How to make your wedding more sustainable
It’s no secret that more and more couples are embracing an environmentally friendly approach when it comes to wedding planning. And if you’re newly engaged and fancy doing your bit on the sustainability front, you’re in the right place! As wedding planners in Devon, we know exactly what it takes to plan the perfect day, and that it’s possible to do this while being a little kinder to our world. We’ve popped together some of our favourite sustainable-inspired ideas that you could incorporate into your wedding day. So, get scrolling and take note…
Do Your Research
Lots of wedding suppliers are utterly passionate about working within the wedding industry with a sustainable approach, and if so, they will most likely talk about this on their website or social media. If you are looking for vendors that align with your values, you can always enquire about whether their services are done with a focus on sustainability. Don’t forget to let your wedding planner know if you want to go green on your big day – we’ll be able to offer helpful guidance on local suppliers who tick your boxes.
Wedding Venue
While the UK weather may not always be promising, you can reduce your carbon footprint by opting for a wedding venue that avoids travelling far and wide. Explore wedding venues that are a little closer to home – we have a list of recommended venues that we’ve worked at over the years, all of which will make you weak at the knees. A bonus would be that they can accommodate your celebration for the whole day from ceremony to wedding breakfast and reception. This way you won’t need to get transport to different locations, it’s a win-win!
Local Catering
Spoil your guests with delicious catering companies who gather their food locally and ethically.Many wedding caterers in the South West will ensure their menus align with the season, producing organic and seasonal food that is as scrumptious as it is sustainable. Lots of couples are even swapping traditional chinaware for bamboo plates and cutlery – the perfect environmentally friendly option!
Flower Power
When it comes to your wedding flowers, seasonal blooms are a beautiful choice if you want something a little more sustainable for your celebration. From leafy green foliage and berries for a winter wedding bouquet, to peonies in the spring and summer, there are lots of wonderful flowers that grow within each season. You could also book a florist who home-grows their blooms and avoids using foam within their installations. Lots of couples also repurpose their wedding flowers, moving them from their ceremony to reception to be enjoyed all over again.
Aisle Style
The wedding industry is graced with an array of ethical bridal designers who create wedding dresses with beautiful and sustainable fabrics. Alternatively, you could even rent your wedding dresses or buy one that has been worn and loved before. There are oodles of options to incorporate a touch of sustainability into your wedding day attire.
Decor & Stationery
With single use items becoming less favourable, have you thought about e-invites and a wedding website your guests can respond to instead of traditional stationery? Or if you do prefer the idea of sending a physical invite, ask your stationer if they have the option of recycled paper. You could even pop a little reminder on the bottom for your loved ones to pop in the recycling after the event!
Eco-Friendly Favours
We love the idea of sourcing locally produced jars of honey, jam and marmalade – you could even get crafty and give it a go yourself, using recycled jam jars. Or why not gift your guests with little packets of seeds with ‘Let Love Grow’ printed on the front of a recycled brown packet?
No matter what you do, even the smallest choices will make a big difference to our world. Here at Hyland Weddings, we love hearing our couples’ values and how we can help them make their celebration eco-friendly as possible. Don’t forget to drop us a message if you’re looking for a helping hand planning your wedding day!
