Weddings are one-day events that create lifelong memories. It’s a milestone 24 hours that couples and their loved ones will (hopefully) cherish forever as the start of a lifelong marriage. Unfortunately, weddings can also create waste that takes a lifetime to break down. 

The wedding industry tells engaged couples that they NEED a Pinterest board full of ideas for decorations, multiple white dresses, flowers, food, signage, trendy photo backdrops, and favors to create a memorable day. 

But what happens to all those props after the day is over? 

Kate Harrison, author of “The Green Bride Guide,” reports that the average wedding produces 400 pounds of waste and 63 tons of carbon dioxide. That’s close to 25 full garbage bags worth of trash!

Please know, my goal is not to put a damper on a happy time or ruin the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. Planning a wedding is stressful enough before thinking about the environmental impacts of your big day. 

But having a more sustainable wedding is easier than you might think, helps preserve our planet, and it can save you money, too. Here are 7 easy tips for planning an event that will live forever in your heart, not on the planet

1. Cut Back on Paper Products

Between save-the-dates, formal invitations with detail inserts and RSVP cards, table numbers, and printed menus, there are a lot of paper products involved in your big day. 

Instead of printing out 100s of each, here’s how you can cut back on paper:

• Choose postcards or foldable save-the-dates and invitations. I found some cute foldable options on AnnsBridalBargains.com that were $0.99/each, compared to a traditional envelope, card, and insert that start at $1.25+/each.

• Ask guests to RSVP on your wedding website. Guests will visit your wedding website anyway to look for accommodation information, browse your registry, and find day-of details. Since most wedding websites are free and offer an easy-to-use RSVP section, which makes tracking responses much easier, it’s really a win-win. Bonus: Once all your RSVPs are in, it’s simple to download the spreadsheet and send the information to your planner, caterer, and any other necessary vendors.

• Design a sign with your wedding’s menu, courses, and schedule, and place it in a common area that all your guests will see. Guests appreciate being told what beverages, courses, and entrees will be served at your wedding and knowing the timing of the ceremony and reception. But before you print out lots of detail cards, consider using signs, like a chalkboard or poster, to display this information instead.

  
  

2. Pick a Conscious Caterer

Chances are, there will be leftover food and beverages from your wedding. Depending on where you live, there may be certain regulations about how caterers can handle leftovers. 

The earlier you talk to your caterer about options for being eco-friendly, the better. Add these questions to your list as you talk with potential caterers:

• Do you source any of your ingredients and products locally?

• Do you offer cutlery, cups, and plates that are reusable? 

• Can we pack up leftover food for guests at the end of the night? 

• Are there any options for donating leftover food to a local charity or shelter?

• If you’re buying alcohol directly from a vendor, ask if they will buy back unopened bottles, cases, and handles.

3. Rent Decor 

Before planning a wedding, I had no idea how many small and seemingly random items were involved in creating ambiance and decorating the spaces. 

Fortunately, there are entire companies that specialize in renting out wedding decor and supplies. And yes, renting is a much more budget-friendly option than buying everything new!

Think:

• Arches

• Linens

• Runners

• Candles

• Votives 

• Vases

• Florals 

• Signage

• Furniture

Maybe the best part of renting items? Companies typically offer services to set up, take down, and clean everything you rented. 

That means you don’t have to transport everything to the venue, find someone to set it up, worry about who will pick it up at the end of the night, or find somewhere to store it.

4. Consider Buying Gently Used Items

Check out local consignment shops and online groups. Facebook is full of local wedding consignment groups with brides selling their gently-used items–deeply discounted. Your local thrift store likely has plenty of picture frames, baskets, trinkets, vases, and candles to choose from for mere dollars. I found my centerpiece wood rounds, table numbers, 2 chalkboard signs, and various frames for $60 through Facebook groups and thrift shops.

Shop pre-loved dresses, veils, and shoes. One of my best friends, who is an avid thrifter, found her beautiful wedding dress in a thrift store for $300. But as someone who does not enjoy shopping, I was beyond excited to learn there are dedicated bridal boutiques that sell used (dry-cleaned) and donated dresses, veils, shoes, and clutches! Maryland girlies, check out Cherie Sustainable Bridal in Savage Mill, MD. I found my dress here and had such a fabulous experience! They had tons of dresses in and around my size, and I felt much less overwhelmed browsing what was in stock, as opposed to a traditional shop that offered endless options. Bonus: Because I was shopping in my size, the alterations I needed were minimal and cost a quarter of what I had expected to pay.

5. Re-Think Wedding Favors

If you’re planning to give your guests a wedding favor, consider opting for an eco-friendly gift. 

These are just a few ideas that are eco-friendly, adorable, and something your guests will use and love:

• Seed packets. Whether you’re sharing bee-friendly wildflower seeds or herbs, guests will definitely use these and think about your wedding when they do. Theme ideas:  Let love grow, love in bloom, rooted in love, seasoned with love.

• Food or drinks. Coffee beans, loose-leaf teas, chocolates, pickles, cookies, etc. Pick a food that stores well and means something to you and your partner for a special twist. Make sure to put it in glass or paper packaging. Theme ideas: Love is sweet, love is brewing, your support is a big dill.

• Succulents. These plants are small, easy to care for, and beautiful! Plus, if you use succulents as part of your decor theme, you can add those to your wedding favor table at the end of the night. Theme ideas: Be-leaf in love, watch our love grow, our day would’ve succ-ed without you. 

6. Consider the Travel Impact

This is actually much easier than you may think, and you are probably already doing many of these things:

• Shop local and support nearby farmers when you’re choosing food and flowers.

• Pick a wedding location that is a semi-middle ground for 60%-80% of your guests.

• Provide a round-trip shuttle from hotels to the ceremony and venue.

• If you are getting married in a church, try to pick a reception venue that is less than 30 minutes away. The closer the better! 

• If getting married in a church isn’t a priority, consider choosing a venue where you can have the ceremony and reception. 

7. Re-Use, Repurpose, and Donate

Flowers

Personally, I opted to have fewer flowers at my wedding because our venue was very picturesque, all on its own. This saved us money and meant I had fewer flowers leftover.

• If you’re having bridesmaids carry bouquets, try adding vases to your centerpiece design. Then ask your bridesmaids to drop their bouquets into the vases at the reception. 

• Choose ceremony flower designs that can be easily moved to your reception area. This saves you some money and helps you get the most use out of the flowers!

• Choose potted plants as decorations that can be gifted to guests at the end of the night.

• Preserve your wedding bouquet in a frame, ornaments, jewelry, etc. This does cost extra money when you have it done professionally, but I found the cost completely worth it to have a beautiful reminder of our wedding for the rest of my life. Tip: If you’re choosing a professional, look for someone local to your wedding area because you will need to get them your flowers within 48 hours. I preserved my wedding bouquet in a frame and love that it now hangs in my home. (Maryland brides, check out Dahlia Designs by Dani. She’s in Baltimore County and was fabulous to work with!)
  

• Donate your ceremony and centerpiece flowers to a local nursing home or hospital. Your beautiful flowers can brighten others’ days! Tip: This is easiest if you choose a place close to your venue and arrange for someone to drop it off the next day. Some places will offer to pick up the flowers.

Cards

I love cards and knew I would want to look back on ours. Save them in the way that makes the most sense for you.

• Create a wedding card album–this is what I did, and it was super easy. I bought an album that didn’t have photo slots, and glued the back of each card to a page. That way, I can open the card and read the sweet messages!

• Create a keepsake box.

• Frame your favorite cards.

• Make a wedding card collage to hang up in your home.

Decor

You guessed it … Donate it or sell it on those same groups you found it on! Six months after our wedding, I was tired of having my small box of thrifted decor in my basement, so I changed the price to $0 and gave it to another bride. 

Your Wedding Can Make a Difference

With over 2 million weddings in the U.S. each year, making just a few eco-friendly swaps can positively impact our planet. I’d love to hear what you found most useful, if you plan to use any of these tips, and if you have any other eco-friendly ideas to add!