Planning a wedding is no easy feat, and making it as special as you had always imagined often means there are multiple elements that need planning, organising and purchasing. However, what many couples forget is that weddings create waste, waste that can overtime have devastating impacts on the environment.
With an average of 113,537 weddings in the UK every year we couldn’t help but wonder just how much waste is really being produced. So, we have done some research, crunched some numbers and uncovered some shocking statistics around wedding day waste.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, as we have put together a useful guide to help you make your wedding day a little kinder to the planet. Whether that is opting for responsibly sourced wedding jewellery or making your own decor, every little thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint on your big day helps!
With the perfect guest list, the perfect venue and, of course, the perfect partner, your wedding is likely to be the happiest and most permeable day of your life. However, because weddings are such whirlwinds of emotion, organisation and energy, a lot of couples overlook, or are unaware of, the environmental impact of their big day.
If you like the idea of your vows outlasting the decorations, accessories and carbon footprint of your ceremony, a green wedding is the perfect choice. Kinder on the environment, eco-friendly events will lighten your impact on Mother Nature and get your married life off on the right foot. To help you achieve your green goals, we've put together a comprehensive guide to planning a more eco-friendly wedding.
The unfortunate facts
Every year, there are on average 113,537 weddings across England, Scotland and Wales. Almost all of these brides and grooms throw lavish parties for their nearest and dearest, producing a huge amount of waste in the process. Here are some shocking statistics to give you an idea of just how wasteful weddings can be.
The solutions
Although even the most eco-friendly wedding is unlikely to be 100% waste free there are a number of steps you can take to ease your impact on the environment and make your nuptials a little greener. There are some of our favourite solutions…
Venue & travel
The venue you choose will have a big impact on the carbon footprint of your big day. The further you and your guests have to travel, the more pollution your day will produce. So, try to choose a venue that's as close to you and your guests as possible to minimise travel times. It's also worth encouraging guests to car share or take public transport. This will help to further reduce your carbon footprint.
When it comes to the venue itself, it's a good idea to choose somewhere that already has a good environmental policy. Venues set in nature reserves, venues that are able to source local produce and sustainable services and venues that work to reduce their carbon footprint are all perfect for couples looking for a greener wedding day.
Decor
As a lot of wedding decorations and accessories are single use, décor is often one of the most polluting and wasteful parts of a ceremony. You can minimise your waste by hiring decorations instead of buying props, banners and bunting. Upcycling decorations you already own, or that you buy second-hand, will also help to reduce your end of wedding rubbish pile.
There is also a growing number of excellent biodegradable and eco-friendly options available online. Things like biodegradable balloons, paper lanterns, cotton bunting and beeswax candles all look great while being that little bit kinder on the environment.
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Flowers
A great way to reduce the environmental impact of your flowers is to choose a local florist that stocks native, seasonal flowers. Getting your blooms from the UK will minimise their carbon footprint and should also save you money.
As the above statistics show, a whopping 99% of wedding flowers end up in the bin. If you want your blooms to brighten someone else's day, why not donate them to a local care home or a local hospice. Alternatively, invest in dried flowers or potted plants and they can be used again and again.
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Favours
This is an option that doesn’t really follow tradition, but might be the perfect option for you; don’t do anything with it. There’s nothing to say that you have to remove your engagement ring at all and most wedding bands will still easily slip onto your finger, especially if it’s a matching stacking bridal set. You can always switch them around before pictures or the reception.
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Food & drink
As the stats show, around 10% of all wedding food is thrown away. As you never really know how hungry your guests are going to be, this can be difficult to avoid. However, you can minimise the environmental impact of this waste by choosing a caterer that offers locally sourced ingredients. Hiring crockery and cutlery, instead of using single use plastic versions, will further help to minimise your carbon footprint as well as the rubbish pile at the end of the day.
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Invites
Email is by far the most eco-friendly option for wedding invites. Digital invitations don't consume any raw materials and aren't thrown away after use. If you really want a physical invitation, look for printers that use 100% recycled paper.
Gifts
Everyone loves to get a good wedding present. However, unwanted gifts can produce a lot of waste. The best way to reduce or eliminate this waste is to ask friends and family for financial donations towards your honeymoon instead of physical presents. If this isn't an option, make it clear you'd like sustainably sourced presents and ask guests to wrap their gifts in recycled paper.
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Jewellery
When buying your wedding rings and wedding jewellery, try to find items that have been sourced responsibly. Using a trusted jeweller is the best way to ensure the metals and gemstones in your rings, necklace or brooch come from sustainable sources.
If you're currently planning your big day and would like to find out more about eco-alternatives and sustainably sourced jewellery, take a look around our site today.
In conclusion
A greener wedding doesn’t mean a boring wedding! As you will have seen from the infographic, there are so many areas of a wedding that can be adjusted to make it more eco-friendly whilst still being the day you had wished for.
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Planning a wedding is no easy feat, and making it as special as you had always imagined often means there are multiple elements that need planning, organising and purchasing. However, what many couples forget is that weddings create waste, waste that can overtime have devastating impacts on the environment.
With an average of 113,537 weddings in the UK every year we couldn’t help but wonder just how much waste is really being produced. So, we have done some research, crunched some numbers and uncovered some shocking statistics around wedding day waste.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, as we have put together a useful guide to help you make your wedding day a little kinder to the planet. Whether that is opting for responsibly sourced wedding jewellery or making your own decor, every little thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint on your big day helps!
With the perfect guest list, the perfect venue and, of course, the perfect partner, your wedding is likely to be the happiest and most permeable day of your life. However, because weddings are such whirlwinds of emotion, organisation and energy, a lot of couples overlook, or are unaware of, the environmental impact of their big day.
If you like the idea of your vows outlasting the decorations, accessories and carbon footprint of your ceremony, a green wedding is the perfect choice. Kinder on the environment, eco-friendly events will lighten your impact on Mother Nature and get your married life off on the right foot. To help you achieve your green goals, we've put together a comprehensive guide to planning a more eco-friendly wedding.
The unfortunate facts
Every year, there are on average 113,537 weddings across England, Scotland and Wales. Almost all of these brides and grooms throw lavish parties for their nearest and dearest, producing a huge amount of waste in the process. Here are some shocking statistics to give you an idea of just how wasteful weddings can be.
The solutions
Although even the most eco-friendly wedding is unlikely to be 100% waste free there are a number of steps you can take to ease your impact on the environment and make your nuptials a little greener. There are some of our favourite solutions…
Venue & travel
The venue you choose will have a big impact on the carbon footprint of your big day. The further you and your guests have to travel, the more pollution your day will produce. So, try to choose a venue that's as close to you and your guests as possible to minimise travel times. It's also worth encouraging guests to car share or take public transport. This will help to further reduce your carbon footprint.
When it comes to the venue itself, it's a good idea to choose somewhere that already has a good environmental policy. Venues set in nature reserves, venues that are able to source local produce and sustainable services and venues that work to reduce their carbon footprint are all perfect for couples looking for a greener wedding day.
Decor
As a lot of wedding decorations and accessories are single use, décor is often one of the most polluting and wasteful parts of a ceremony. You can minimise your waste by hiring decorations instead of buying props, banners and bunting. Upcycling decorations you already own, or that you buy second-hand, will also help to reduce your end of wedding rubbish pile.
There is also a growing number of excellent biodegradable and eco-friendly options available online. Things like biodegradable balloons, paper lanterns, cotton bunting and beeswax candles all look great while being that little bit kinder on the environment.
Flowers
A great way to reduce the environmental impact of your flowers is to choose a local florist that stocks native, seasonal flowers. Getting your blooms from the UK will minimise their carbon footprint and should also save you money.
As the above statistics show, a whopping 99% of wedding flowers end up in the bin. If you want your blooms to brighten someone else's day, why not donate them to a local care home or a local hospice. Alternatively, invest in dried flowers or potted plants and they can be used again and again.
Favours
This is an option that doesn’t really follow tradition, but might be the perfect option for you; don’t do anything with it. There’s nothing to say that you have to remove your engagement ring at all and most wedding bands will still easily slip onto your finger, especially if it’s a matching stacking bridal set. You can always switch them around before pictures or the reception.
Food & drink
As the stats show, around 10% of all wedding food is thrown away. As you never really know how hungry your guests are going to be, this can be difficult to avoid. However, you can minimise the environmental impact of this waste by choosing a caterer that offers locally sourced ingredients. Hiring crockery and cutlery, instead of using single use plastic versions, will further help to minimise your carbon footprint as well as the rubbish pile at the end of the day.
Invites
Email is by far the most eco-friendly option for wedding invites. Digital invitations don't consume any raw materials and aren't thrown away after use. If you really want a physical invitation, look for printers that use 100% recycled paper.
Gifts
Everyone loves to get a good wedding present. However, unwanted gifts can produce a lot of waste. The best way to reduce or eliminate this waste is to ask friends and family for financial donations towards your honeymoon instead of physical presents. If this isn't an option, make it clear you'd like sustainably sourced presents and ask guests to wrap their gifts in recycled paper.
Jewellery
When buying your wedding rings and wedding jewellery, try to find items that have been sourced responsibly. Using a trusted jeweller is the best way to ensure the metals and gemstones in your rings, necklace or brooch come from sustainable sources.
If you're currently planning your big day and would like to find out more about eco-alternatives and sustainably sourced jewellery, take a look around our site today.
In conclusion
A greener wedding doesn’t mean a boring wedding! As you will have seen from the infographic, there are so many areas of a wedding that can be adjusted to make it more eco-friendly whilst still being the day you had wished for.