How to Throw a Sustainable Wedding Reception
Weddings are costly – and it’s not just your wallet that has to pay the price. Whether you’ve decided to say your I DOs on a beach or in your own backyard, your wedding should be one of the most amazing days of your life. But, with all the excitement surrounding the celebration, it can be easy to forget about all the waste that your Big Day is generating. With an estimate of about 200 to 300 kilograms of waste (coming from décor, food, flowers, plastic bags and more) generated by one average wedding alone, the guilt of having a negative impact on the planet may sometimes end up overshadowing the joy. If you and your partner are eco-conscious and prioritize a sustainable lifestyle, your wedding reception should be a reflection of that. While you shouldn’t strive for perfection, there are a few steps you could take to help reduce the waste and limit the carbon footprint of your wedding.
A New Mindset: Rent, Don’t Shop
It is estimated that it takes approximately 9000 litres of water to produce one wedding dress alone, which is an outrageous number for a garment that usually gets only one outing in its lifetime. Besides that, wedding dresses are typically made from fabrics like chiffon and tulle, which require a considerable amount of energy in order to be produced. Moreover, these fabrics are treated and dyed with toxic chemicals, which end up polluting our clean water sources. If you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to an unsustainable item, opt for renting or borrowing your gown, tux and even your gorgeous pearls. Platforms like By Rotation, Infinite Closet or The Bridal Gallery UK, offer rental services to help you find the perfect dress for your big event, whether you are looking for a traditional piece or a unique non-white little number for your celebration. Complement your outfit with something borrowed from your grandma, in the form of her stunning vintage bridal jewellery, and you’ve got yourself a sustainable and one-of-a-kind wedding ensemble. Besides being an eco-friendly option for your big day, renting or borrowing your wedding attire will help you save a lot of money, as a rental dress only comes in at a fraction of the cost of a new gown.
The Many Pros of Low-Impact Venues
Just because you are planning a sustainable wedding reception doesn’t mean that you have to give up all the things that you love. A destination wedding means your guests will have to travel by plane to the event, and a celebration in a remote location requires car travel. As cars and airplane emissions have a negative impact on the environment, opting for a local green venue is ideal – a place committed to low-impact living. Energy-efficient appliances and strong recycling policies are a must, so make sure you reach out to them for confirmation before you make your final decision. Places like Barbican Centre, RSA House, The National Gallery and Folly Farm come with eco-friendly features such as biomass heating, solar energy, harvested rainwater, green cleaning products, or 100% recycled paper.
Say YES to Digital
Stats show that 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard are used annually in the UK, which is about the same weight as 3 million elephants. From this, approximately 6.3 million tonnes of paper are thrown away by families in the UK alone. Instead of spending nature's resources on things like invitations or menus, opt for the digital version for a more eco-friendly alternative. You can create a website for your wedding, including all the information your guests might need, such as invites and RSVPs, menus and the wedding program. If you really must print out some things, always use recycled paper, as every tonne of paper recycled saves 17 trees.
Simple Solutions for Eco-Friendly Décor
It is estimated that around 37 tons of waste is generated by weddings in the UK alone each year, including 99% of the flowers and 10% of the food. Instead of choosing single-use flower arrangements, wedding favours and plastic decoration, opt for sustainable alternatives that don’t skip on style – yes, they exist. Switch out your fresh blooms for dried greenery or potted plants, which you can later donate or reuse for different occasions. You also have the option to rent your wedding décor or hit the flea markets for some amazing vintage pieces, such as glass vases, plates and other things you can use to decorate your space.
Final Thoughts
Approximately 113,500 weddings take place in UK alone each year. Collectively, these celebrations are emitting a shocking 1,646,286 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and generating thousands of tons of plastic waste. While these statistics may be overwhelming, there is still time to make a change. If all couples were to decide on completely banishing single use plastic from their receptions, we would be looking at the equivalent weight of 47 blue whales of plastic blocked from contaminating our environment.
