How to Have a Sustainable Wedding
Wedding Planning
Elettra Wiedemann | Executive Director of Mama Farm
September 21, 2023
Your wedding day is a celebration of love, commitment, and the beginning of a beautiful journey together. But, if you’re a Nature lover, wedding planning can be overwhelming and complex, especially if you're on a mission to avoid excess waste and carbon footprints. Luckily, there are manty ways to have a sustainable wedding without sacrificing style or breaking the bank. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore 20 actionable tips to help you plan an eco-friendly wedding that's kind to the planet while creating lasting, beautiful memories.
1. Let Your Venue Do The Heavy Eco-Lifting
An easy and impactful way to have a sustainable wedding is to choose a venue that is aligned with those same values. If you are an environmentally minded couple, Mama Farm is the perfect place to host your eco-friendly wedding. By having your wedding at Mama Farm, you are supporting our environmentally friendly mission to conserve land, use regenerative agriculture to produce food and our animal sanctuary of heritage breed sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys and ducks. We invite our guests to explore our beautiful grounds and explore the fields and surrounding woodland trails. At Mama Farm, our main inspiration is Mother Nature. Our regenerative farm offers versatile and customizable layouts that can accommodate any vision or theme, from a rustic wedding venue to a fairy-tale garden. Imagine getting married among wildflower fields, or with sheep peacefully grazing as the backdrop to your wedding altar, or with fireflies twinkling in the background as you say your vows in front of your loved ones who are surrounded by swaying trees in the ocean breeze. Whatever your vision, Mama Farm can help you bring it to life with Mother Nature providing the perfect backdrop to your Big Day.
2. Opt for an Intimate Guest List
Having a smaller, more intimate wedding creates a cozier atmosphere and also reduces the environmental impact. Fewer guests mean less waste, less transportation emissions, and less catering needs. A small wedding not only reduces the environmental impact but also allows for more personalized touches. For instance, you can consider offering each guest a unique, handcrafted gift, or a beautiful gift is a small potted plant, or handwritten appreciation note expressing your gratitude for their presence
3. Go for Green InvitationS
Choose digital invitations or opt for recycled paper materials to minimize waste. Besides, e-invites allow for quick RSVPs and updates!
If you prefer to send physical invitations, consider using plantable paper. This unique type of paper is embedded with seeds so your guests can plant the invitation, leading to the growth of flowers, herbs, or even vegetables. It's a delightful way to leave a lasting memory and contribute positively to the environment.
4. Create a Sustainable Gift Registry
Encourage your loved ones to contribute to your sustainable lifestyle by registering for eco-friendly gifts or experiences. When selecting items, reusable and recyclable materials should be your go-to choices. For example, pick kitchen essentials made with silicone or stainless steel, which can be recycled. Consider also selecting products made from compostable materials, like bamboo utensils or reusable beeswax wraps.
There are many options for green registry platforms. In addition to having eco-friendly products, some registries also allow you to choose green charities to support. Some examples include The Good Beginning and Blueprint Registry. By going green with your registry, not only will you promote sustainability, but you'll also introduce like-minded products to your guests.
If you don’t wish to register for material goods, you can also ask your guests to contribute to Experience Gifts, including a honeymoon fund or money toward your first home together.
5. Invest in Ethically-Sourced Wedding Bands
Choose wedding bands made from recycled materials or ethically-sourced metals to minimize your impact on the environment. Another option is to simply ask your family for jewelry or family heirlooms that can be repurposed for your wedding bands.
Jewelers should be informed about the metal’s origin in their rings. Gold, for example, can be mined using processes harmful to the environment and local communities. Choosing recycled gold or Fairmined-certified gold ensures that your ring is made from metal that's been responsibly sourced. If you're a fan of diamonds, seek out eco-friendly options like lab-grown diamonds, which have a much smaller environmental footprint than their mined counterparts.
6. Opt for a Sustainable Bridal Gown
Consider a vintage dress or choose a designer specializing in sustainable fashion. Renting a gown is another eco-friendly option. As with the wedding bands, it’s also possible that someone in your family has a wedding dress that is right for you! Even if it’s not exactly what you want, things can be tailored to suit your needs and preferences. When you choose a vintage dress or family heirloom, you're reducing the demand for new gowns and lowering the textile waste that comes with it.
7. Choose Rental Suits for the Groom and His Party
Renting suits is not only cost-effective, but it's also environmentally friendly. Think about it, do you or your groomsmen really need to own another suit that may only be worn once or twice? By renting, you're reducing the demand for new suits and the resources used to produce them. Plus, it allows you and your groomsmen to wear high-quality suits without breaking the bank.
8. Say 'I Do' in an Outdoor Setting
Outdoor weddings offer natural beauty and your money goes toward helping green spaces to exist and thrive. Outdoor weddings are a great way to have an eco-friendly celebration and have a positive environmental impact while still having a beautiful, memorable day.
9. Reconsider Travel Arrangements
If possible, host your wedding and reception at the same location to reduce travel emissions and encourage guests to carpool or use public transportation. Not only will it lower your wedding’s overall carbon footprint, it’ll also be more convenient for your guests and save everyone some time. If you decide to have your wedding and reception in different places, consider selecting a venue within walking distance or accessible via public transportation. This way, your guests won't have to rely on cars to attend your special day.
Also, encourage carpooling! Provide options for your guests like shuttle buses or rideshare options. These can be communicated on your wedding invitations or wedding website. Remember that companies like Uber also have car sharing options on their app.
10. Scour Social Media for Pre-Loved Decor
Start by exploring popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Etsy and Pinterest. Look for local wedding resale groups on Facebook where brides and grooms are selling or renting their gently used items. Also remember to ask your families for heirlooms or decor they used at their weddings! You might come across beautiful linens and other decor pieces that will suit your wedding theme perfectly. By using pre-loved decor, you’ll reduce the demand for new products.
Another option is to scour local vintage and consignment shops. By buying second-hand items from local sellers, you’ll reduce your carbon emissions associated with shipping.
11. Repurpose Florals
Start by choosing seasonal and locally sourced wedding flowers. This way, you'll support local businesses and reduce the carbon footprint associated with flower transportation. Plus, you get the freshest, most vibrant blooms! After the ceremony, you can repurpose floral arrangements as table centerpieces or donate them to local hospitals or nursing homes to spread joy. If you are having your wedding at Mama Farm and you are using one of our eco friendly florist partners, we will happily compost your florals for you. The flowers and compost will turn into soil that we will use to grow the following year’s crops and flowers. The circle of life comes to life!
12. Donate Excess Food and Decorations
One of the simplest ways to donate excess food from your wedding is to partner with a local food bank or charity. They often have specific guidelines for accepting donations, so be sure to contact them beforehand to arrange the details. By doing this, you're making sure that the surplus of delicious cuisine doesn't go to waste and is instead used to feed those who need it most. Mama Farm works is proud to work with local food banks frequently and we would be happy to facilitate a food donation to one of our local partners.
13. ForgoT Traditional Confetti
Instead of traditional confetti (which can be polluting and harmful to wildlife), consider using biodegradable options like dried flower petals or rice paper. Biodegradable confetti is a great option because it will break down naturally, leaving no trace behind.
Another fun and sustainable option is DIY confetti. You can make your own biodegradable confetti with materials you already have like leaves or lavender buds. This adds a personal touch to your celebration and allows you to control the eco-friendliness of your confetti.
14. Eliminate Single-Use Tableware
First and foremost, opt for reusable items. Choose dinnerware, glassware, and cutlery that can be washed and used again, such as ceramic plates, glass cups, and stainless-steel utensils. Not only will this result in less waste, but it also adds a touch of elegance to your reception.
Another great option for eco-friendly tableware is to rent items. Many catering companies and event planners offer rental options for items like plates, cups, and utensils. Plus, the rental company will handle the cleaning, so you don't have to worry about it.
If you absolutely must use disposable items, choose compostable or biodegradable options. There are plenty of sustainable materials, such as bamboo, palm leaf, and sugarcane, that are just as functional as their plastic counterparts. Just remember to provide proper bins for composting these items after use.
15. Select Catering from Local Agricultural Sources
Working with a caterer that sources local ingredients for meals and even drinks is an important component in having a sustainable wedding. Choosing locally sourced ingredients promotes environmentally friendly practices, such as reducing transportation emissions and supporting farmers who practice sustainable farming methods. By prioritizing local produce, your wedding menu can boast fresh, in-season flavors, making your celebration truly memorable.
At Mama Farm, the food on your table will come right from our field, which is grown using regenerative techniques. We are also friendly with many other local organic farms and work with them often to enhance the ingredient offerings for our weddings and private events. Weddings at our farm have zero-waste because we compost leftover food waste, turning into soil for next year’s harvest.
16. Avoid Buffet-Style Dining
Opting for plated meals allows you to have better control over portion sizes, thus reducing the likelihood of food waste. With buffet-style dining, guests often take more food than they can eat, and the excess ends up in the trash. By serving a predetermined amount in a plated meal, you can easily minimize waste and ensure less food ends up in the landfill. Some weddings at Mama Farm have opted for a family style meal, with food being put on the table for guests to serve themselves. All uneaten food goes into our compost piles.
17. Say No to Balloons and Sky Lanterns
Balloons and sky lanterns can be harmful to the environment and wildlife. Opt for eco-friendly decor alternatives. If you are in need of some inspiration or guidance, the staff at Mama Farm loves to brainstorm and think through solutions. We have hosted many weddings and can offer some ideas about what looks and feels festive and is still eco-friendly.
18. Reimagine Your Wedding KeepsakeS
Instead of trinkets that may collect dust, offer guests sustainable keepsakes like potted plants or seeds. Another idea is to guide your guests to their seats using beautifully crafted, reusable place cards that double as take-home keepsakes. Once your guests enjoy their meal, they can take home these unique place cards to remember your special day.
19. Utilize Natural Lighting
To make your green wedding shine, consider choosing a venue with large windows, open spaces, or maybe even an outdoor setting. This allows sunlight to naturally brighten the space, and it can help reduce the need for artificial lighting that consumes energy. Using natural lighting for your wedding photos will also reduce energy consumption and capture the beauty of the day. Pro-tip for outdoor weddings: When thinking about the time of day your ceremony will occur, look up what time the sun will set on your Big Day and work backwards from there to consider the light for your wedding photos. You will want to have beautiful light after the ceremony for your wedding photography and the posed shots with your new spouse, your families and your wedding party.
20. Choose a Wedding Date with Seasonal Considerations
Selecting a date that aligns with local seasons can reduce the need for imported or out-of-season flowers and food. By aligning the season of your wedding with local, in-season blooms and ingredients, you support your community's economy while reducing the need for transportation and the carbon emissions that come with it. Plus, local options often look and taste fresher – a win-win for your big day!
