Eco-Friendly Wedding Planning: How to Make Your Wedding More Sustainable

A wedding is one of the most memorable days in a couple’s life, but they are often associated with extravagance, waste, and a significant environmental impact. Here at Mr & Missive we believe it doesn’t have to be that way. From disposable décor to excess food waste, traditional weddings can leave a significant environmental footprint. Fortunately, more and more couples are now choosing sustainable alternatives to ensure their special day is not only beautiful but also kind to the planet.

If you're planning a wedding and want to make eco-conscious choices without sacrificing style or sentimentality, this guide will help you create a sustainable wedding that reflects your values. From ethical attire to an eco-friendly wedding guest book alternative, here are some thoughtful ways to reduce waste while making your big day even more meaningful.

 

Sustainable Wedding Stationery

Wedding invitations and paper goods are an essential part of your wedding, but they often end up in the bin after the event. Opting for eco-friendly stationery is a simple way to reduce waste while still having beautifully designed invites.

Sustainable options include:

 - Recycled paper or cotton-based invitations

 - Plantable seed paper that guests can grow into wildflowers

 - Digital invitations and wedding websites to cut down on paper waste

 - Soy-based or vegetable-based ink for printing

By choosing one of these alternatives, you can ensure your wedding details are both elegant and eco-friendly.

 

Ethical and Sustainable Wedding Attire

A wedding dress is a once-in-a-lifetime outfit, but that doesn’t mean it has to contribute to fast fashion waste. Many brides and grooms are now embracing sustainable fashion choices for their big day.

Sustainable attire options include:

 - Choosing a dress or suit made from organic, sustainable fabrics like hemp, bamboo,       or Tencel

 - Buying second-hand or vintage wedding dresses and accessories

 - Renting your dress or suit instead of purchasing

 - Supporting ethical designers who prioritize fair wages and environmentally friendly         production methods

These options all allow you to still look stunning and feel amazing, while also making a responsible fashion choice that helps reduce textile waste.

 

Sustainable Venue & Décor Choices

The venue and décor play a big role in setting the mood for your wedding, and choosing eco-friendly options can significantly reduce your event’s carbon footprint as well as saving you money.

Sustainable venue choices include:

 - Opting for an outdoor venue to take advantage of natural lighting

 - Choosing a location with eco-friendly certifications and sustainability initiatives

 - Booking a venue that can host both the ceremony and reception to minimize travel       emissions

 

Sustainable décor ideas include:

 - Renting or borrowing decorations instead of purchasing new items

 - Using locally sourced flowers or dried flower arrangements that last beyond the             wedding day

 - Incorporating natural elements like potted plants, which can be gifted to guests             afterward

 - Using candles, LED lights, or solar-powered fairy lights instead of energy-draining           traditional lighting

A well-thought-out, eco-friendly venue and décor plan will allow you to create an elegant wedding while minimizing waste. 

Image by Kirsty Mackenzie (www.kirstymackenziephotography.co.uk)

I love these paper lanterns from Kanga and Roo  - Not only are they plastic-free, making them a more eco-friendly choice than many decorations, but they are also available for hire, reducing waste and keeping items out of landfill.

 

Eco-Conscious Catering & Tableware

Your wedding breakfast tables and the food that you offer your guests day is a major component of any wedding celebration, and choosing a sustainable approach can help reduce waste and support ethical food production.

Sustainable catering tips include:

 - Opting for locally sourced, organic, and seasonal ingredients to reduce food miles

 - Choosing a partly or completely vegetarian or vegan menu to cut down on the environmental impact of meat production

 - Working with caterers who donate surplus food to charities

 - If you are not having a formal sit down meal, using compostable or reusable tableware instead of disposable plastic cups and plates ensures less waste to landfill

Being mindful of food waste not only benefits the environment but also ensures your wedding meals are fresh, delicious, and aligned with your values.

 

Thoughtful and Sustainable Wedding Favours

Wedding favours are a lovely way to thank guests, but many end up unused or thrown away. Instead of trinkets that might be made of plastic or that may be easily discarded, consider meaningful, sustainable gifts your guests will cherish.

Eco-friendly wedding favour ideas include:

 - Small potted plants or succulents that guests can take home and nurture

 - Edible gifts like locally sourced honey, homemade jams, or organic chocolates

 - Seed packets that guests can plant in their gardens

 - A donation to a charity in honour of your guests

These thoughtful alternatives ensure your wedding favours contribute to sustainability rather than waste, while also being something meaningful that your guests can keep.

 

Sustainable Wedding Transportation

Guest transportation is an often-overlooked aspect of wedding sustainability, but it plays a significant role in reducing your event’s carbon footprint.

Ways to make transportation more eco-friendly include:

 - Encourage guests to carpool or use shared shuttle services

 - Choose a venue that minimizes travel distances for most of your guests

 - Opting for hybrid or electric vehicles for your wedding transport

By implementing these simple ideas, you can significantly lower the emissions generated by your wedding day travel and lower the carbon footprint of your special day.

 

 

Eco-Friendly Wedding Guest Book Alternative

A traditional wedding guest book is often stored away and forgotten after the wedding, but a wedding guest book alternative can turn heartfelt messages from your guests into a treasured keepsake that lasts a lifetime.

Our beautiful fabric based Mr & Missive pictures preserve your guests’ handwritten messages in a displayable format. This not only eliminates the waste associated with printed guest books, but also creates a deeply personal piece of art that captures the love shared on your wedding day.

Our wedding guest book alternative also make perfect personalised wedding gifts for the hard-to-buy-for couple, offering something truly meaningful that won’t end up in landfill. Unlike many wedding gifts that may be used temporarily or forgotten, this unique piece is designed to be kept and treasured forever.

 

 

Making Sustainability Part of Your Love Story

Your wedding day should reflect your love story—and that includes the values you both hold dear. By choosing eco-friendly alternatives, from sustainable catering and décor to shared guest transport and eco-friendly wedding favours, you can create a wedding that’s as meaningful to the planet as it is to you and your guests. Small, mindful choices can make a big difference, ensuring your wedding is not only stunning but also environmentally responsible and kind to the planet

 

Are you looking for a unique way to preserve all the love and feelings of your wedding day and to have a lasting reminder of all your favourite people? Explore our range of beautiful wedding guest book alternatives here and if you'd like to find out more about the eco friendly practices and sustainability mission within our business, find out more here.