When everyone is bashing plastic straws and pushing for single-use awareness, you might’ve thought to yourself: do we really have to be sustainable for our special event? Turns out, it isn’t that hard to add some eco-friendly touches, and some of the circulating ‘hot tips’ are things already in Daisy Hill’s contract. While some of these ideas may seem specific to weddings, they are relevant to all special events!
“Sustainability has been a huge topic in the news for all of 2019 and will continue into 2020.”
Helen Pye, Hitched.co.uk, Dec. 2019
Reduce, reuse, recycle–we know, we know. What are the direct threads between this slogan and a wedding, though? We found many (many, many, many) blog posts about this topic, from WeddingWire and The Knot to conversations scattered throughout Twitter, and thought we could save you the legwork of reading a lot of the recent conversations about this topic by connecting them here. To make this synthesis even more efficient, we’re relaying our findings via easily-skimmable lists.
Sustainable Vendor Choices
- Find a caterer who refuses single-use/disposable tableware: Daisy Hill requires all catering services at our venue to follow this rule, so we have you covered! Real dishes, glassware, cutlery, etc. look 1,000x better anyway.
- Rent decor–especially from an in-house designer: we have this option here, too. Renting means all of the decor will be used in some way again and is an easy, thoughtful way to cut down on waste.
- Consider purchasing seasonal fruit from a local market for placeholders instead of plastic, as recommended here.
- Work with local vendors as much as possible, which will cut down on your wedding’s carbon footprint.
Sustainable Paper Products
- Mail invitations/other in eco-friendly, plantable paper such as Botanical Paperworks’s seed paper envelopes–yay, wildflowers!
WeddingWire recommends going paperless because “with so many companies offering beautiful online invitations, along with fully customizable wedding websites, communicating with your guests electronically has never been easier” (Stephanie Weers, WeddingWire, Jan. 2020). If the majority of your guests have internet access–and if you’re ok with your photo not being on all of your guests’ refrigerators–consider going digital.
Another idea for paper products, albeit obvious, is to choose a simple style: whether a sleek postcard or an envelope with a single piece of paper inside. Selecting those instead of more elaborate options will minimize waste.
Sustainable Floral Choices
- Dried flowers such as pompas or eucalyptus from your local craft store (the local local one–if possible, not just a nearby chain).
- If you’re lucky enough to have access to a friend or family member’s flourishing garden like the bride and groom in this article, obviously try to incorporate their flowers into your plans.
What do you think about potted plants instead of cut flowers for centerpieces? We see it getting a little pricier because the bouquets may not transfer as smoothly from the bridal party’s hands to the awaiting tables like some people plan for, but we believe ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ and it can be done. How would you handle bouquets if you chose potted plants for decor?
Another idea to connect flowers + reuse is to consider donating your floral arrangements to a local nursing home or hospital. This way, your special day positively affects even more people in your community. You can dry + frame the bridal bouquet, and then make other people happy with the rest! We love the idea of spreading additional joy.
General Takeaways for Sustainable Events
- Thrifting or Renting: find important pieces from your local thrift stores rather than buying everything new, or borrow them from a reliable source. Some sources recommend looking into renting dresses–not just tuxes.
- Re-Selling: anything you purchase or are gifted that you cannot imagine needing again, thrift or sell those items rather than throwing them away (maybe even quietly re-gift some items).
- Looking Local: if you start by looking locally first, you will not only save on gas and time but also support more small businesses. Why not help out your dad’s cousin’s friend’s business if they have excellent catering packages?
These ideas may seem like no-brainers, but really all it takes to reduce your event’s negative impact is a little thoughtfulness and creativity. Let us know what eco-friendly choices you planned or are planning for your special event!
Some pages we browsed
- https://langetwins.com
- https://www.theknot.com/content/eco-friendly-wedding-guide#
- https://www.brides.com/story/earth-day-eco-friendly-wedding-ideas
- http://seattlemag.com/shopping/boma-jewelry-doubles-down-sustainability
- https://www.thekindbride.com/bridal-fashion/between-me-and-you-bridal-shaping-a-new-era-of-sustainable-wedding-dresses/?platform=hootsuite
- https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/sustainable-wedding-dresses?ss-track=IPtOmE
- https://weddingbells.ca/planning/plan-sustainable-wedding-2020/
- https://weddingbells.ca/planning/secrets-serving-inspired-sustainable-wedding-menu/
- https://pinkfortitude.com/eco-friendly-wedding-guide/
- https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/my-big-fat-sustainable-wedding#gs.vr6qq7
- https://www.weddingchicks.com/blog/waste-not-want-not-wedding-ideas-for-the-eco-friendly-l-17696-l-41.html
- https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/2020-wedding-trends/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=FabFrocks
- https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/zero-waste-wedding?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=ww-ideas&utm_content=advice