As we become more aware of our impact on the planet, it becomes more important to bring eco-friendly practices into life and occasions like weddings. But saying yes to an eco-wedding doesn’t have to be a burden on the big day – and it doesn’t have to cost the earth in the truest sense of the word! On this World Earth Day, we’re taking a look at ways to organize a memorable wedding day that reduces your impact on the environment.

From food to venues, there are several ways to make your wedding a little greener. We spoke to wedding expert Lisa Forde of stationery favorite Tree of Hearts, who offers a wedding guide for couples with a conscience.

Eco-friendly weddings: 7 things to think about this World Earth Day

“The importance of an eco-friendly wedding is being considered by more and more couples when planning their big day,” explains Lisa.

“The sustainable movement is about reducing the use of single-use materials and choosing products and materials that are better for the environment.

“When planning your own eco-friendly wedding, there are many things to think about — from wedding party outfits to confetti to your honeymoon.”

Here are seven things to think about when planning your eco-friendly wedding.

Use eco-friendly stationery suppliers

You might think that sending your invitations online is an easy way to avoid waste, but it’s not really that much more environmentally friendly. Did you know that around 120 emails correspond to 1,652 g of CO2e?

Nothing beats traditional high quality stationery, eloquently styled and designed, printed on high quality sustainable paper and personalized for your day and a keepsake for your guests forever.

Tree of Hearts Stationery offers beautiful products made from carbon balanced paper that is also highly recyclable.

Consider the outfits of the wedding party

Choosing outfits when trying to be eco-friendly can be difficult as you don’t compromise on style and want something that really suits you.

Browse thrift and vintage boutiques for beloved dresses or rent them from sites like HURR and ByRotation, with endlessly beautiful styles for a fraction of the cost of buying a brand new dress.

More and more brides are also choosing to wear their mother’s wedding dress on their special day. You can then have changes made if you are looking for a more modern style.

Consider renting suits for the groom and groomsmen. This is a great idea as many men will never wear their wedding suit again and it will just gather dust in the closet.

Choose your wedding makeup carefully

When choosing your wedding makeup, make sure to avoid disposable products like false eyelashes and makeup remover wipes. Look for products that are eco-friendly, sustainable, organic and not tested on animals.

Be sure to discuss this with your makeup artist in advance so they can choose makeup in eco-friendly containers and packaging and stay away from plastic.

Research your venue

Choosing a local venue is very beneficial for the environment as all your wedding guests will not have to travel as far. When you’re focused on being eco-friendly, it pays to keep it simple, and outdoor ceremonies are undoubtedly the best for this — they drastically cut energy use and provide a beautiful place to exchange vows.

From beaches to forests, there’s certainly something special about saying your vows outdoors – just make sure you have a backup plan nearby in case you get unlucky with the weather! Or you choose a place that is already beautiful, such as B. a castle or a church, because then you don’t have to spend so much on decoration.

If you’re looking to add more decor to your venue, you can reduce your waste by using eco-friendly decor or choosing an eco-friendly wedding venue.

Live plants make beautiful decorations and can be kept long after your special day. Candles are also beautiful, sophisticated decorations and are available in many eco-friendly materials such as beeswax. If, like most brides, you want flowers for your wedding, speak to a local florist and consider choosing native or local varieties over rarer ones. For a beautiful and unique touch, you could even pick wildflowers to complement other natural decorations.

Think about food waste

Zeroing in on food waste after a wedding can be difficult as people often struggle to finish their meals. To avoid food waste, opt for a buffet instead of set menus. People eat as much as they want, so they’re likely to eat more or less than a solid meal. The leftovers can then be taken home by the guests or donated.

Strive for locally sourced organic ingredients to minimize the carbon footprint and caterers known for their eco-certification. With these ingredients and a knowledgeable catering team with the same passion for the cause, you can design a delicious seasonal menu that avoids imported products.

You can also reduce the environmental impact of food waste by sourcing food locally and choosing reusable cutlery. Serving drinks in glasses instead of disposable cups is another easy way to stay eco-conscious – and make sure all empty bottles are recycled!

And while a large wedding cake may look pretty, it’s unlikely to get the whole thing done, so maybe choose a smaller cake.

Set up a gift list

Unfortunately, gifts are another way a wedding can get lavish, especially when you receive things you never asked for or wanted.

You can avoid waste by setting up a gift list. That means you only get gifts you really want and need. You may also want to ask your wedding guests to wrap your gifts in eco-friendly wrapping paper, or not to wrap them at all.

If you receive gifts that you know you won’t use, you can resell them or donate them to a local charity. Alternatively, many of our couples are now asking for donations to charity or money as gifts or contributions to their honeymoon fund.

Opt for eco-friendly wedding gifts

Choosing wedding favors with natural ingredients is a great way to reduce waste. There are many natural handmade gifts you can make as well, including soaps, bath bombs and jams.

Make sure your packaging is made of either paper, glass or some other more eco-friendly alternative to plastic. Many couples choose not to give out favors at all, and that’s totally fine!

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