How to strike the balance between creating your dream wedding whilst minimising your environmental impact? The world of weddings and events are major culprits in landfill and CO2.
There are so many ways to reduce waste and to make your day more sustainable without compromising on style. Low waste and eco-friendly does not have to mean low key.
Across two decades running The Arabian Tent Company, we have witnessed and implemented numerous industry changes. The most monumental has been the shift towards working more sustainably. Having made many changes to make our business eco-friendlier, we can offer advice to other suppliers looking to clean up their act. Sustainable practice is the path to success and longevity.
1. The Dress
This is a touchy subject. Every bride wants to wear the dress of her dreams on the big day.
Fashion is one of the most environmentally damaging industries in the plant. The fashion industry has a disastrous impact on the environment. In fact, it is the second-largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry. Say ‘I Do’ in a sustainable, pre-loved or vintage wedding dress.
Opt for a designer specialising in sustainable wedding dresses. Ethical wedding dresses use organic and natural fibres that do not require chemicals to be produced are widely available.
Don’t trash your dress. The trend for running through muddy fields or hacking your beautiful dress off to a racy mini is pretty rock n roll – but you could donate it instead and double the love.
There are multiple websites and boutiques selling pre-loved or vintage dresses. Reusing a dress reduces the cost. Use a local designer to tailor a vintage dress to your design. This is also relevant for the bridesmaids and flower girls.
Let your bridesmaids choose their own dresses. The team you gather around you are far more likely to re-wear a design they love – avoiding the throwaway culture. If they really won’t wear them again, encourage them to donate them to charity.
2. The Food
There are numerous ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding breakfast. The number one is to buy local, in-season produce. Don’t ship in exotic fruit and veg from other countries – work with a caterer who sources local organic ingredients. This will support the local economy and eliminate unnecessary air miles.
Meat is responsible for over 50% of all emissions from food production. So go meat-free. Rather than telling people to expect a meat-free meal, smuggle in the veggies – your guests will not miss the meat in a tasty and abundant vegetarian meal.
The late-night snack. All too often the snack intended to soak up the alcohol and sustain the dancefloor for another few hours gets wasted, leaving piles of uneaten burgers or hotdogs which can’t be reused. Why not make something that’s reusable or freezable – dahl, nice veggie chilli or curry are all lovely the next day. The option to cook to order also massively cuts down on waste. Pizzas and tacos, burritos or hearty baguettes and sandwiches can all be made on the fly.
3. The Wine
Wine is a product which can carry a huge carbon load if not sourced sensibly. Shift your spending power to local, organic and if possible, go Fairtrade. As well as buying organic brands, you can further ensure that workers are protected by opting for Fairtrade wines. Already, 27 million litres of Fairtrade wine are sold every year, and half of that is to the UK. When you buy Fairtrade wine you are ensuring that farmers get a fair price for their crops and that worker rights are protected.
Use English wine. Consider shopping closer to home to cut down on the carbon footprint of your wine. British winemakers are doing pretty well on the awards front at the moment, particularly when it comes to sparkling wines. You get to support a small local business, and you can visit the winery for tastings before you buy.
4. Decoration
With décor it’s all about renting and recycling. If hiring a company, use a local supplier who will reuse all their responsibly sourced décor. Don’t buy cheap plastic or fairy lights from China. Hire in quality items. Recycle jars and bottle to use as table decorations. Use soya wax candles instead of normal paraffin ones as they are usually derived from fossil fuels. Make sure all confetti is biodegradable or natural – such as dried petals.
5. Flowers
The truth about the flower industry: 95% of the UK’s flowers are imported as, nonsensically, this proves much cheaper. Many flowers that come through the Dutch markets have travelled from as far as Colombia, India and Ecuador. When sourcing a florist, find one who buys local from natural English gardens. Our countryside is teeming with wildflowers and foliage. Spend a day foraging with a select team to decorate your venue and tables – or opt for decent fakes. Gift the flowers to guests and staff after the event.
6. The Facilities
Every event needs toilets for guests to use, so why not, instead of using nasty chemical toilets, use composting toilets instead! Composting toilets work by using a natural process, similar to your garden composter, by ensuring the correct balance between oxygen, moisture, heat and organic material that is needed to ensure the right environment for bacteria to transform the waste into fertilizing soil. This not only means that you won’t be polluting the earth with chemicals, but composting also ensures odour-free operation and complete decomposition of waste.
7. The Gift
You’ve already got a blender. Consider an alternative eco-option – such as planting a forest. Every guest donates a tree and together they create a beautiful forest that will grow over time and give back to the planet.
Buy or make eco-friendly wedding favours. Those tiny presents which you find scattered among the party debris after the band has finished are too often individually wrapped, imported and irresponsibly disposed of. Instead try an edible or functional gift – or one that doubles up as a place card. Home-made biscuits, little paper bags of rose petals, packets of wildflower seeds, cut herbs or wooden egg cups. Or why not pay for a tree to be planted for each guest as the gift that keeps on giving?
As you embark on your sustainability-minded wedding journey, remember that even the smallest choices—from choosing local, seasonal blooms to opting for plant-based menus—can make a profound impact. Whether you’re eloping, inviting just a few dear ones, or hosting a full celebration, let your wedding be a joyful reflection of your love for each other and the planet. After all, true elegance lies in mindfulness, and your green decisions today will bloom into lasting memories—and a healthier world—for tomorrow.
