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7 Easy Ways To Make Your Wedding More Sustainable
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7 Easy Ways To Make Your Wedding More Sustainable

A wedding day is destined to have happiness, laughter and love in abundance; but unfortunately, weddings can also lead to an abundance of waste.

Co-founder of London’s leading sustainable fine jewellery brand Ingle & Rhode, David Rhode, has shared seven simple ways for newlyweds-to-be to ensure their wedding is not only beautiful and memorable but also conscious and sustainable, so both the happy couple and their planet can enjoy a positive and healthy future.

David said:

“As climate change becomes an ever more urgent issue, it’s crucial that we look at every element of our lives and consider what we can do to ensure we are behaving in an ethical and sustainable way.

A wedding – one of the biggest events in most people’s lives – is no different. It’s a one-off occasion, so by its very nature can lead to lots of things being bought, booked, and used, that will never be used again.

From your engagement and wedding ring to your choice of location, dress, and decorations, it’s crucial that we start to look to sustainable alternatives in order to ensure the happiest days of our lives aren’t having a saddeningly detrimental impact on our environment.”

Check out David’s expert tips to make more sustainable choices if you’re tying the knot:

  1. Buy Fairtrade or recycled wedding rings

Did you know that producing a wedding ring made from gold can produce up to twenty tonnes of waste?

With this in mind, it’s really important that you look to have your wedding ring made from either Fairtrade or recycled gold or platinum.

A recycled wedding ring lessens the need for newly mined metals, so reduces the environmentally damaging effects of mining practices. It’s a common misconception that opting for a recycled wedding ring will mean compromising on quality or style. In fact, recycled gold and platinum are of identical quality (and therefore completely indistinguishable from) newly mined metals.

Fairtrade is also invested in providing mining communities with better living and working conditions, as well as protecting the environment. Ask your jeweller whether their precious metals come from one of the world’s four certified mining organisations, and if not, look for a jeweller who can guarantee this is as standard.

  1. Host your wedding locally

Ditch the idea of a destination wedding that relies on flying and driving – resulting in soaring aeroplane and automobile emissions – and host it closer to home. Take a look at your guest list and go for a destination that requires shorter travel times for all guests, as well as somewhere that is accessible via public transport, or even better, by foot.

If car travel is inevitable, encourage your guests to ride share if possible. Not only will this ensure your wedding is more sustainable, but it’s also a great way for people to get to know each other better before the festivities officially begin! If the group is really big, hire a bus or coach.

  1. Curate an eco-friendly menu

Whether you’re relying on your wedding venue to cater the meal, or you’re hiring an independent catering company, make sure they’re sustainably minded. This means finding out whether their ingredients are organic, local, Fairtrade, and ethically sourced.

Creating an entirely vegetarian or vegan menu also makes your wedding more sustainable. At the very least, try and incorporate elements of these diets into the wedding breakfast. For example, you could only serve animal-based products in one of the courses and go for plant-based starters and desserts.

Keep these criteria in mind for your wedding cake, too. Does it need to be shipped miles, or is there someone local who can make it for you? Sourcing your alcohol locally is another way to cut down your carbon emissions.

  1. Source a vintage wedding dress

Although we’re not necessarily suggesting you walk down the aisle in your mother’s wedding dress, sourcing a vintage or second-hand dress is not only stylish and totally unique, but also more sustainable.

The circular fashion economy reduces the need to manufacture new clothes, so saves energy, resources, and waste – from the production itself to the shipping. If Carrie Bradshaw can do it, so can you! Whilst you’re at it, why not ask the bridal party to look second-hand, too?

If your heart is set on a brand new dress, there are plenty of ethical bridal designers to choose from. Also, pick a timeless style that you can wear again, or repurpose, to avoid wearing it just once.

  1. Create seasonal floral arrangements

A great alternative to flowers on your wedding day is potted herbs and plants, or foliage. However, if you’re keen to keep the flowers around, then opt for a seasonal floral arrangement that’s dictated by what’s available at the time, rather than flowers that need to be shipped internationally. Ask your florist to source only local flowers in order to reduce your carbon footprint.

If you fancy following in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, donate your floral arrangements to a local charity afterwards to brighten up someone’s day and avoid waste. You could also send your guests home with an arrangement each, and once the flowers have been enjoyed, encourage them to dispose of them in the brown bin.

  1. Avoid single-use decorations

Do away with single-use decorations such as confetti. It creates harmful plastic litter which is almost impossible to dispose of once it’s on the ground. There are plenty of alternatives, such as biodegradable confetti, recycled confetti, or dried flower petals.

Try to source recycled or reusable wedding decorations too, including glassware and hanging ornaments made of fabric. Lots of decorations can be hired or bought second hand, and if they’re still in good condition once your special day is over, consider selling them, donating them, or repurposing them for your home.

Reduce the amount of paper you use on the day by writing programs and menus on chalkboards or signage, and by sending digital copies to guests. You won’t need to print out hundreds of pages, and it doesn’t matter if you make a spelling mistake!

  1. Opt for sustainable favours

Wedding favours are a great opportunity to encourage your guests to get on board with your ethical principles. Make a small donation on behalf of your guests to a charity or organisation dedicated to helping the environment; or provide your guests with a packet of seeds. Think flowers, plants, or even produce. Your guests can take their gift home and plant it in the garden, enticing wildlife.

 

Image credits: Unsplash