Ten ways to have a more sustainable wedding in Wales
Congratulations! If you are planning your wedding I truly hope you are enjoying this exciting time. But, did you know that the average big day racks up more than a few people’s annual carbon output. I found that fact quite shocking.
Obviously we can’t turn on the news at the moment without reading about the latest weather or environmental disaster and we are all more aware of the impact our actions have on our planet. So, I thought it’s time to share a few easy, eco-friendly ideas for you to consider to make yours a more sustainable wedding.
There is a lot of advice out there of how to have a more sustainable wedding day but to be quite honest, I found them a little overwhelming. For example, go vegetarian for your meals or choose an outdoor wedding venue, like a forest -not particularly practical for a Welsh wedding. Here, I have pulled together ten quick wins (actually, I finished with eleven but who’s counting) that are easy to do and will help you achieve a more sustainable wedding.
The wedding industry as a whole has a long way to go before becoming more sustainable but small changes can start with you. Each little decision you make for your wedding day can have a big impact on the environment, and inspire your friends and family to make more sustainable choices for their own wedding day in the future.
All white wedding table centre design. Image by Fox Photography and The Storyteller Photography
Choose local
The easiest way to the cut your carbon emissions of your wedding day is to choose local suppliers. This is easily done for suppliers such as florists, musicians, photographers, caterers & dressmakers. I guarantee that there is a local supplier to suit your needs, taste & budget from the incredible wealth of creative experts in our beautiful country.
This makes so much sense, it will reduce travel distance & time for suppliers and their staff.
Personally I turn down events that are more than an hour travel away. I recently asked if I could do the flowers for a wedding in Portmeirion in North Wales, a 4 hour drive away.
Choose Eco-Friendly Recycled Invitations
There are so many available options for eco-friendly invitations. It’s easier than ever to find invitations made from recycled paper, upcycled fabric, leather, and even wood. Some companies also give back with every purchase. For example By Jo wedding stationery offers 100% post-recycled paper invites, and they plant a tree in your honour with every purchase. Jo even offers plantable wedding invitations that are made from paper that is embedded with thousands of seeds. When they’ve done their job they can be planted to grow into beautiful bee-friendly wildflowers. The plantable paper is completely tree-free and looks great with recycled kraft brown envelopes.
White bridal bouquet. Image by Fox Photography and The Storyteller Photography
Have Guests Donate to a Charity of Your Choice
When putting together your wedding registry ask yourself, ‘do I really need more stuff?’. Do you want those crystal cut wine glasses that will sit in the cupboard and just come out at Christmas? If you would rather do without the gifts, then perhaps you can have your guests donate to a charity of your choice. Whether you’re passionate about feeding the homeless or educating children, there are so many charities to choose from. Get creative and find a charity that speaks to you and feel good about it at the same time!
Rent Suits for Groom and Groomsmen
This probably happens more often than not but unless you have occasions to wear a suit then there is no need to have a fancy tail suit or tux on hand at all times. Save yourselves money by renting, there are a few businesses in South Wales that offer this. One piece of advice though, try all the items on at least a day before the wedding to make sure everything fits perfectly.
Forgo Traditional Bridesmaids Dresses
I am seeing this trend more often in recent years. Instead of asking your bridesmaids to wear the same dresses just ask them to choose a dress in a colour palette of your choice. They will choose a dress that they will be comfortable in and so will be more likely to wear the dress again. You might think this looks odd. Or perhaps the bridesmaids could even hire their dresses. Just a quick google search shows that there are a lot of businesses that allow you to rent designer dresses for a specific period of time. The idea is that you can wear a high-end dress for a fraction of the cost. A win, win situation!
Bridesmaids with individual style dresses. Image by Shelley Daniel Photography
Check Facebook For Wedding Decor
If you are thinking of doing any of the wedding decor yourself then the local Facebook groups are your best friend. Once the wedding day has passed couples are often looking to sell their wedding bits and pieces and one of the best places to do so is Facebook. Whether it be Facebook groups or Facebook Marketplace, you can find everything from linens to glassware to lighting, even dresses!
You can even scour the charity shops for some wedding items, I do this often. It’s great for that mix and match crystal glassware look. As long as you don’t want everything matchy, matchy this is a good option.
Ditch the wedding favours
Now I don’t want to upset anyone here but I always tell my couples to ditch the wedding favours. You would be amazed by the amount of stuff I see left behind the day after the wedding. Those carefully selected gift bags you have put together for your guests get left behind on the table with the excitement of the day. I have seen hang over cures in gift bags, personalised candles, fridge magnets; all left at the venue to end up in the bin. If you want a more sustainable wedding and save yourself money forget about the wedding favours.
All white wedding table centre design. Image by Fox Photography and The Storyteller Photography
No more flip flops, blankets or slippers
This has something I have seen over the last couple of years. The basket of blankets to keep your guests warm during the wedding or the box of flip flops or slippers for the dance floor at the end of the night. I know this seems like a good idea but please stop. These items will most likely be bought on the cheap and will most likely not be built to last. I know it makes for a cute ‘Instagrammable’ moment but it’s not something that your guests will expect or even want at your wedding and I promise, it will not be missed from your beautiful day.
Reuse Flowers
It goes without saying that I am a fan of flowers, they truly are one of the most stunning ways to dress up a venue. If you have ever read one of my past blogs you will know that I talk about getting the most of your flowers all the time. The floral arrangements in your ceremony can be reused for your reception as well. Your bridal bouquets can surround your cake. Your arch for the I Do’s can become a backdrop for a photobooth. This is an easy way to save yourself money and have a more sustainable day.
When booking your florist you could also ask about their use floral foam in their arrangements, quick spoiler, it’s not good for the environment. I have written a blog all about this. Or the use of bleached or dyed flowers - also terrible for the environment.
Don’t forget to hand out the flowers as gifts at the end of the day for others to enjoy. Also an alternative to flowers for your wedding are potted plants. They make great focal points for tables and can be taken home and planted in your garden or around your home once the day is done; they also serve as a wonderful reminder of your perfect day.
White lantern wedding table centre design. Image by Fox Photography and The Storyteller Photography
Skip the paper Confetti
While paper confetti looks great in photos, it’s not very environmentally conscious. There are alternatives that are just as beautiful– I would argue that they’re even more beautiful and of course an easy way to have a more sustainable wedding. Why not opt for the natural route with dried petals. Did you know I supply this service as do a lot of other florists and stationers.
Cut out Balloons and Floating Lanterns
Balloons and floating lanterns have become increasingly popular. I get it, that floating lantern scene in Tangled is magical (if you know, you know) Sky lanterns are made from paper-covered wire or a bamboo frame with a candle inside. The heat from the candle lifts the lantern into the air where it can float for miles. Once extinguished, the lantern falls back to the ground where it becomes hazardous to animals and the environment. Balloons contribute to our plastic pollution problem. Although balloons only take moments to release, they could take hundreds of years to biodegrade. Over time, these balloon pieces get smaller and smaller and eventually turn into microplastics. Balloons also harm marine life because they're often ingested by animals. Even the eco friendly option of latex balloons are infused with more than just natural latex which makes the balloons less biodegradable than people think. So, although they claim to be biodegradable, it might not be the case.
There you have it, a few ideas that will help to make amore sustainable wedding.
The most important thing to remember is that this wedding is a celebration of you and your partner’s love; the day should reflect your personal tastes & style rather than copy anyone else’s.
As many little changes that you can make in the day whilst keeping true to your style is the important bit, don’t allow added stress into the planning.
Even if you follow a few of these tips it will help.
What do you think of these ideas? Will you consider making a few changes to be more sustainable?
As always, thanks for reading.
If would like to discuss your ideas for your own wedding please get in touch here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne-Marie the face of Petal Power
Hi! I'm Anne-Marie, Petal Power is me!
I run my weddings and event floristry business out of my studio in Creigiau, Cardiff, South Wales.
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