If you’re in the trenches of wedding planning, it’s easy to focus on your wedding day and forget the rest. But what happens after the music fades? While your wedding only lasts for a few hours, its environmental impact lives on.
Between paper products, transportation costs, and food waste, the average wedding produces upwards of 400 pounds of trash and 63 tons of carbon dioxide. The good news? You can choose to celebrate sustainably with a zero-waste wedding.
What is a Zero-Waste Wedding
A zero-waste wedding is an event that is designed to generate as little waste as possible. While an eco-friendly wedding seeks to reduce your environmental impact, a zero-waste wedding seeks to eliminate as much waste as possible.
Micro weddings are best suited for zero waste since they involve less people, however it can still be possible to plan a zero-waste wedding with more than fifty guests.
Planning Your Zero-Waste Wedding
A zero-waste wedding doesn’t happen overnight. Here’s how to bring your big day to life with as little waste as possible.
Establish a few “rules” ahead of time. For example, no shopping at Amazon or using single-use products. Even if you don’t purchase these items in everyday life, the wedding crunch can make you do crazy things! Stick to your guidelines and avoid impulse purchases.
Communicate your expectations. Be upfront with your vendors about your zero-waste goals and ask for their accountability. Make sure to tell your guests, too! Open communication can help take some of the pressure off and turn zero waste into a group effort.
Find venues and vendors that specialize in sustainability. Look for venues that are Certified B Corporations, explicitly state their environmentally-friendly practices, or are already in nature.
Do your research. The key to a zero-waste wedding is preparation — and lots of it. Use a resource like Commons to compare brands and find the best alternative to your wedding day needs.
Remember your why. A zero-waste wedding is a huge commitment and comes with its own challenges. Try not to get discouraged along the way, and remember that low-waste is better than the alternative.
Zero-Waste Wedding Swaps
Just because you’re planning a zero-waste wedding doesn’t mean you have to minimize your celebration. Consider these swaps for a sustainable celebration.
Do this: digital save-the-dates and invitations
Not this: paper cards and envelopes
Plantable paper invitations are another great option for your sustainable wedding stationery. Guests can plant their invitations and watch your love grow into a flower or plant of your choosing!
Do this: locally sourced flowers from a sustainably-minded florist
Not this: exotic flowers arranged with floral foam
Don’t throw your flowers away after the wedding day! Make a plan for how to repurpose them so they don’t go to waste. Press them for long-term storage and display, or donate them to a local nursing home or hospital where they’ll be appreciated for weeks to come.
Do this: farm-to-table meal with seasonal ingredients
Not this: buffet with single-use dinnerware
Leftover food is one of the top forms of wedding waste. Be realistic with how much food you actually need and don’t order extra just to hop on the latest trend.
Do this: lean into minimalism with secondhand accents
Not this: drench every inch of the venue with single-use decor
Choose a venue that’s beautiful with or without extra decorations. You’ll save money and not feel pressured to buy unnecessary filler items.
Do this: local venue with sustainable practices
Not this: destination wedding
As exciting as a destination wedding sounds, the carbon footprint isn’t worth it. The same goes for your bachelorette and bachelor parties!
Do this: shop sustainable brands or secondhand
Not this: purchase from fast fashion brands
Your dream dress already exists. Shop pre-owned wedding attire when possible or buy from a sustainably-minded designer. Invite your guests to participate, too. Encourage guests to wear something they already own or to rent their outfit instead of buying something new.
Do this: prioritize monetary gifts and experiences
Not this: register for dozens of household goods
Your registry might feel separate from your wedding day, but it’s another contributor to wedding waste. Be intentional with your requests and, if possible, ask for honeymoon experiences and money over physical items that will eventually be thrown away. For monetary gifts, ask for cash as credit card transactions have a large carbon footprint!
From Zero to Forever
Your wedding is more than a party; it’s a representation of who you are as a couple. If sustainability is one of your relationship values, a zero-waste wedding can help you celebrate your next chapter in an authentic and inspiring way.
Rachel Kauffman is a Detroit-based content writer, bookworm, and cat mom to two feisty felines.
