10 Sustainable Wedding Planning Tips
Mindful ideas for elopement and wedding planning
Mindful ideas for elopement and wedding planning
All photos in this post are from our wedding weekend taken by dream team, Sara & Phil
We’re a few months post-wedding at this point, so I thought I’d share some thoughts on how we kept values that were mindful of the environment and others at the forefront of the celebration. (Engagement story is linked here, if you missed it!)
It was wonderful to be able to share our love with others and have a whole day dedicated to us, but it was really important that we didn’t let that overshadow our decisions for the event.
Keep in mind that these are simply the ways we chose to do things: I’d love for this post to be a source of encouragement to those who are currently in planning mode and perhaps a chance to consider buying some climate credits to offset, for others.
Here are ten ways to keep mindful values at the forefront of your wedding or elopement:
01 — The Ring
Most important to me in regards to an engagement ring and wedding band was having one made of recycled materials and an ethically-sourced diamond. I wanted to avoid us perpetuating the dark side of the diamond industry in any way, and that was all Nick knew I wanted — well, that and other ideas via my frequently-pinned “RING” board on Pinterest. He picked out a ring made of vintage gold and an ethically sourced diamond and also had it hand-engraved with the prettiest pattern and sweetest phrase inside. It’s so timeless, elegant and personal. I couldn’t love it more.
02 — The Dress / Outfit
My other main priority was choosing an wedding look that was made to order so that it would eliminate fabric waste as well as support a local, independent designer. I went with The English Dept. in Portland. They have a lovely selection of vintage and local women-only designers! (I also got my 1970’s reception dress there.) They were so helpful and it was such a sweet experience.
03 — Bridesmaids Outfits
Ever been in a wedding where you’re required to purchase a $200 dress that you never wear again? My main piece of advice when choosing dresses for your gals is to prioritize wearability. Let it be something you love — but either lay out some options and let them choose so that they end up with something they genuinely enjoy and will wear again, or focus on a more timeless style that they’ll inevitably be able to rewear due to the color and silhouette. Sustainable and ethical brands I love for bridesmaid dresses include Reformation, Sezane and Rent The Runway. You can view more of their dresses here.
04 — Groomsmen Outfits
Renting is your best friend. With options like The Black Tux, there’s really no reason to make your guys buy anything for keeps.
05 — Dinner & Other Ideas
Work with a restaurant or caterer that donates or composts leftovers. Choose plates and utensils that are able to be washed, reused and/or recycled. Chat with your planner or caterer to make sure single-use plastics will be avoided. Also, I’d suggest refraining from giving out favors unless they’re incredibly useful and versatile for all guests: consider if it’s something you’d personally hang onto for 5-10 years if you got it at a wedding you attended.
06 — Offsetting
You can purchase climate credits on various websites. This allows you to “cancel out” the carbon emissions used for flights, weddings and daily life. We bought a few due to air travel and the actual celebration. Via Reformation: “Your climate credit purchase goes directly to support Gold Standard verified projects through NativeEnergy. Basically you are investing in clean energy and carbon-reducing projects around the globe. Our first project together is the Honduras Coffee Growers Clean Water Project.”
07 — Gifting
I picked out my bridesmaids gifts from ABLE. This is an incredibly empowering brand that I’m always stoked to share about. Here’s what I chose for the girls. For the guys — shop Everlane Men’s gifts, Nisolo, Topdrawer, or go vintage shopping for unique pieces for each friend.
08 — Accommodations
Choose an eco-friendly hotel or Airbnb. Use resources like water and heat mindfully when there.
09 — Clean Up
This may seem like a no-brainer, but avoid leaving trash anywhere and do your best to leave everything better than you found it!
10 — Stay Local
Aim to source things locally for your wedding, locally being wherever your wedding will be held, things like food, rentals and florals won’t have as impactful of an environmental footprint when they don’t have to be transported from far away.
I hope that this has been a helpful list for you if you’re in the wedding-planning phase, and gives you some insight into a few simple ways to have a more sustainable wedding!
Disclosure: I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you decide to buy any of the products I refer to & promote. All opinions are my own.