5 ways to make your wedding more sustainable

Weddings are famously one of the most wasteful and overpriced traditions that we just can’t give up. Many of us have been planning this day since we were little – of course we want it to be absolutely perfect!

But the perfect wedding doesn’t have to harm the environment – or break the bank, for that matter. In our modern world there are so many ways to make your wedding more sustainable and affordable. Here our five favourite tips!

1. Reusable centrepieces

Flowers are expensive, and it feels so wasteful to have to throw so many of them away at the end of the night. Many people give away the centrepieces to their guest, but even then they might only last a few more days.

Instead, try using reusable centrepieces – for example, potted plants. A beautiful blooming orchid, a display of small cacti, or even some bushy ferns, the possibilities are endless! You can surely find something that fits with your theme, and at the end you will have some beautiful plants to keep or give as gifts.

2. Rented wedding dresses

People are gradually trying to move away from fast fashion and focusing on repairing their clothes and keeping them longer. Sadly, it’s hart to apply this to a wedding dress – the one item you spend thousands on and only get to wear once!

One option is to rewear your mother or grandmother’s wedding dress, but not all of us have this option, and hey – you do deserve to feel beautiful in the perfect dress.

There are many vendors out there now for renting your wedding dress for the night. It will still be fitted for you, your design of choice, and you get to live out the perfect night, but at the end you are not stuck with an expensive dress you’ll only take out next time you’re moving.

3. Upcycled fashion

Continuing with the fashion section here for a second, let’s talk about all the other items you have to invest in for your wedding – shoes, tiaras, jewellery, outerwear…

Have a look through your wardrobe, or even a local thrift store or charity shop, and find some pieces you can upcycle. A pair of cute white sneakers, for example, can be bedazzled for you to change into when it’s time to dance. A jean jacket can be decorated and drawn on to be a cute piece to throw on after the ceremony if it’s chilly. The possibilities are endless – just use your imagination (and the help of Pinterest!)

4. Skip the favours

This is a HOT topic and one that many people have a very strong opinion on. But the cold hard truth is this – favours are wasteful. Especially when they are made of cheap plastic, so they are extremely harmful to the environment, or they have the bride and groom’s names or wedding date on them, making it very unlikely for someone to keep.

Don’t feel guilty if you choose to skip the favours altogether – many people probably won’t even notice! If you do want to have something for your guests, think about what they would actually keep and use. Alternatively, the favour can be something edible, a treat they can take home to enjoy or have right there and then.

5. Go for recycled or virtual Invitations

Sure, wedding invitations are pretty to look at. But the sad truth is that they mostly end up in the bin. If you do want to have the keepsake, opt in for an eco-friendly version made of recycled materials.