The Complete Guide to Planning a Sustainable Wedding
These 10 tips for planning a sustainable wedding day are a must have to ensure your celebration is environmentally friendly.
Did you know…
…the average wedding results in 400lbs of garbage and 63 tons of CO2? The movement around pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle and a greener earth has a tendency to root itself in fear mongering tactics. This metric isn’t meant to scare you, however it also should. Yet rather than focusing on the damaging grip the wedding industry has on our planet, the intention here is to focus on the little changes YOU can make when planning your wedding day.
We’ve broken down a few easy steps that result in a BIG impact on sustainbility… but you know, with a lesser impact on the earth.
SO… WHERE DO YOU START?
1.Narrow down your guest list
Elopements weren’t just a 2020 trend created by couples still trying to tie the knot amongst the pandemic. In fact, elopements have been on the rise over the course of the last 4 decades with a considerable uptick in the last decade alone. Today’s generations are reframing what truly matters on a wedding day to recenter their celebration on their commitment rather than an evening of catering to the guests.
If an elopement shared between just you and your partner isn’t the right choice, you can still craft an incredible elopement day with a few loved ones or even plan an intimate wedding. The matter of fact is: your guest list directly correlates to the amount of waste your wedding day is likely to generate. The smaller the guest list, the less amount of waste you’ll create.
2. Hiring LOCAL Vendors who care
Navigating a more eco-friendly lifestyle can already be overwhelming. There’s so much misinformation and poor marketing out there, it’s hard to know what is really making a beneficial impact and what is just greenwashing ie. falsely advertising or implying something is more environmentally friendly than it actually is. Transferring these values into an already wasteful industry is no easy task. While the wedding industry is innately unsustainable, you can first handedly fight against this. How do you start?
Support the sustainability movement in the world of weddings by hiring vendors who care and share your values.
Hire a caterer who sources local and Fairtrade ingredients. Hire a florist who uses in season local flowers and strays from chemical ridden floral foam. Hire a makeup artist that uses cruelty free eco friendly products. Hire a photographer that will help you navigate the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace… (psst, Cascadian Exposures has entire guide exclusive to all couples who book with us!).
Additionally, hire LOCAL vendors. Not only with they have a better understanding of the restrictions in the area + navigating indigenous lands, you cut down carbon emissions from their travel, and support the local economy.
By hiring yourself a team who shares your values, you’ll be able to take a deep breath, sit back, and let your professionals lead the way.
3. Select a greener ceremony location
It’s not quite as simple as opting to get married outside for a more eco-conscious ceremony. If you’re planning to have 12 or more guests attending your intimate ceremony, we recommend pursuing hosting your celebration at a venue or home vacation rental (if approved by property manager). Why such a specific number might you ask? This number has been determined by our communication with the local national parks and forests in the Pacific Northwest. Typically we have found celebrations of a larger size will not be permitted in these regions nor is it something we’re here to argue. Large group sizes greatly impact the use of the land and how other visitors enjoy the area. For more information on the importance of this, learn about the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace here.
In the case where your group size exceeds this 12 person limit, try checking out venues that put sustainability at the forefront of their business operations. This falls right in line with choosing vendors that share your values. To find these types of venues, check out the Green Building Information Gateway which can help to narrow in on hotels and event spaces with LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certifications and Energy Star ratings.
4. Shop sustainably for your wedding attire
Why start with your wedding attire? Well, it’s predicted that if we don’t change our shopping ways NOW, we will have created 148 MILLION tons of clothing waste by 2030. That’s a mere 7 years away. Your clothing shouldn’t be a “one and done” sorta deal; this applies to both your daily closet and your wedding attire. The easiest way of cutting back on this waste is to buy your wedding attire secondhand.
For those who still want the shopping experience, check out what shops are available local to you. For anyone on the west coast near the Seattle, Portland, or San Francisco area, we highly recommend Brides for a Cause who hand selects in-style secondhand gowns. Also if you’re after something specific, don’t pass up a few online retailers like:
Should you not find the right fit secondhand, the next best option is to choose an ethical designer who ensures fair conditions for their workers and suppliers. When possible, Cascadian Exposures also recommends selecting attire made of natural fibers rather than plastics.
To get you started on your search, check out these options:
5. Choosing eco friendly decor & design
One side effect of downsizing from a traditional wedding to something more intimate: Your wedding day naturally becomes more eco-friendly, because you are simply using less.
Less flowers
Less decor
Less food
Less travel (for your guests)
Which also means less waste.
Using less however, doesn’t mean you have to forgo the details. Still looking to create a small yet elaborate dinner table arrangement for your invited loved ones? Maybe you have a ceremony space you’re looking to spruce up a bit and transform the vibe into some exceptional? Before you dash to the next big sale, try out these options:
Both Offer Up and FB Marketplaces are excellent tools to find decor from other recently married individuals
Browse your local thrift store for any items you might otherwise buy new
Consider a local decor rental company
6. Plan a more CONSCIOUS celebratory dinner
More than anything we recommend first selecting reusable dishes and glassware; thrifting these can make for a really fun eclectic or vintage vibe. From there, you can really level up your eco-conscious planing by following these tips:
Choose to go for a grazing table. Who doesn’t love an elaborate charcuterie board?
RESULT: less serving dishes, less waste.
Or opt for a plated meal.
RESULT: plated is perfectly proportioned to your exact number of guests. Buffet/family style is often organized to serve beyond the number of guests needed and therefore results in food waste.
Choose a farm-to-table caterer/chef that uses locally sourced and seasonal organic ingredients.
RESULT: choosing a vendor that is focused in sustainability ensures they are working to reduce their environmental footprint. Bonus if your meal is vegetarian or vegan.
If serving alcohol, opt for a keg from a local brewery.
RESULT: far less waste from the bottling process to the bottles/cans themselves. Bonus: use reusable glassware.
Create a disposal system.
RESULT: by creating a proper garbage, recycling, and compost system you again are reducing the amount of cumulative waste.
7. Eco friendly wedding registry
As it becomes more and more typical for couples to live together for months or years prior to their wedding day, wedding registries are changing as a result. Couples often already feel content with the items in their home making a registry of home goods feel rather unnecessary. While of course, you may find one of your aunts considers a cash fund taboo, don’t let that hold you back from creating a registry that is solely monetary based. You might consider a home or honeymoon fund, or complete opt to donate to a charity for example.
Nonetheless should you find a traditional registry more appropriate for you, consider these tips:
Add one gift for every guest on your list. This will give your guests lots choices (keep in mind, you probably won’t receive everything on the list!).
Pick plenty of gifts at different price points so that your guests have options.
Choose products that have a smaller environmental footprint.
Find gifts that have meaning. People love to give gifts that they know you’ll enjoy for years to come.
If you need to replace something you already have, donate it to your local thrift shop so that it can be given a second life.
Lastly, choose a registry that sources more eco-friendly items. Here are a few favorites:
8. Reduce your carbon footprint while traveling
If you choose to travel for your elopement, does that mean you care less about the environment? It’s a difficult balancing act. Of course the best way to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling is to not travel at all. However, not traveling this beautiful earth isn’t really an option either. After all, it’s often connecting back with Mother Nature that allows us to care deeper about the planet.
So what can you do to reduce your impact while traveling?
Purchase carbon offsets. This is investing funds based off your expected carbon production in renewable energy solutions or non-profits planting trees to recycle the carbon.
When you can, take public transportation.
Travel less, and travel slow. Take a longer vacation rather than saving that PTO for multiple mini trips throughout the year.
If you do fly, vote with your dollars and fly airlines that are actively trying to reduce their impact. Bonus: pack light, and fly direct.
9. Choosing eco-friendly wedding stationary
Wanting to add a sense of formality to your upcoming elopement without the guilt of creating additional waste? Whether you’re intending to send invitations, elopement announcements, thank you cards, or invitations to a post-elopement celebration, I have just the thing for you. Let’s admit it, only your closest loved ones might hold onto these otherwise they’re head straight to the recycling, hopefully.
The ultimate no-waste option here is to opt for electronic invites & announcements. In this case we recommend checking out:
Greenvelope: TOP CHOICE. It even includes RSVP tracking plus they donate 1% for the planet
If you still prefer paper or have loved ones who don’t have an email, check out these eco-conscious paper options:
Paper Culture: TOP CHOICE. Definitely check out their commitment to bettering our planet. All of their paper for their stationary is printed on 100% post-consumer-recycled paper. Plus they’re planting 1 tree for every order with over million trees planted to date
Botanical Paperworks: (if the name doesn’t give it away, these invites are printed on eco-friendly seed paper. Pop that card in a pot, watch the paper compost and the seeds turn into flowers and herbs)
Flower Seed Paper: This local Seattle based business on Etsy also creates seed paper invites. If you’re crafty, the cool part about this business is there’ s even a DIY option
10. Tie the knot with ethical and sustainable jewelry
The jewelry industry is ridden with overconsumption, conflict, child labor, displacement of people from their homes, hazardous and even deathly working conditions, and environmental concerns. Did you know when diamond is mined an estimated 250 tons of earth are shifted for every single carat?nWithout diving deep into these matters which deserve their own separate attention, let’s focus on what you can do.
As it turns out, more and more couples are actually opting for no jewelry at all. After all the diamond ring is simply rooted in a marketing campaign of the 1930s.
However, if you’ve been looking forward to and find value in the symbolism, considering buying vintage. Give an old ring new life by checking out stores available to you locally or online marketplaces like Etsy.
Should you choose to buy new, do your research. By selecting sustainable and ethical jewelry manufacturers, you ensure your choice supports:
Transparent and responsible sourcing practices
Use of sustainable materials
Minimal impact on the environment
Fair wages and safe working environments of workers
Need a head start on a few sustainable jewelry brands? Find a few of our top choices below:
Founded with sustainability in mind
HI! I’M HEATHER MCFORD, THE FOUNDER AND PHOTOGRAPHER BEHIND CASCADIAN EXPOSURES.
Based in the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon that is), I’m focused in documenting love stories that intertwine the beauty of nature and human connection. From the very beginning of this business, it has been my ultimate goal to help couples reconnect to a more meaningful wedding day that celebrates their commitment while honoring their values.
The wedding industry is innately wasteful and often neglects the importance of the lands we are celebrating on. I’m here to help you play an important role in changing that.
Learn more about how I can help you plan a more meaningful wedding day
continue exploring our planning resources:
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