10 Ways to Have a Sustainable Wedding

When it comes to waste, weddings can take the cake. With potentially hundreds of guests converging from far and wide, the carbon footprint from food, travel and decor can be major.

But in the era of sustainability, there are plenty of ways to make your wedding more eco-friendly! You may however want an experienced photographer (to know more, check https://nabazabih.com/) to capture all of these moments. You can show all of these photos to your dear ones who couldn’t attend the wedding or save them as a mere source of memory. No need to opt-out of all the magical details that’ll make your day unforgettable. From the simple details to a thrift dress to locally-sourced flowers from local florists (similar to the ones who deliver at Maribyrnong and nearby) – there are options aplenty to go sustainable for your wedding!

I spoke to Las Vegas weddings expert, McKenzi Taylor, owner of Cactus Collective Weddings, on how to have a sustainable wedding that (in her words): “creates as little impact on the environment as possible.”

Here are 10 tips on minimizing your footprint on your special day:

1. Look for a venue that has on-site accoutrements/furnishings available. The fewer items you have to haul in, the lower your transportation footprint will be. You may want to Plan Your Next Event at Rose Hill Estate or another wedding hall in your local area with this in mind if you were conscious about having minimal waste.
2. Have your wedding outdoors and you’ll save big on energy. Plus, nature provides a lot of the decor, so it cuts down on what you need to buy. Taylor suggests adding just a few detailed accessories instead of a lot of unnecessary flourishes.
3. Ask potential wedding venues about their waste policies. Do they recycle? Do they donate leftover food? Do they compost greenery?
4. Think about a thrifted or secondhand dress. Most wedding dresses are only worn once, after all! A vintage gown could make your look particularly unique and special.
5. If you do buy a new dress, consider sustainable fabrics like organic cotton or hemp. Steer clear of companies that create “fast fashion” and use cheap or environmentally destructive materials. “You can also ask your dress shop about labor practices and the origins of your dress before you decide to purchase,” says Taylor.
6. After your wedding, repurpose your dress, sell it, or donate it to a good cause.
7. Source locally grown flowers and ask about how they’ve grown. For example, if you live in Florida, find a Florist West Palm Beach Florida. “Cut flowers are usually not grown organically, so ask your florist about in-season locally grown flowers,” Taylor suggests.
8. Make sure your beautician and hairdresser use cruelty-free, natural products. There are countless options these days from high end makeup brands to haircare, skincare and beyond.
9. Choose seasonal, locally-grown, farm-to-table food. Opting out of meat will make your entire wedding much more eco-friendly.
10. Instead of gifting trinkets for favors, consider making charitable donations in your guests’ names, offering plants or edible items, or writing personalized letters telling your guests how much they mean to you.

“Some of our clients use our company because of our interest in making weddings more sustainable; it’s what draws them to us,” Taylor explains. “Their primary goal in working with Cactus Collective Weddings is to create a memorable and amazing wedding experience in a gorgeous, natural setting, without a lot of the extra fluff that goes into a more traditional wedding reception.”

“Couples do tend to find it incredibly rewarding. They love knowing that they are providing their guests with a unique wedding experience, getting beautiful photos and having a meaningful ceremony all with a limited impact on the environment.”

Follow harm.less on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for conscious, cruelty-free food, travel, fashion, and above all: FUN. 🠦„ (Use the hashtag #harmlesswithhannah for the chance to be featured!)