How to Plan a Stylish and Sustainable Wedding

Planning a stylish wedding that’s kind to the planet is easier than you might think. From choosing eco-friendly venues and decor to sustainable fashion and locally sourced menus, there are countless ways to make your celebration both beautiful and environmentally responsible. Dive into our guide to discover practical tips for a green wedding that will impress your guests, reflect your values, and leave a lasting positive impact.

If you're a bride or groom in the throes of planning a wedding or at the beginning of your journey and would like to plan a sustainable celebration stylishly, this is the blog for you! Let's face it: we could all be a little better at protecting our precious planet, so even if you adopt just a few of these options, you'll be on your way to creating a greener wedding. More often than not, eco-friendly weddings that include options such as preloved outfits or handcrafted decor tend to be more unique, so you'll not only be reducing your carbon footprint but also wowing your wedding party with your originality and style. So get your wedding planning hat on, and let's get going!

What is a sustainable wedding?

First things first, a sustainable wedding is a celebration that reduces its overall impact on the planet and supports the local community. It involves reducing waste, carbon footprint, and environmental impact and refraining from utilising single-use products for decor. The goal is to keep people and the planet at the top of your mind throughout the planning process, and if you do that, you'll be able to create a more sustainable wedding with ease.

Set (realistic) goals and priorities

Determine your priorities for a sustainable wedding, such as reducing waste, using eco-friendly vendors, or serving locally sourced food. Set realistic goals, such as lowering your wedding's carbon footprint by 50% rather than putting too much pressure on yourselves to go completely green. You could consider hiring a wedding planner who specialises in planning and executing sustainable weddings, as they will be able to bring creative ideas to the table that you hadn't thought of before and help implement them into your day in a way that's simple but effective.

Choosing a sustainable venue

When you’re looking for your dream location, look for a wedding venue that has sustainable features and is aware of its carbon footprint. Venues with outdoor spaces such as gardens, parks, beaches, or vineyards are naturally beautiful and reduce the need for excess décor and power. See if the venue utilises solar power or simple ways to protect our planet, such as composting and recycling programs, locally sourced menus, and, even better, that grow their own produce. Choosing a venue that is close to public transport or offers shuttle services will all contribute to reducing your overall carbon footprint.

Sustainable wedding fashion

The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters and sources of greenhouse gas emissions due to fast fashion manufacturing processes. So, consider buying pre-loved or vintage wedding attire for an original eco-wedding dress or suit option. Look for wedding outfits made from sustainable fabrics, such as organic cotton or recycled materials, that don't have to travel across the globe to reach you. You could even rent your wedding outfits for a more sustainable option; let's face it—who wears their wedding dress again anyway?

Wedding day decorations and details

Go green with your wedding decorations and choose a venue that needs minimal decoration to reduce waste. Alternatively, why not utilise a local decor rental company rather than purchase decorations and furnishings, buy second-hand decorations that have already been enjoyed, and look to gift or sell them again after your celebrations? If you want ‘on the day’ wedding stationery such as menus, wedding programs, and place cards, they can be printed on recycled paper or seed paper, which guests can plant after the big day. In lieu of wedding favours, you could also showcase your commitment to sustainability by planting a tree in guests' honour.

Regarding florals, consider using high-quality faux flowers that look and feel like natural blooms, meaning they can be enjoyed again and again. Or if you've got your heart set on real flowers, many florists will happily source seasonal, local wedding flowers and provide double-duty ceremony arrangements that can be moved to the reception and enjoyed for the rest of the day. If you feel comfortable doing so, ask your florist to avoid using floral foam; it's not recyclable and usually uses harsh chemicals; ensure they use sustainable practices and source flowers locally. An excellent way to end the day/wedding weekend is to gift your flowers and decor to wedding guests at the end of the celebration so they can be enjoyed for longer. You could even donate them to the local church and/or care home to brighten up someone else’s day.

Sustainable wedding food and drink

Choosing locally sourced food and drink helps to reduce transport emissions, so find a supplier that adheres to this as much as possible and hire crockery, cutlery, and table linen to avoid the need for disposable options that sadly end up in landfills. Catering options that use sustainable practices, such as composting and recycling and locally grown produce, should be at the top of your shortlist! You could even consider offering plant-based dishes, which have a lower carbon footprint compared to meat-heavy menus and work with your caterer to plan portions carefully to reduce food waste. If you have leftover food, consider donating to food banks or local charities.

Sustainable wedding transportation and accommodation

To reduce your carbon footprint further, encourage carpooling and shuttle services for your guests. With careful planning, especially for out-of-town friends and family, you can ensure minimal unnecessary travel. For example, have your guests stay at your chosen wedding venue and plan your ceremony and reception all under the same roof. That way, you're making everyone's life simple, and there's no risk of anyone getting lost travelling from one venue to the next, and there's no need for directions and creating signage either—win!

If it's not possible for all guests to stay at your venue, choose eco-friendly accommodation close by to reduce transportation emissions as much as possible. Adopt this principle when you're researching your venue's accommodation. Consider renting a house or apartment instead of booking multiple hotel rooms, and, where possible, ensure it has sustainable features, such as solar panels or a green roof.

Sustainable wedding gifts and registries

Choose a sustainable wedding gift and register with stores stocking eco-friendly items and handcrafted and locally sourced goods. You could always go with a digital registry, which you can share with guests, and they can choose gifts that get delivered directly to you all together. If you don’t need more ‘things’ in your life, you could arrange gifting experiences that your guests could contribute to, such as your flights or honeymoon accommodation, instead of physical items.

Wedding websites are sustainable, too!

By creating a wedding RSVP website, you're already doing your bit towards an eco-friendly wedding. Think of all those postage fees you'll save by sending digital wedding invitations and not having to make endless trips to the post office. You will also save money on printing and postage fees AND reduce the risk of your invites getting lost in the mail. Your wedding website is the perfect opportunity to highlight your sustainability efforts and inspire guests to be eco-friendly during the event too.