We are being asked to consider the environmental impact of everything we do as consumers and a wedding is an event that can be seen as quite wasteful when a lot of the money is spent on items that will only be used once. Hiring is a great way to make sure that costs are kept down as well as having less impact on the environment and being careful to not over cater the event means less wasted food.
An eco friendly and stylish wedding can be achieved by keeping things simple. Using seasonal blooms and having any floral arrangements moved from the ceremony venue to the reception can save money and they can be sited near a small table where you could have your guest book at the reception. Once the day is over these arrangements could be donated to a local nursing home or day centre as they are often too large for a domestic setting, but would look fantastic in a residents lounge. Ensure that the flowers were grown organically if possible as this has less impact on the environment or consider potted plants or small trees that can be planted out later on. You could consider going organic for your catering looking at seasonal local produce, organic wines, sustainably caught fish and free range organically raised meat. Although organic food can sometimes be more expensive, you will save money by choosing things that are in season and by looking carefully at the amount of food that you order to ensure that there is no waste. Renting items that will only be used for one day is more cost effective than buying something that may never come out of the wardrobe again and this is becoming more common for the brides gown as well as for the groom’s outfit.
Small plants, cacti or succulents could be used for wedding favours and if wild bird seed is used as confetti, harking back to the days when grain or small nuts were used, there will be no wasted paper being blown around and this may also be suitable at church venues where traditional paper confetti is not allowed. Recycled paper should be used for the wedding invitations unless you prefer to go completely digital for this and send out e-invites. Couples could also include an attachment that can be printed out as a keepsake of the day should guests wish to do so.
