When I see this listed in the wedding blogs as a trend couples are choosing it makes me a little frustrated. Like me I’m sure you aren’t choosing to be sustainable because you like to be on trend! If anything many of the more sustainable choices you need to make are totally off the current trends.

So instead of being frustrated together lets have a little look at some inspired ideas instead.

5 ways to host a more sustainable wedding

Keep it small

Am I being controversial in saying one of the big ways to be sustainable… don’t invite people that live overseas, or invite them via a video link? The carbon emissions of those guests flying over would wipe out any of your measures to host a sustainable event.

Plus small is sustainable:

Financially
Food waste/production
Energy usage
Volume of decor
Number of new outfits bought!

Small really can be a beautiful option too, if you still wanted to splash some pennies it gives you extra space to invest in a beautiful meal, a fabulous band or a venue that might not otherwise accommodate a large crowd.

2. Keep it local

I think you probably know this one! Local for you and guests, local food and suppliers all reduces emissions and supports the economy where you live to thrive.

3. Keep it simple

Post wedding where do all those decorations go? Pre wedding how do they all get to you? The simpler and more considered the design the less impact on getting it to you and getting rid at the end.

Using a decorator if budget allows is a great idea as their collection of items will be used many times over. Saves you having to get rid of things afterwards.

I still think jam jars and items already to hand are a beautiful way to decorate, although that ‘cottage’ or ‘vintage’ style wedding is back in the past when I got married in 2015! Will a cute bunch of garden flowers in a jar ever really not be timeless?

I love as much as you the stunning floral displays on Pinterest! There are ways to achieve stunning florals whilst thinking simple. If you really need that show stopper floral arch then maybe simplify the table florals and bouquets to reduce the impact? Consider doing it in dried florals so it can be taken apart again and reused… could be a collection of gorgeous wreaths afterwards you and friends could have fund making.

Do we need wedding signs, especially in perspex?! What do you do with it afterwards?!

Do we really need wedding favours everyone forgets?!

4. Consider your flowers or no flowers!

We all know flowers fly around the world brightening our day. But those beautiful blooms have a big impact.

I recently visited a florist and over heard them saying the hydrangeas out of season had been flown in from South America!! Do we need hydrangeas out of season soooo badly that we fly them in to last a couple of weeks on our tables?

If you have an absolute favourite flower then maybe get married in the season of that flower?

I personally do love hydrangeas! And my wedding was covered I them, but they were snipped off a neighbours bushes in August and popped into jam jars lovingly collected by my dad. Dried hydrangeas are stunning too.

There are an increasing number of florists trying to grow local and use uk flower farms. I’ll do another post on seasonal flowers soon.

Or…..

Don’t use flowers!! Ok ok if you want a bouquet just do that bit but then scrap it on the tables. Personal trinkets are a lovely alternative but even simpler, think about what we do at Christmas, we collect greenery and adorn out homes, you could do that for a wedding too. It would be stunning and free!

If you aren’t a creative I can 100% guarantee you have a friend/s who is or secretly wants to be that would squeal with delight at being asked to share some of that creativity!

5. Go Veggie or Vegan

I’m a meat eater but I am reducing my consumption, that’s just a household of 4, but if it was a wedding you could remove in one go the impact of one meat meal from a lot of diets. Plus this way no one has the meat bloats or farts later when hitting the dance floor!

What do you think? Would you even bother telling your guests in advance there is no meat?!

Sustainability is not a wedding ‘trend’!