Your big day is a celebration of your love, and it should be a reflection of your personal style. More and more couples are becoming conscious of their environmental footprint and are choosing to have an earth-friendly wedding day. Of course, you can still have the day you have always dreamed of, but with a few creative eco moderations.
If you want to plan an eco-friendly wedding, here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Upcycle a Dress
You might have spotted your dream dress in a designer boutique, but what if you were to look for something second-hand instead? These days, dry cleaning, alterations and acid-free storage mean a preloved wedding dress can look brand new.
Reusing a dress will give it a second life, and the added benefit is it will save you money. If you’re sentimental, you may be able to wear a dress from your mother or grandmother, and with the help of a dressmaker, it can be made into your own. After the big day, pay it forward and pass your dress on to someone else.
2. Create a Wedding Website
When it’s time to send out your invitations, you can cut down on additional printing costs by creating a wedding website. Your website can be customized with the names of the couple, photographs and a choice of themes.
When guests access your website, they will find additional wedding details such as time, location, accommodation options, and a gift registry. They can even RSVP online, which saves paper while being a convenient way to respond.
3. Make the Most of Natural Lighting
An outdoor ceremony and reception under the stars will provide a romantic atmosphere, providing the weather is suitable. A wedding with lower energy consumption is a more eco-friendly choice, and you can use it to your advantage. An evening outdoor celebration can be enhanced with solar lights, and when the day is over you can reuse them in your own garden.
4. Source Organic Flowers
Flowers that are out of season or rare may be pretty, but they come at an environmental cost. In fact, your favorite bouquet may have been grown and stored with harsh chemicals. In order to avoid this, look for flowers that are in bloom at the time of your wedding and ask your florist how they are sourced. Oftentimes, flowers come with plastic to help keep them in position, but you can ask for sustainable alternatives such as bamboo.
5. Replace the Bombonieres
Giving your guests a gift is a nice gesture, but knick-knacks wrapped in plastic could very well end up in a landfill. So be thoughtful with your bonbonnieres and use recycled packaging. A potted plant is a favor they can cherish and is something they will continue to enjoy. If you prefer, skip the bonbonnieres all together and ask each guest to choose between two charities. You can then donate a small sum on their behalf.
The Wrap Up
You can have a beautiful wedding day while still being eco-friendly, as a few simple replacements could make your special day a more sustainable one. Consider wearing a preloved dress, cutting down your energy consumption, finding organic flowers, and rethinking the wedding favors.
There will be a range of elements you’ll discover that can be replaced with eco-friendly ones. You just need some forward planning — and creativity!
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