2020 ended with some wonderful news. My younger brother asked his long time girlfriend to marry him!
Spoiler alert… She said YES.
It’s gotten me thinking a little bit about weddings and how they can be a disaster for waste. So I took some time to devise some sustainable wedding ideas.
(Ashley, if you’re reading this- don’t feel like I expect you to follow this or anything haha. Let yours and Daniel’s special day be all yours!)
1. Don’t buy a NEW wedding dress: Crazy I know, but thanks to the internet and thrift stores I am confident “the dream dress” can be found without contributing to the energy of a new dress being made. It could also save you hundreds (or thousands) of dollars!
2. Send out electronic “save the dates” and invites when possible: You may still need a few physical invitations for those important family members who don’t have computers but sending electronic invites when possible will save lots of paper! For the physical invitations, consider getting them printed on recycled paper if available.
3. Raid the wedding groups on social media channels: Brides are always selling their wedding supplies after their special day. Another opportunity to save money, plus keeping things out of a landfill and the energy from buying something new. THEN when you’re done with it.. Sell it again! Keep the cycle going.
4. Make decorations: Use dried leaves and a hole punch for confetti to avoid harmful plastics or dangerous (for birds) rice.
5. Rent catering items like plates, glasses, cutlery and fabric napkins: The real deal looks better than disposable anyways and then you’re not dealing with the waste or a bunch of items you may never use again.
6. If you are able, discourage gifts or encourage cash or donations instead. Cuts down on stuff you may not/ don’t need.
Give your guests seeds packets to grow something beautiful.. Just like your love!
7. Choose practical wedding favors (if you choose to have wedding favors at all): Seed packages have always been one of my favorites because your guest can go home and plant the seeds and watch them grow. (There’s a sappy love analogy in there somewhere). Other ideas I’ve seen are things like travel mugs, small jars of preserves, a bottle of homemade wine, or soap.