How To Have A Sustainable Wedding

The Green Bride Guide reports that the average wedding generates a quarter of a ton of rubbish, or more than most of us would produce in six months. With around a quarter of a million weddings taking place annually nationwide, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or that you can’t make a difference with your own celebration.  

However, in truth, you really can. Plus you’ll be making a strong statement about your values, and could encourage others to do the same. What’s more, the tide is turning and sustainable weddings are on the rise. Equally, you can have a planet-friendly marriage that doesn’t (literally) cost the earth – at zero compromise to the quality or joy of your big day. Indeed, if anything, you’ll have an even more special occasion knowing that you’re doing the right thing.

Here are some of the possibilities:

1.)    Travel

Travel is one of the worst eco-offenders. Encourage lifts, car and cab sharing and public transport wherever you can. Equally, ensure your honeymoon is as green as you can make it. And if you hold your ceremony and after-party in one place so that no one has to journey between two locations, again you’re on to an environmental winner.

2.)    Flowers

Of course, flowers are a vital part of any wedding. If the blooms you’ve set your heart on have to travel some distance, you’ll be generating more carbon emissions, and potentially harmful, polluting chemical fertilisers may have been used on them. Source locally and stick with seasonal flowers, at least for some of your arrangements. Consider having environmentally-friendly plants and greenery to replace some florals, and have, say, potted plants decorating the aisle.

3.)    Decorations

Bunting, banners and even wedding stationery can guzzle up potentially unsustainable resources. Minimise the use of paper where possible, even the recycled stuff.

And while we all love hurling confetti and it’s a big wedding tradition, use a biodegradable version. Otherwise it could end up being eaten by or harming wildlife or birdlife.

A single wedding can create up to 20kg of plastic waste – with even plastic refuse sacks potentially harming the environment. (These sometimes take as long as 90 years to break down.)

So minimise the use of plastics, especially when it comes to things like wedding favours and balloons. Really think about the materials you use when styling your marriage party, right down to details like bridesmaids’ gifts.

4.)    Food waste

It’s obviously important to minimise waste and the distance food has to travel to your venue. So, again, source locally. The stats can make for startling reading. Sainsbury’s, for example, reports that:

·         More than a third (37%) of wedding guests don’t consume edible favours.

·         Nearly a fifth (15%) of newlyweds would throw out the remnants of their wedding cake.

·         A similar number (15%) of guests would eat no more than two of their three courses.

At the same time, a single wedding can produce nearly two-thirds (65%) of a household’s annual waste. So, again, source locally, choose seasonal dishes and, if you can’t make your catering fully vegan or vegetarian, how about aiming to make it 50% that way?

Drinks can also be locally sourced, e.g. from nearby breweries, and of course you can recycle cans and glass.

Finally, while of course you’ll want to appear a generous host and offer a decent selection of dishes, especially for the evening reception, you don’t have to overwhelm people with too much food that just ends up in the bin. Think about how it can be redistributed afterwards, either to staff and guests or a food charity if you can’t take it all home.

5.)    Sustainable fashion

You can still look glorious in vintage, pre-loved garments. Think about how you might recycle or reuse your gown, and your bridesmaids’ dresses, after the big day. Suits for the groom and his squad can be hired. If you’re having a new dress, buy from a responsible designer known for their ethics and fair treatment of staff.

When it comes to the rings, think about how the diamonds have been sourced. Again, if you can reuse, you’ll be doing the environment a favour.

6.)    Gifts

If you’re living together already and really don’t need yet another toaster, ask for donations to environmental or wildlife causes instead of presents which will be unloved, unused or thrown away. This is a powerful expression of your values.

Sustainable weddings at Howard Court

At Howard Court, we care about the environment and sustainability. We use green energy (in the form of ground-source heating) to keep our barns toasty. We give leftover food to nearby charities, and get a bit twitchy if anyone leaves something recyclable in our general waste bins!

We also offer a 5% discount on wedding packages if you go fully vegetarian, and 10% off for fully vegan catering. In terms of public transport we’re just a couple of miles from Great Ayton station, while other options for rail travellers include Middlesbrough, Yarm and Northallerton. Meanwhile, York is just over an hour away if guests can help each other with lifts. We can advise on taxi bookings and cab sharing.

In summary, the best day of your life can be eco-friendly in myriad ways. Talk to us about making your wedding a green day.