Planning an eco-friendly wedding doesn’t need to be harder than planning a less environmentally friendly one. More people including wedding vendors are taking notice of our impact on the earth, and looking for ways to protect its resources. Sustainable weddings are becoming more popular each year and there are more eco-friendly options on the market to choose from. As a wedding photographer I am always thrilled to hear that my clients, just like me, want to make earth-friendly decisions in all parts of their lives. Let’s start with some ideas on how to plan an eco-friendly wedding!
THE WEDDING PLANNER
If you hire an environmentally conscious wedding planner you will get great advice and expertise on how to make your decisions more earth-friendly. Planners have a lot of connections and can recommend the right vendor for you, so you don’t need to do the research all by yourself.
THE INVITATIONS
The programs, menus, and invitations can be printed on recycled paper. You can also reduce print by sending information online, for example, using paperless post. You can include a lot of information for your guests on your wedding website.
THE ECO-FRIENDLY WEDDING VENUE
When it comes to choosing your wedding venue you can opt for an eco-friendly one like the couple pictured below. Eco-conscious venues have practices in place like recycling, composting, donating leftovers, some even grow their own food (or buy it locally). They also have solar panels, use low-flow faucets, have water bottle filling stations, have drought-tolerant plants, etc.
THE WEDDING REGISTRY
An eco-friendly registry that is in line with your environmentally conscious lifestyle is another great option! You can even inspire and educate some of your guests by choosing items from stores that pledge saving the earth and being eco-friendly.
THE CATERING
Sadly the biggest contributor to wedding garbage is food waste. When it comes to choosing your catering company you can opt for the one that uses food from local farms, serves a seasonal menu, and offer vegetarian/vegan options. It’s a bonus if your caterer pledges to reduce food waste and uses sustainable server ware. Choosing alcohol from local wineries, distilleries and breweries is another great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
SUSTAINABLE FLOWERS AND WEDDING DECOR
You can make an impact by renting when possible, using products and flowers that are in season, and using biodegradable goods. Choosing blooms from local farms is a great alternative to cut flowers that often come from different countries. Think about that carbon footprint! Incorporating dry flowers or using centerpieces in pots that can become wedding favors are becoming more popular.
If living an eco-friendly lifestyle is important to you and your partner, your nuptials should show that. Don’t let planning an environmentally friendly wedding overwhelm you! Even small decisions can add up and create big results! Just do your part for our planet!
I captured the photos used in this blog while second shooting for Fabiana Skubic Photography at the Eco-Institute at Pickards Mountain in Chapel Hill, NC. As a wedding photographer and an eco enthusiast, I love it when more couples plan environmentally friendly weddings! I also love it that eco-friendly weddings can look gorgeous and classy, so they are fun to photograph!
Do you want to see more pretty wedding photos, click here!