40+ Sustainable Wedding Ideas

Are you planning a wedding but worried about its environmental impact? Don't worry, you're not alone! We know it can be challenging to balance style, fun, and sustainability. From invitations to venues, food to makeup, weddings involve many moving parts.

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But here's the good news: there are plenty of easy ways to make your big day more eco-friendly. Ready to plan your dream, sustainable wedding? Let's dive in!

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Invitations

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1. Send virtual invitations through sites like Greenvelope or Paperless Post.
2. Use sustainable paper options like recycled, bamboo, or seeded paper for physical invites and thank you cards
3. Design your own invitations on platforms like Canva, choosing eco-friendly printing options.
4. Go paperless: Skip RSVP cards and Save the Dates, use a wedding website instead.

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Food and Drinks

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1. Opt for local, in-season foods from nearby farms or select a caterer who does.
2. Offer vegetarian and vegan options to reduce environmental impact.
3. Donate leftover food to reduce waste.
4. Have a smaller cake and consider vegan options.
5. Skip single-use items like stirrer straws and cocktail napkins.
6. Use sustainable alternatives for common trash like straws and beer bottles (paper/reusable straws, kegs).
7. Source alcohol from local wineries and distilleries.

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Venue and Decor

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1. Ask venues about recycling and composting options. Partner with local companies for waste management if venues don't offer it.
2. Use the venue's reusable decor inventory to save money and reduce emissions.
3. Hold both ceremony and reception at the same venue to minimize travel.
4. Rent or buy used decor from previous couples.
5. Repurpose items you already own as decor.
6. Use sustainable alternatives for traditional wedding elements (e.g., dissolvable confetti, phone flashlights instead of sparklers).
7. Create signage from repurposed items or use chalk/pastels instead of wasteful materials.
8. Choose practical, reusable items for guest books and cake toppers.
9. Minimize paper use with centralized menus and seating charts.
10. Avoid environmentally harmful practices like lantern releases and smoke bombs.
11. Donate or resell decorations after the wedding.

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Wedding Dress

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1. Buy a used dress or upcycle an old one.
2. Let bridesmaids choose their own dresses within your guidelines so that they can wear them again.
3. Have the wedding party wear suits they own or rent them.
4. Use shoes you already have or will wear post-wedding.
5. Skip the garter. It's often uncomfortable and rarely kept.
6. Sell, donate, or gift your dress after the big day.

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Party Favors

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1. Offer herb kits or seed packets for guests to grow their own plants.
2. Give tiny succulents or cacti as sustainable, low-maintenance favors.
3. Choose consumable gifts like beeswax candles, local honey, or organic lotion.
4. Hand out reusable bamboo or stainless steel straws to reduce plastic waste.
5. Give your guests the flower centerpieces from the tables. 
6. Let your gift be a digital album of great photos from the event.
7. Consider skipping gifts altogether to help reduce consumption.

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Gifts

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1. Create a sustainable registry with items from sites like EarthHero or Made Trade.
2. Request e-gift cards to your favorite sustainable shops for plastic-free, flexible gifting.
3. Encourage minimal, plastic-free gift wrapping using alternatives like furoshiki.
4. Set up a honeymoon fund to avoid duplicate or unwanted gifts.
5. Swap wedding favors for charitable donations in guests' names.
6. Ask for money. It is practical and versatile for couples starting a new life together.

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