Easy Ways To Go Sustainable And Eco-Friendly At Your Wedding!
BY Sakshi | 03 Apr, 2023 | 12442 views | 8 min read
Your wedding day is one of the most special and memorable days of your life. And what could be more special than celebrating your love in a way that also honours and protects the planet we call home? The good news is that planning an eco-friendly wedding doesn't have to be a compromise on style or elegance. In fact, with a touch of creativity and some thoughtful planning, you can create a wedding that not only looks beautiful but also has a positive impact on the environment. So why settle for a cookie-cutter wedding when you can have a celebration that's as unique and sustainable as you are? Let's explore some creative ways to plan an eco-friendly wedding that will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime - for all the right reasons.
Opt For Minimalism
Image via Palak and Avnish
It's not necessary minimalism has to be basic. You can have the wedding of your dreams by being more mindful, just like this couple did!
Pick A Pre-Loved Lehenga!
Image via Amanda and Sachit
A pre-loved lehenga is a great way to minimise carbon footprint and recycle a stunning lehenga. Labels like Sartoria have designer pieces that you can pick for less and make an impact. You can also opt for renting your bridal and groom outfits – there are lots of great options available now!
Cut Your Guestlist
Image via Saumya and Chakra
By simply cutting your guestlist by even 20%, you will reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding massively! Plus you get to enjoy your wedding with the people that matter the most to you!
Opt For A Green Wedding Activity
This couple went with a plantation drive post their wedding which encouraged all the guests to do so! Also, as a wedding favor, instead of gifts, they planted a tree in name of each guest. Walk the talk!
Go paperless with your invites
Instead of printed invites, send out e-invites over email and Whatsapp. Lesser hassle and good for the environment too! Design your personalised evites here.
Say yes to lab grown diamonds
Pick lab-grown diamonds for the rings and jewellery instead of naturally mined diamonds to reduce the extent of human abuse that happens in mining.
Engage With Local Vendors
Image Soumya and Chakra
Booking outstation vendors mean they have to fly in or have their material transported to your city, which makes a huge impact on your wedding’s carbon footprint. You can now look for vendors in your city, by simply filtering through the city filter on WedMeGood.
Go For A Sustainable Bridal Trousseau
Image via Rahul and Athiya
You can also opt for sustainable brands if you want to go for new outfits for your trousseau like these brands, which are known for slow fashion. These include amazing jewellery brands too!
Shop Vegan
Image via Aksha and Hemanth
If you want to go cruelty-free, go vegan in your shopping. Don’t opt for silk sarees or leather bags in your bridal trousseau and gifts. Opt for vegan-friendly gifts and products that will help you go cruelty-free!
Opt For A Menu That Has Local Food
Image via The Creative Lens
Exotic food counters will mean ingredients have to be imported or transported from other places. Minimise this by opting for a food menu that can be made locally and that way, your guests will also be able to enjoy authentic local food.
Go The Heirloom Way
Image via Parnit and Pragya
Instead of buying new jewellery and heavy outfits, you can borrow family jewellery, sarees, and outfits for your wedding. Even if you can do that for 50% of your bridal look, it’ll create a huge impact! Or you can choose to go the heirloom way for one of your pre-wedding events.
Reduce Transportation
Image via Pinterest
Encourage carpooling and use public transportation as much as possible. If all your guests are staying at the same hotel or area, you can book them a fun wedding bus that can be used for transportation and they can avoid multiple cars!
Sustainable Catering
Image via Pinterest
Work with caterers who use reusable or compostable plates, utensils, and napkins. That way there is less wastage and more use!
Choose A Green Venue
Image via Rahul and Athiya
Look for a venue that is environmentally friendly, such as one that uses renewable energy, has energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and encourages recycling. You can also choose to get married at your own house or a friend's farmhouse where you can have more control over resources
Pick A Wedding Registry Over Regular Gifts
Image via Pinterest
You don’t want 5 same sets of microwave bowls going to waste, do you? Opt for a wedding registry where your guests can give you something useful and sustainable! Another way is having a ‘no physical gifts’ policy as it's one of the easiest ways to adopt a more conscious approach on your wedding day.
Decor
Go minimal
Image via Makebestday
The best thing to do when it comes to eco-friendly weddings. Dont go OTT with your wedding decor, and keep things as minimal as possible, without sacrificing on the class.
DIY as much as you can
Image via House of W
Use easy things without waste to make wedding decor, so you don't have to source it.
Or make use with what you have wisely!
Image via Sruthy and Anirudh
Have a big tree right in the middle of the venue? Convert that to an open mandap instead of erecting one from scratch! Use existing greenery around, and pick a place that doesn't need too much to make it look amazing.
Repurpose things for your wedding decor
Image via The Dior Entertainment
Use things from around your house or convert waste to wedding decor- use ceramics, pickle jars, paint wine bottles, use some antiques as centrepieces, even hung tyres with greens look nice!
Use reusable wedding decor
Image via To The Aisle
Mirror or Chalkboard signs instead of printed ones are a good idea as they can be erased and used again. Another idea is to get things that are not personalised- so they can be reused later for any other wedding!
Consider a flowerless wedding
Image via Best Day Ever by Deepika Shetty
Couples are doing it, and they still look amazing.
Go local!
Image via Weddings by Garema Kumar
We mean with things that really matter- like local flowers which are in abundance, using bamboo for supporting structures, and using things like banana leaves.
Limit vinyl prints and plastics as much as possible
Image via With Love Nilma
Instead of getting fancy vinyl for the bar, use jute and other natural decorations if possible, like this one above!
Invites & Favours
Use potted plants in decor and then give them out as favours
Image via Cinnamon Pictures
Two birds with one pretty potted plant!
Seed paper, plantable invites and recycled paper are a great idea too
Image via Avantika & Pratik (Mumbai)
Give out eco-friendly favour hampers to the guests
Image via The Herb Boutique
Yes, they are possible, and no, they don't mean boring things. Check out some ideas we have listed here.
Or give homegrown, natural, locally sourced favours
A great option for a giveaway can be locally grown and sourced coffee, tea, honey or other edible things.
Don't use plastic gift wraps
Eco-friendly gifting may not just mean gifting plants, you must also look at sustainable wrapping options. You could also look at giving cash instead of having people not value your sustainable gift option.
Get vocal for local-ly available gift options
May it be envelopes or other favours, make sure you go for re-usable and locally sourced products. We suggest you opt for some old fabrics at home and make DIY bags or dupattas from them as favours for your guests.
Food
Segregate the waste
Segregate dry and wet waste so that you can ensure that you compost the waste once the celebrations are over.
Do not give out plastic water bottles
Instead, get water counters (without plastic glasses). Steel glasses and jugs are good enough.
Use reusable cutlery and no tissues
No plastic spoons and forks. Yes, edible cutlery is a thing now too. You can also choose to serve food in ceramic, steel or bamboo disposable plates as ideal alternatives.
Instead of plastic, serve foods on natural plates / banana leaves
This might be pushing it for some couples, but if you're really serious, make it work.
Donate the leftover food to those who need it
This is always a good idea, especially looking at how much food can get wasted at weddings! Tie up with a local NGO who can pick up the food at the end of the day and donate it to those who really need it.
Other Ideas
Prefer day celebrations in good weather
Less use of electricity- make use of the natural light outdoors! If the weather is great, then AC usage becomes minimal.
Let the Baraat enter on cycles!
Image via 1plus1 Studio
Instead of hiring a big DJ van or the groom coming in on a horse or elephant!
Have a tree plantation drive by guests to mark your wedding
Image via Two Fat Ladies
Donate the leftover flowers
This can be done to making natural holi colours, potpourri or incense sticks out of them.
Give out rose petals for showering in banana leaves
Image via With Love Nilma
Not paper cones.
Or instead of confetti, used something different
You can use pressed, fallen leaves or even better- bird seeds!
Make sure the trash from the wedding is recycled or composted
There are composting groups which can take your wedding trash- food, flowers etc to convert them to compost. The rest? Well, make sure it is segregated and whatever can be recycled is sent for it.
All images are for representative purposes only.
*Updated by Apoorva Pagar.
ALSO READ: Simple Ways To Go Green At Your Wedding: It's Tough But Do-able!
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