One of the biggest decisions to make when planning your big day is the venue! There are some simple, easy choices which can help if you’re aiming for a more environmentally friendly celebration.
Consider opting for a local venue to reduce travel distances and in turn reduce CO2 emissions. If your guests are all flying to a destination wedding it will increase your event’s carbon footprint significantly!
If appropriate for your event, consider encouraging guests to car share or take public transport on your invitations for an easy win!
Eco-Venues
Eco-venues are becoming more and more prevalent and popular and many will host weddings and parties. Often, they will have their own gardens and outdoor venue spaces which can reduce your need for floral arrangements in photos and save costs. Eco-venues are more likely to have the facilities to keep your wedding waste to a minimum.
Wherever you decide to have your big day, the venue will be happy to discuss their sustainability credentials and any sustainable adjustments they can make to fit your eco-wedding.
Borrow Don’t Buy
Opting to explore options for borrowing and renting or choosing to buy second-hand are all simple choices that can help reduce unnecessary wastage whilst also saving you money!
There are lots of companies who offer décor and entertainment available to rent for your big day.
Alternately, you could try making some yourself from materials found at your local Reuse shop, scrapstore or buy second hand from places like eBay, gumtree or Facebook Marketplace!
Local borrow and share groups are also a great resource for sourcing equipment to borrow.
If you are considering hiring your own marquee or tent, chairs and tables, consider the time of year you plan to tie the knot. Generators used for heating use a lot of energy and can be avoided if your event is in a warmer season!
Confetti
Beware that confetti can contain plastic and throwing it about IS littering. Many venues now ban the use of traditional confetti on their sites and insist on biodegradable alternatives.
Biodegradable petal confetti can be bought online from many stores and comes in many varieties and colours!
if you have the time, it’s easy to make your own biodegradable confetti from dried leaves or flower petals.
Whatever you choose, ensure you inform your guests on your invitations or website (see our wedding invites blog)!
Flowers
Cut flowers at events such as weddings aren’t the most sustainable. More people are now deciding to source the flowers sustainably and locally, or even to keep them in a pot for guests to take home as favours- all options can often be expensive.
Alternatively, try growing the flowers yourself! Bouquets can be fashioned with herbs, green foliage and non-traditional native species, dependant on the event’s time of year. You don’t have to opt for expensive flowers grown abroad and flown over to make your day special.
More Sustainable Weddings and Events blogs:
Sustainable Weddings and Events – Gifts
Sustainable Weddings and Events – Food and Drink
