The idea of creating a Wedding that’s eco-friendly isn’t new, but is one that’s increasingly popular. It’s not as difficult as you think to make small changes for your Wedding, to create a day that’s more sustainable- adopting even a few ideas can help.
I’ve put together some simple but effective ideas to create a Wedding that’s a little more environmentally conscious, without compromising on the beauty and style of your day.
There will be many different suppliers supporting you in arranging and creating your perfect Wedding Day. And with an abundance of fantastic suppliers based in Essex, why would you need to look anywhere else?! By choosing local businesses to fulfil your Wedding needs, you’re not only supporting local businesses, but also fulfilling some green credentials for your sustainable Wedding!
Whether you choose local, sustainable and seasonal produce for your Wedding Breakfast menu, Essex-vineyards for your Wedding wine, local florists and flower farms for your bouquets and buttonholes or regional musicians for your Wedding entertainment, choosing local will mean your suppliers aren’t travelling for hours to reach your venue, which will significantly reduce the carbon foot-print of your Wedding Day.
With a huge percentage of favours either being left behind or thrown in the bin, really think about what you want to gift to your guests, to make sure it’s something they’ll love! Whether you choose to source favours from local artisans, supporting local businesses and reducing your carbon footprint, or you choose natural gifts (think pot plants, bulbs, & seeds- to plant or for the birds to eat!), try to create a sustainable memory of your big day. You could even DIY your favours, creating homemade jam in reusable jars, soap, candles, or even homegrown confetti!
If you want to ditch the favours all together, but still want to give a little something in memory of your big day, think about gifting a tree or donating to a tree-planting scheme, to help make your Wedding a little “greener”!
Whatever you choose, try to create a sustainable memory of your big day by gifting the most considered favours.
With a multitude of save the dates, invitation suites, place cards, menus and table numbers, Weddings can use a lot of paper! So, consider your options as well as some alternatives, to create more sustainable stationery.
Create a Wedding Website to share the “extra information” in your Wedding invitation and reduce the number of cards in your invitation suite- you could even use an online RSVP service so your guests can let you know they’re coming (you’ll save on postage too!). Place a QR code on your invites and stationery to give your guests a quick and direct link to all the information they need about your Wedding Day. Ask your stationer if they can help customise your Wedding Website to match your Wedding and stationery theme.
If you prefer a physical invitation suite, there are some simple ways to make your stationery a little more environmentally friendly- use recycled paper and card sources and consider printing on both side- this will save on print and paper costs as well as being a little greener. You may even want to think about using seeded paper- that way your invitations and stationery can grow on after your Wedding has finished. The flowers will be a lovely reminder of your Wedding Day, for years to come!
Sending out digital copies of your invitation suite via email or WhatsApp is also a great alternative to printing and works particularly well for guests living over seas (saving not only paper but international postage charges too!) and keeps your design consistent and cohesive throughout.
Personalised favours could be used instead of place cards and chalk boards could be used instead of an Order of Service… get creative and utilise some sustainable stationery!
A huge thank you to the very lovely Amy at ATW Creations, for the use of images of your beautiful designs as well as your very kind contributions.
There are a huge number of flower farms bursting into bloom across Essex- in fact over the whole of the UK, so where you can, think about using British, locally grown and seasonal blooms for your Wedding flowers. Give your florist an idea of your colour theme and the style of florals that you’re looking for and let them work their magic to create the most beautiful arrangements using the best, in-season flowers for your Wedding.
With many florists embracing wire and moss to hold their creations, not only will the flowers be consciously sourced, but the whole display will be kinder to the planet. Also, go big with greenery to reduce the number flowers you need in your displays and move them between your venue spaces throughout the day to reduce the overall number that you need.
There are many cut-flower-alternatives that could also prove a greener option, such as potted flowers, herbs and succulents (my favourite!), that you could replant in your garden after your Wedding Day or gift to your guests, and will be a beautiful reminder of a perfect day.
Natural confetti is also a great option, which can also be sourced from local flower farms - let your guests grab a handful before your big exit to create a beautiful, yet sustainable photo opportunity.
This beautiful bouquet was created by the very talented The Petal Girl, a local flower farmer from here in Essex. The seasons can bring an abundance of natural beauty throughout the year, so talk to your florist or local flower farm to find out what’s in season for your Wedding Date.
Choose a venue where the decorations already exist, to save time, cost and environmental energy in decorating it to fit with your Wedding style and theme. Botanical gardens, orangeries, vineyards, even the great outdoors, will give a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony without any extra decoration!
Hosting your Wedding and reception at the same venue will also reduce travel for yourselves and your guests- with a massive reduction in your carbon-footprint. Choosing a venue close to where you and your guests live will save further on travel.
Make upcycled Wedding decorations and reusable signage, to create beautiful and personal elements of your Wedding décor. If making just isn’t your thing, either ask your Planner to help (it just so happens I love making and creating 😉), think about buying pre-loved or alternatively hire elements of your Wedding décor - reuse, recycle or source second hand items wherever you can. Facebook market place, eBay and local buy/sell groups are always a great place to start when sourcing pre-loved décor.
When it comes to your venue’s green credentials, ask about their recycling policy- choosing a venue that focuses on recycling, advocating renewable energy sources and generally lowering their carbon footprint is a big plus. Always try to use reusable elements throughout your day, rather than disposable, and if that’s simply not possible, go for a green option, such as bamboo plates and cutlery.
Choosing to buy UK designed and manufactured dresses from local designers, is a great way to wear a more sustainable dress for your big day. Talk to your designer or Bridal Dress shop about eco-friendly materials- with fairtrade fabric options becoming more commonly available a more sustainable outfit is within reach.
Consider renting your Wedding outfit- by hiring your dress or suit, the garments can be used over and over again. Though not a new concept for Groomsmen suits, more bridal shops are offering a Bridal gown hire service, such as Serenity Brides. It may even give you the opportunity to wear multipule outfits throughout your Wedding Day, which could be great fun!
A pre-loved dress is also a wonderful way to make your Wedding just a little greener; whether you choose to go for a vintage style, or you tailor a gown to create the dress of your dreams. Choose bridesmaids dresses that you know will be worn again and again- maybe even let your ladies choose their own dresses, based on your Wedding colour scheme.
Consider too your Wedding Day accessories- conflict-free diamonds in everything from your engagement ring, Wedding rings and Wedding jewellery are a must for a sustainable Wedding. Alternatively, consider heirloom or pre-loved jewellery- you can always have pieces refashioned or stones reset to create a bespoke piece for your special day.
Choose local, sustainable and seasonal produce for your Wedding Day menu, to reduce the carbon foot-print of your Wedding breakfast. Whether that’s Sandon Lamb for your Wedding breakfast, locally reared pork sausages for your midnight feast, or simply choosing seasonal veg to accompany your banquet, every step towards local and seasonal produce will take your Wedding another step towards sustainability.
Choose too, local catering companies that don’t travel for hours, with staff and equipment in tow, to reach your venue.
The same goes for drinks- opt for local vineyards, brewers and distilleries- with an abundance to choose from across Essex, you’ll be sure to find one that works for you.
If you’re looking to plan your own, unique Wedding in Essex and the surrounding areas, you too can experience the perfect Wedding Day with the help, support & guidance of a professional Wedding Planner.
I can help you to unravel your ideas, develop you dreams & bring your Wedding vision to life. Connecting you with the very best and most trusted, local Wedding Professionals to craft your day; I can help you to create a more sustainable Wedding, without compromising on the style, elegance & luxury of your event.
With luxury & dedicated Wedding Planning support, you can enjoy a fun, relaxing & stress-free Wedding Planning Journey. You can also rest assured that every detail will be taken care of and your journey from start to finish will be in the safest hands.
No matter where you are in your Wedding Planning journey, I can offer support and guidance to help you achieve your perfect Day. To learn more about the Wedding Planning services available to you, follow the links below or contact me to discover how I can help.
