GOING GREEN – HOW TO PLAN AN ECO-FRIENDLY WEDDING
Let’s face it, green is the new white when it comes to weddings. With globally changing attitudes and increased awareness on sustainability being created, the all-important topic is bound to come up at some point of your wedding planning. Sustainable weddings are on the rise and could have soon-to-be newly-weds wondering if they are doing their part for the planet.
Weddings are time-honoured highly traditional and pomp affairs. Saying I do to your partner and mother nature simultaneously, might not be the easiest, but isn’t impossible to pull-off either. If you want to plan your wedding keeping sustainability in mind, then this Article just might be of help to get you started.
Sensible Venue Choosing
Your choice of venue will be the ultimate showcase of your earth-friendly lifestyle. Opt for venues that have and practice strong sustainability policies.
A skim through hotel and venue websites should tell you their stance on it. If you are planning an indoor wedding, do think twice before you uproot an entire jungle or garden and bring the greenery indoors. If you still want the greenery, consider taking your party out into the nature. Planning an outdoor wedding might be cumbersome, but if done right would be the best way to do your part. Advantages also include being able to cut down on electricity if your venue is waterfront and breezy or can boast of lots of natural light.
Green Concepts and Plush Décor
Natural flowers sure make a dreamy choice, but also should firmly remain just there; in your dreams. Instead, work on incorporating artificial flowers or paper flowers if you really must. You can also go for alternatives such as pampas grass, wood, feathers or even candles; all of which would definitely add that much sought after wedding elegance and glamour for much less of a carbon foot-print. Alternatively, you can decorate your venue using potted plants that can even double up as wedding favours! Décor professionals may not always encourage this, but as conscientious spouses-to-be, make sure to rent parts of your centerpieces that aren’t for one time use. These could then go on to feature at someone else’s wedding. As for backdrops, try to use drapes or an outdoor space featuring natural greenery for a less is more effect.
Smart Stationery
E-invites are all the rage and would be the perfect way to ensure you minimize waste. You can also choose to open your own wedding portal so that guests may even RSVP online and purchase gifts via an e-wedding registry. However, if you still prefer to have physical invitations, menu cards or hymn booklets, explore interesting options such as recycled paper or seed embedded paper, which following their initial use, can be planted – this would also encourage your guests to do their part. Other stationery material options include upcycled fabrics and wood.
Eco-conscious fashionistas
A major concept of the eco-conscious folk is their no-single-use motto. Nothing at a wedding is more single use than bridal outfits, where there is very little to no guarantee that you will ever re-use it any point in your life again. To this end, you can earn yourself a green-thumbs-up by renting or borrowing a pre-loved wedding dress. Wedding-wear rentals are not hard to come by, including sarees that can now be rented. On a completely different note, it would also be cool to upcycle your Amma’s old wedding saree to a beautifully custom made dress – how nostalgic it’ll be.
This one is a bit tough to do locally, but if you still prefer your very own dress, do try to opt for sustainable clothing brands and designers, or shop for sustainable fabric and have your attire designed accordingly. Once you are done with yours, make sure you share it with someone else too. As for sustainable retinue attire, make sure you choose clothing that can be re-worn by them.
Wedding favours that are sensible
Opt for wedding favours with utility value. If you are going to load your guests with items that will simply be tossed in a bin someday, you are doing neither them nor the environment any justice. Potted plants, edible favours like cupcakes, cake jars and home-made jams or herb seeds are all environment friendly and unique options. Don’t forget to use recycled packaging when it comes to give-aways. If confetti is your thing, choose to throw natural confetti such as leaves instead, and be assured of some dreamy photos.
Minimize waste to maximize sustainability
For this, work backwards – picture your wedding venue immediately after the celebrations and the guests have all left – what things do you think would make the walk of shame to the bins? Anything that goes to the dumps on its maiden journey is not eco-friendly. This is where you need to ensure you choose suppliers and vendors who are like-minded and mirror your own principles. Speak to your caterers on how you would want leftover food disposed of – having untouched food donated to charity and other leftovers duly composted is something all nature-loving couples should opt for. Needless to say minimizing waste means you minimize on money spent too.
How a wedding is planned reflects a lot about the couple and their lifestyle than a five-minute speech. Always remember to rethink your choices and the availability of any other alternatives. Enjoy your wedding planning, and while you’re at it, reduce, reuse and recycle.
By Shanya Cooray