Sustainable Weddings Part 1 - WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE WEDDING?

I recently gave a little talk at a wedding fair about Sustainable Weddings and while I was researching, I found that, while there’s lots of tips and pointers on how to make your wedding sustainable, there isn’t much info about why you’d choose to have a sustainable wedding or what a sustainable wedding actually means.

So here’s an introduction. (It’s a long read, so feel free to settle down somewhere comfy with a cuppa, and also bookmark this for later). I’ll answer the questions of what is a sustainable wedding, why sustainability is important,

SO WHAT ACTUALLY IS SUSTAINABILITY?

When we hear about sustainability we often hear of it in terms of the environment, and although that is hugely important, it is only one piece of the puzzle, and it doesn’t give a full picture of what sustainability is all about or what being sustainable really means.

Sustainability is all about balance. It’s a holistic approach, balancing not only the environment but also people and economics too - ensuring that the future of the planet and future generations are not affected by what we do in the now. A way that we can all thrive together in harmony, in perpetuity. 

We can be sustainable by actively paying attention to how we live our day-to-day lives - where we travel, what we consume, what we buy, who we buy from, right through to what we throw away. Whether it’s driving a car, going on holiday, or making toast in the morning, all of our actions have an effect, and we need to start paying attention to these if we want people, species, flora, and fauna to thrive long after we are gone.

(You can read more about Sustainability here)

Which makes it perfect for weddings! They are perhaps one of the only occasions where (generally) you are making all the decisions and have total control over each aspect, enabling you to make conscious choices and actively think in a sustainable way. 

WHY IS SUSTAINABILITY IMPORTANT FOR WEDDINGS

The scary bit.

• Each year in the UK there are approx. 250,000 weddings. 

• The average wedding produces an estimated 14.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide - compared to an average household which produces around 11.7 tonnes per year. That’s a lot of CO2!

• Weddings also produce a lot of waste. It’s estimated the average wedding creates 18kg of plastic waste (not only from the wedding itself but also the lead-up events - hen/sten/stag/fox/engagement parties, etc. - Think balloons, plastic cups, decorations, gifts, and all the party accessories - how much of these are not only made of plastic but also comes wrapped in it too) 

• And that’s only plastic waste. There are many other areas where we generate waste from weddings. An average UK wedding produces one-third of a metric tonne of solid waste. From leftover food, drink, cake, clothing, flowers, gifts, decorations, all the stuff we buy that we won’t use again.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE WEDDING?

So with all of this in mind, the big question is, is it possible to have a sustainable wedding? And the answer is Absolutely, Yes! And it’s more than just the actions you can take to lower your carbon footprint. A sustainable wedding means being mindful, making decisions that are right for you, and having an awareness of the impact your wedding will make. Though these numbers are scary, with a few changes you can drastically alter the impact of your wedding, whilst still creating a truly incredible occasion.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE WEDDING DURING THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS?

The other big, all-important question. The answer is Yes! You can have a sustainable wedding on any budget. 

Sustainability is often associated with sacrifice. ‘What do I need to forgo in order for my wedding to be sustainable? But actually, by being mindful, intentional, and making conscious choices it won’t feel like you are sacrificing anything at all, you are simply choosing what to have and what not to.

And sustainable weddings can be more affordable. Choosing borrowing, second-hand, local venues, local food, drink, seasonal over imported, recycled over new, there are lots of ways that sustainability goes hand in hand with money-saving. I’ll talk more about this in Part 2 - How to have a sustainable wedding. 

SO WHAT DOES A SUSTAINABLE WEDDING LOOK LIKE?

Like any wedding, every sustainable wedding looks different and unique to the couple. It does not need to look a certain way to be sustainable. i.e. It does not need to be on a farm, in a wood, or a tent, (although those are lovely!) Your wedding can be sustainable in a grand country house, a local restaurant, or even on a bus! What really matters most for a wedding to be sustainable are:

INTENTION: Possibly the most important point. Sustainable weddings start with intention. Making conscious decisions and focusing on what is really important - the celebration of love.

MEANING: Being intentional allows you to infuse your wedding with meaning, and create something deeply personal to you both. By prioritising what you want over what you feel you should have, each aspect of your wedding will feel like your wedding. And focusing on what feels right can also help keep you out of comparison traps, Pinterest spirals, and guilt from family or friends. Doing it your way, not doing or having things for the sake of it or because everyone else does, and perhaps saying no to some traditions. 

THE EXPERIENCE: Weddings are big, monumental life moments. They are rare, beautiful, and joyous. And so thinking sustainably means changing the way we think about what a gathering actually looks like. Instead of cake, decorations, and confetti, let’s flip the narrative to hugs, laughter, music, and joy. Put the focus on the reasons why you are there, why you want to gather together, and what feelings and emotions you want for you and for your guests. To create a truly incredible experience that you will remember forever.

LIMITING WASTE. Less stuff + more meaning = less waste. As well as prioritising, we can also follow the waste hierarchy - reduce, reuse, recycle - to find ways of reducing your overall waste. Focusing first on Reducing - what is it you want and what do you not want at all? Then what can you Reuse? Until recently, it hadn’t occurred to me that most of the key things we associate with weddings are single-use items. The outfits, the cake, the confetti, and even the flowers. All things we buy to only use once. And so this is where you can get creative! What can you repurpose or reuse, both for the event and after? What can you borrow, or buy second-hand? And lastly, as a minimum, what can or will be Recycled? What is the lifecycle of the product you're buying and where will it end up after your wedding? Ask your venue about their waste management strategy, get your guests involved to help you find the things you need, and most importantly tell them all about what you’re doing to make your wedding sustainable. 

LOWERING EMISSIONS. This is where you can delve a lot more into the details. As well as waste, there are six other elements to consider when making something sustainable - carbon emissions, transport, energy, supply chain, water, and community. Don’t let this list scare you, although there’s a lot to consider, remember just as it’s not about having everything, it’s also not about doing everything. Any small changes or steps you take will make a difference. For example, the biggest area of carbon emissions from weddings isn’t at the wedding itself but travel to and from the wedding by you and your guests. Especially if anyone takes a long-haul flight. So thinking locally, or purposefully choosing a venue that can be accessed by public transport is a brilliant way to make a big difference to your CO2 emissions. 

SUSTAINABLE SUPPLIERS. You are not alone in making your wedding sustainable! There are lots of brilliant suppliers who can help. Look for suppliers that feel right for you, match your values, and are people you want with you on your wedding journey. Sustainable suppliers will usually have a page on their website or a sustainability policy telling you about all the brilliant things we are doing. Ask lots of questions, especially if there’s something specific you want but not sure if they offer it, we love getting creative with ideas, and thinking about changes we can make in our businesses, and ideas we might not have thought of before. Your suppliers are also an opportunity to bring your community into your wedding. Supporting local businesses, supporting the local economy, and supporting local people. 

(The Sustainable Wedding Alliance has a brilliant list of sustainable suppliers, as well as other excellent resources for Conscious Couples)

SO HOW DO YOU HAVE A SUSTAINABLE WEDDING?

Join me in Part 2 to find out how you can have a sustainable wedding.