Weddings are truly special events and while everyone knows just how stressful the planning can get, the aftermath is not usually taken into consideration. Weddings are indeed one of the most wasteful events there can be and for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint, there are plenty of ways to do so. You can always tweak your planning so that it does not have to be a wasteful wedding but at the same time it does not compromise your style. Here are some of the ways that you can have an eco-friendly wedding.
Make sure to research extensively about the origins of your engagement ring and wedding rings.
It is important that your sign of love and commitment to your spouse are made of conflict-free diamonds or gold. Being conscious about your purchases is an utmost importance in having an eco-friendly wedding. You can also choose a family heirloom or have gold melted and refined according to your taste. This is more sustainable as opposed to buying new pieces of jewelry.
Choose eco-friendly invitations that are printed on recycled paper.
You can also try to be as minimal as possible through resizing your invitation so that you do not have to print as much paper. There are various companies like Paper Source that help you design your environmental friendly invites and also plants a tree with every order of invites.
Donate Your Flowers.
The number of flower bouquets that will go to waste after your wedding is truly heartbreaking so make sure that your flowers gets a new home after you are done with them. Donate your flowers to hospitals or senior homes so that you can surprise someone else with the beauty of your flowers. There are flower shops that also recycle flowers so that they do not go to waste.
Ask your caterer about leftover food.
You can let your guests take some of the food home but you can also opt to donate the leftover meals to food banks or homeless shelters nearby. Not only are you ensuring that your money does not go to waste but you will be feeding others as well.
Give out edible wedding favors to reduce waste.
You can also give out favors that are environmentally friendly such as metal straws, stainless steel tumblers, and skincare products that are organic and locally made. Be open about your choice to be live a more sustainable life so only include items in your wedding registry that are committed to helping the environment. You can also influence your guests to do the same and let them know that they too can choose to be more proactive when it comes to caring for the environment. Let them know that sustainability and eco-friendly items are on top of the list. Another option is that you let your guests donate to your favorite organizations that are dedicated to saving the environment instead of getting you gifts for the wedding. There are various organizations and non-profits that need your help.
