Weddings
It might be one of the most important days of your life but that doesn’t mean you need to ditch your green mindset. The wedding industry has taken notice of a lot of consumers’ desire to become more green so as an industry they already have things in place to help you out.
Suppliers and venues.
Many of these will now tell you upfront if they are a green company and what they are doing to be more sustainable. If they don’t shout about it then you are perfectly within your rights to ask what they can do to help your big day leave a small impact on the planet.
Keep it local
Until you start looking for your wedding venue you might not have noticed a lot of venues and properties right on your doorstep that can host your big day. Less travel for guests is an eco bonus and a guest bonus too. Remember a wedding is essentially a party so think unconventionally, we recently went to one at a restaurant and another at a space that during the week is an outdoor education centre, on the weekend they hire out the grounds to provide a magical woodland setting.
Know your seasons
This applies to food and flowers, sticking within seasonal produce and blooms will involve less mileage and can often ensure a fresher product too. Your chef and florist will be able to advise on what’s best and in season for your big day and help you turn them into something spectacular.
You don’t have to follow tradition
Think about your invites, will you want everyone’s email address later on for updates and thank you’s? If so why not send a modern e-invite. There are simple design resources like Canva that can help you create something special, and the added bonus is all the info is right there in their inbox so your guests can’t misplace it.
Do nature a favour
It’s great to be able to give your guests something to take home to remember your big day. Something that lasts and that they can nurture is always a great option. We love the idea of a seedling, like a tomato or chilli plant, just think of someone making their dinner with tomatoes from the plant you gave them at your wedding.
A packet of seeds can be personalised to match your theme or check out seed card that goes straight in a tub of compost to give your guests a beautiful bouquet to remind them of you.
Reuse – something borrowed?
When planning your big day, look around your home for items that could be reused – from glass jars for your wedding flowers, giving a unique and rustic look to creating bunting from old clothes to give that festival feel. Don’t be shy to ask family and friends if they have any items you could borrow too!
Recycle
It’s difficult to focus on the day being over, you just want to enjoy it but it only needs a little bit of attention to make your day more eco friendly. Can your drinks bottles be recycled, is the venue going to look after this for you, or if it’s a DIY venue what are you options. Are you able to pass on items from your decor and big day to a charity shop or sell them on to?
Decor
Your theme is very personal to you but the chances are someone else might have tried elements of your style before, keep an eye on second hand sites online and scout the charity shops. Buying second hand is better for the planet and your purse and will mean you can pass it on when you are done. Keep sharing the style and reuse, reuse, reuse.