planning stages, which is why you need to give yourself enough time to

A Year Ahead

• You can start researching suitable venues.

• Find a wedding planner who works with sustainable events.

• Start exploring sustainable attire options for the wedding.

9 Months Ahead

• Make the booking for your venue.

• Look at spring floral options that are local to venue’s destination.

• Research local catering companies that will tick all your boxes on sustainable catering.

6 Months Ahead

• You can send out your eco-friendly invitations.

• Couples can start looking at wedding ring options.

• Research for sustainable and viable transportation options for guests.

4 Months Ahead

• Finalize menu options with your caterer.

• Choose the sustainable decor options for your venue.

• Research eco-friendly gifting options for your guests.

2 Months Ahead

• Finalize your attire for the wedding.

• Plan for waste management and recycling efforts for your wedding.

• Research local charities to make donations to, be it food, flowers, of monetary value from guest gifting.

1 Month Ahead

• Confirm all eco-friendly elements with your vendors.

• Prepare your guests by providing them with all the information about the sustainable aspects of the wedding.

• Finalize plants for any carbon offset initiatives.

Summary

Planning an eco-friendly spring wedding is no easy feat. It requires a lot of time and research for it to take place with no issues. Almost every aspect of your wedding can have a sustainable and eco-friendly twist made on it. This includes the venue, your attire, guest gifts, and even the leftover food and flowers from the big day. With the proper planning and effort, you can have a beautiful and memorable day, knowing that you did your best not to negatively impact the environment.