If you’re planning your wedding and don’t want it to cost the earth, both figuratively and literally, then you’re not alone! These days a lot of couples are opting for weddings with sustainability in mind.

The traditional wedding industry is responsible for a huge amount of waste. Just one wedding can produce as much as 14.5 tonnes of CO2 and 20kg of plastic waste, not to mention the food waste. But, it’s not all doom and gloom, there are some fantastic alternatives out there!

Here, we’ve put together a list of some easy swaps and great suppliers that can make your big day both special and sustainable.

Choose A Sustainable Location

We all know that finding the right location for a wedding can be a big task. Do you go for the classic hotel? The rustic barn? Risk the great British weather and opt for an outside venue? 

Whatever your vibe, finding somewhere that is sustainable in its approach to events is becoming easier year on year. With many venues upping their eco-credentials you’re spoiled for choice. 

When choosing your venue it’s also a good idea to think about how everyone is going to get there. Will it mean lots of people flying in or travelling long distances? Can you provide some greener, collective transport from a central location?

Wherever you pick, make sure you question them about what they are doing to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Not only will this put your mind at rest but it also lets the venue know sustainability is important to their clients.

Flowers & Foliage

One of the biggest traditions at a wedding is the flowers. 

The bridal bouquet, button-holes, decorations, table centrepieces. That’s a lot of flowers and it can be a big impact on the environment. Not only are there the carbon emissions associated with growing and transporting the cut flowers, in some cases as much as 3kg CO2 per flower! 

So, what’s the sustainable swap? Well, there are lots of options! And, you can always scrap flowers altogether and choose from a selection of silk, paper or anything else you fancy carrying down the aisle. 

But we know for many of us, flowers are a MUST! And, lucky for us, there are a lot of florists out there using locally grown, sustainable blooms like those in our directory

What To Wear?

Without a doubt, what you and your wedding party wear on the big day is super important. You want to feel amazing, obviously, but can you do that while still being sustainable? Absolutely! 

We are spoiled with options for sustainable wedding dresses and suits. 

Going secondhand or vintage is not only a great way to find something beautiful for a smaller budget but also stops those pieces from ending up in a landfill. If you want something that’s been made just for you though, there are bridal designers and dressmakers out there that are all about sustainability. 

We really love Poppy Perspective and A Lover’s Thread, both have sustainability as their core values.

Sustainable Wedding Stationery 

Save The Dates, Invitations, Menus, Thank You notes and more! The stationery for a wedding is important for bringing both the day and your theme together but not all stationery is sustainable or even biodegradable. 

Choosing to use sustainably sourced or recycled papers can make a big difference, so can finding a designer that’s passionate about sustainability. 

We love the work of Leuska Designs, not only are their collections and bespoke work incredible, but they also love sustainability. They even have a collection that uses eco-paper containing wildflower seeds. You get to plant it once it’s been used - how cool is that!?

Another green option is virtual Save The Dates and Invitations. You can do this with your very own wedding website. 

Sending email invites instead of paper ones and setting up a wedding website with all the detail for the day can also be a good alternative. 

This is a great option if you’ve got family and friends you’re inviting from other countries. Bonus points: there’s no chance of invites getting lost in the post!

Getting The Perfect Look

Whether you’re keeping it simple or going all out, the right decor can really make your day special. It’s a chance to really bring your personalities to the day, and if you’re reading this probably a big part of that for you is sustainability! 

If you’re DIY-ing your decor there are a lot of options to make it beautiful and eco-friendly. Hiring or buying items that are reusable or recyclable is the greenest way to deck out your venue. Reclaimed furniture and recycled and plant-based decorations can be made to fit most colour schemes and themes.

If you want to give your guest favours maybe think about something that they can keep or reuse. A small plant or seeds, candles or even little bottles of alcohol all make great, sustainable wedding favours.

There are also amazing, sustainably focused event stylists out there like The Joy Eclectic, who can all the stress out of styling and decorating your big day. 

Let’s Eat!

Getting the catering right for your wedding can feel like a lot of pressure. Do you go with what even your fussiest guest will like or do you go for something you and your partner will love? (The latter, obviously, it’s your day and you should love every minute of it, including the food!)

If you want to make sure your catering is sustainable too it’s a good idea to ask any prospective caterers how and where they source their food. 

Look for someone who’s passionate about good, locally sourced, high welfare food. Mike & Ollie, listed in our directory, are just such people. Check out their Instagram for some great food porn!

Honeymooning Sustainably 

After your incredible wedding, it’s time to kick back and sink into that newly wedded bliss. If you want to keep up the sustainability with the honeymoon, it’s now easier than ever. There has been a huge increase in sustainable eco-resorts globally in recent years. 

Whether you want to lay on a tropical beach, spend time in the jungle or go on an eco-safari there is a sustainable destination for you! You can even carbon offset your flights to ensure your getaway is as guilt-free as possible.

There is also the super green option of honeymooning closer to home. You can even find a selection of really amazing eco-resorts right here in the UK. Given the current travel upheaval and ever-changing restrictions, this is a really great option for a post-wedding getaway. 

Our environment is, without a doubt, struggling, so anything we can do to lessen our impact is great. With all these great sustainable alternatives it’s so easy to make your big day more eco-friendly. Even if you only make a few small swaps it all helps. And what better way to celebrate your love for each other than by showing your love for our beautiful planet too!