Eco friendly wedding planning - Tips to help you plan an eco conscious wedding

Ever thought about trying to make your wedding more eco friendly? Getting married is one of the most exciting events in many people’s lifetimes so naturally many people choose to go all out. But we’ve got to admit that all the wedding favors, transport and confetti can all create quite the carbon footprint. Not to mention the food waste and decorations too - it’s something many of us don’t often think about during the wedding planning whirlwind. Between choosing the right wedding photographer, and finding the best wedding venue for your big day, planning an eco friendly wedding is becoming more important and popular than ever. If you’re considering going about your wedding planning sustainably, I’ve included a few achievable ways that you can do so.

Grow your own wedding bouquet

If you’re got green fingers and a little extra time on your hands why not consider growing your own wedding flowers. Not only is this a more sustainable way of creating your wedding bouquet, it’s also more meaningful and memorable too.

If this isn’t something you want to do, consider opting for a local florist to arrange your bouquet and ask them to source their flowers locally and sustainably. Another idea would be to donate your flowers to a hospice or local hospital too to avoid them going to waste.

Limit the amount of printed wedding stationery

Another tip to help you when planning a more eco conscious and ethical wedding is to consider your wedding stationery choices. While a printed invitation is lovely to have, many couples are choosing to use wedding websites such as simplyjoy.com instead. Not only is this a more eco conscious way to plan a wedding by cutting down on paper, it’s a much cheaper option than paying out for wedding stationery too. 

If you decide you still want printed wedding stationery, printing on seeded paper is a great option. This is a great way for your wedding guests to repurpose your stationery after the wedding by planting their invitations and watching them grow into a beautiful plant. It’s a beautiful and sustainable way for everyone to remember your wedding day.

Try second hand sites

From second hand wedding dresses to unwanted wedding decorations. Ethical purchases are something more and more people are taking into account. Choosing to shop pre used wedding items can be a great way to reduce waste and help you to keep your wedding planning as eco friendly and ethical as possible. It’s also a great way to keep your wedding costs down. Search on facebook marketplace or scour your local wedding facebook pages to see what people are giving away. You’ll be surprised how much you can find! Charity shops are also a great place to find so hidden gems.

Choose your location carefully

Another way to keep your wedding eco conscious is to consider the location of your wedding venue. With airplanes being one of the top contributors to environmental damage, it’s a good idea to think about how and how far your guests will have to travel to get to your wedding. Where you choose to get married is completely your choice, but if you’re trying to plan your wedding more sustainably, transport could be something you might want to consider. If you’re torn between a few wedding venues then take a look at their location and think about which one requires the least amount of travel for your guests.

The perfect wedding doesn’t exist

While it’s important to all do our bit to reduce our carbon footprint, there is no such thing as the perfect wedding. It’s almost impossible to keep the entirety of your wedding eco friendly and 100% ethical so don’t stress too much about the sustainability of every last detail. The fact you’re even considering planning an eco conscious wedding puts you miles ahead of many!