14 Ways to Have a Sustainable Wedding
About The Author: Reeka Events is a luxury catering company specialising in bespoke weddings in the Cotswolds. With over 15 years of industry experience, Reeka is an expert in ensuring your wedding day runs as planned and tastes incredible.
Planning your wedding is undoubtedly one of the most exciting things you will ever do, but the waste left behind can often leave a sour taste in your mouth. But don’t worry. Every decision you make, from the venue to the invitations, can influence how sustainable you want your day to be. Here are 14 ways you can integrate eco-friendly practices throughout your wedding day so it’s not only a special day for you but also kind to the environment.
Choose an Eco-Friendly Venue
You do your best to be eco-friendly at home, so why not your wedding venue too? Finding venues that prioritise the planet can be tricky, but they are becoming increasingly popular and will eventually become the norm. Things to look out for include venues that have invested in renewable energy sources like solar panels or have valid green certifications, such as Certified B Corporation.
If you’re unsure, ask potential venues about their sustainability practices. They are usually more than happy to help!
Send Digital Wedding Invitations
Skipping the paper and sending digital invitations through websites such as Paperless Post helps reduce the need for unnecessary waste or recycling. It also helps free up the budget for other areas, such as catering or entertainment. You can personalise each invitation just as you would a paper one and even design it to match your wedding theme.
Example of a Paperless Post wedding invitation.
Hire a Sustainable Caterer
Select a caterer who uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients (such as Reeka Events). This helps support local farmers, reduces transportation emissions, and ensures your wedding menu is delicious (and eco-friendly). Also, it’s well known that local ingredients taste better too, so it’s a win-win!
We create bespoke menus that go above and beyond your expectations. Everything from your cultural heritage to dietary requirements to sustainability preferences is factored into creating your luxury wedding menu. Contact Reeka here to find out more.
Jay Halford - Head Chef and Owner of Reeka Events
Provide Sustainable Decorations
Decorate with materials that can be recycled, composted, or reused. Consider renting decorative items to minimise waste or use potted plants as centrepieces that guests can take home and plant. Other ideas include biodegradable balloons or refabricating old clothes or materials into chair sashes or bunting.
Photo - Rebecca Carpenter Photography
Choose Ethical Wedding Attire
When selecting your wedding outfits, look for dresses and suits created from sustainable materials such as organic cotton, hemp, organic silks and English-made cotton lace. Many designers, such as Sister Organics, now focus on eco-friendly fabrics that look stunning whilst keeping it eco. Another popular option for the less sentimental is hiring your wedding outfits or buying second-hand from vintage stores.
Sister Organics Sustainable 'Meadow' cotton lace bridal dress.
Pick Seasonal Flowers
It’s one of the most exciting things to do when planning your wedding and sets the mood for your big day, but did you know some flowers are more sustainable than others? Decorating your venue with flowers that are in season and locally grown helps keep things green. The flowers are generally fresher and travel shorter distances, lowering their carbon footprint. Ask your florist to provide advice on the best seasonal options. Check out our recommended local florists here.
One of Reekas Recommended Suppliers Fall into Flowers preparing for a wedding.
Set a Zero-Waste Goal
Want to go all in? Some couples set a goal for a zero-waste wedding where not one single item from their day goes to landfill. Obviously, this adds another layer of planning to an already busy planning schedule so it’s only for the brave. To achieve this goal, it’s important to work with your wedding planner and vendors to make sure that all elements of your wedding, from food to decor, can be recycled, reused, or composted.
Some examples include using cloth napkins or a seating chart instead of place cards.
Hire a Sustainable Focused Photographer
Sustainable photographers are also becoming more popular. They not only take incredible wedding photographs but have also streamlined their service to be as eco-friendly as possible. This includes using better batteries, offsetting their travel, and providing digital-only packages. As with all vendors, if you try to keep it local, this will naturally reduce travel emissions.
One of our local recommended photographers Clem Stevens
Organise Eco-Friendly Transport
Encourage your guests to car share or use public transport to reduce the travel-related carbon footprint of your wedding. Some couples like to create a WhatsApp group so guests can arrange lift sharing. Another popular solution is to provide a shuttle service from a central location, reducing the number of cars even further.
Purchase Sustainable or Second-Hand Rings
For your wedding rings, consider choosing sustainable or second-hand options. Sustainable rings are made using ethically sourced or recycled materials, reducing environmental impact. Second-hand rings, often vintage, offer a unique history and charm to your big day. They also avoid the need for mining new resources. Both choices support eco-friendly practices and add a special touch to your ceremony.
Create or Buy Biodegradable Confetti
Swapping traditional, plastic-based confetti for natural or biodegradable alternatives has never been easier. Options like dried flower petals or biodegradable paper add that wow factor to your send-off photographs without harming the environment. You can make your own from rose petals by sun drying or hanging roses or by purchasing them ready-dried from your florist.
Photo - Amber Louise Photography
Rent Solar-Powered Lighting
Renting or asking your venue to supply solar-powered lighting is an excellent way to reduce electricity use for an evening reception, especially outdoors. These lights help create a romantic atmosphere and are easily integrated into your wedding theme regardless of the style.
Photo - Rebecca Carpenter Photography
Give Sustainable Wedding Favours
Wedding favours were originally given as a sign of good luck, but they are becoming less popular these days. If you do want to give them to your guests, consider eco-friendly wedding favours, such as seed packets, small potted plants, or homemade treats. These thoughtful gifts last well beyond your big day and will be fondly remembered by your guests.
Create an Eco-Friendly Gift Registry
There is nothing worse than receiving a gift you didn’t want or need on your wedding day. The answer is to create a wedding registry that reflects things you need or are passionate about. As a bonus, this also means nothing goes to waste! It’s a great idea to include options for guests to donate to environmental charities or request a cash-only registry. No more gifts are going to landfills or wasting space in drawers!
As you can see, bringing in some sustainability on your wedding day doesn’t mean sacrificing style or joy. By choosing eco-friendly options like digital invitations, sustainable caterers, and recycled decor, you're setting a positive example and making a significant impact. These simple green choices help make your celebration beautiful, memorable, and environmentally responsible leaving a lasting impression on your guests and the planet.
If you would like to learn more about planning your wedding, check out our ultimate guide to planning your wedding.
