Weddings are beautiful and magical. But let us address the elephant in the room. Weddings are expensive! And sometimes- just plain wasteful! Think of all the excess food being thrown away, the flowers being left to wilt and rot, and the paper and plastic goods tossed away to decompose for an indefinite amount of time. Does the social declaration of two consenting adults in love need all of this wastefulness?
Nope. We are not asking you to do away with your wedding planning book and lock your dreams away with a heavy heart. There are so many sustainable options out there nowadays, it is very easy to make that lifestyle shift. The idea to make more responsible choices, without compromising on your ‘dream wedding’.
• The Invite: As you take a peek into the sustainable invite options, you will be surprised by the options available to you. Recycled paper, upcycled fabric, or natural materials like leather and wood are the perfect materials for invites. Another great option is seed paper, which is essentially a biodegradable material that sprouts into plants bearing flowers when planted again. How amazing is that!
• The Dress: The dress of the bride is usually the element of the wedding which attracts most glances and compliments. While we get how it is your day to shine, you will shine just as bright in a pre-loved dress. Check out some second-hand wedding dress shops, and take a step towards stopping the vicious cycle of fast fashion along the way. The fashion industry hugely influences the eco footprints, emitting 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent per year and is responsible for producing 20% of global wastewater. There are so many second-hand shops out there nowadays, making the hunt for the dress a lot easier.
• The Decor: Wedding decor establishes the vibe of the wedding and weaves together the entire theme of the wedding in the delicate details and special touches. A great way to do the decor sustainably is DIY or by going to your nearby thrift shop to search for the mirrors, signage, candle stand, and the little details. Not only will you be breathing in fresh breathe of life into the decor which was once loved, but you can also sometimes find stuff which is quirky and one of a kind, and something which potentially has a story behind it. After the wedding, choose to donate or resell, keeping the story going. You can donate flowers to the local hospitals or homes for seniors, because, who doesn’t like flowers?
• The Favors: Wedding favors can be a nice touch for the guests, making them feel welcomed and ensuring that they go home appreciated and happy. But wedding favors doesn’t necessarily have to add to the clutter or cause harm to the planet. Think about providing edible wedding favors, like cookies, cupcakes, or a snack for the ride back. A potted plant or succulent also makes great favor as it includes giving back to the planet in a large way. If you want to dip a little deeper, think about the gift of a charity in your guest’s name. Nothing warms the heart like a good deep and love, and here, we have both!
• The Food: While curating local, sustainable, and seasonal cuisine seems like the obvious thing to do, there are so many other things that you can do to ensure that you not only provide sustainable food choices, but also, sustainable waste management. Talk to the caterers and farmers about the options at hand for sourcing local food with less carbon footprint. While going plant-based with the food is a viable option that you can go for, food is a personal choice so you do you. You can also go for plated dinners to avoid food wastage, and if you are choosing a buffet, have a word with your caterer about saving the leftovers. Check out the options to donate extra food to the local homeless shelter or the food bank.
We are not perfect. Don’t let the pressure to be ‘sustainable’ get you discouraged or overwhelmed. It’s the small changes that can make a huge impact, as it’s the little steps that lead to beautiful destinations. Whether you are taking that first furtive step, or are going hard against anything wasteful, every bit of effort counts! Marriages are surely forever, but we sure want this planet to outlive our marriages, don’t we? Maybe it’s finally time to give back to the little blue planet in the middle of nowhere. And a wedding is a good place to start, as the wedding usually includes a lot of consuming in general. And by doing so, you are not only doing your best to reduce your carbon imprint on this planet, you are standing as an example for many more to follow through. Great Job!
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