What is one thing you did to make your wedding day more eco-friendly or sustainable? What impact did it have and what advice would you offer to other eco-conscious couples?

Question

Planning an eco-friendly wedding doesn't mean sacrificing style or elegance. This article presents expert-backed ideas for creating a sustainable and memorable celebration. From supporting local vendors to implementing zero-waste catering, discover practical ways to reduce your wedding's environmental impact while crafting a beautiful event.

Brian Holstein · Answer

As elopement photographers and guides, we work with couples who are often traveling to wild and beautiful places for their wedding day. This has led us to consider how to make these experiences more sustainable. One significant approach we encourage (and help coordinate) is working with local vendors wherever the elopement takes place. This means hiring florists, hair and makeup artists, chefs, guides, and officiants who are already established in that region. Not only does this reduce unnecessary travel, but it also supports the local economy and helps couples feel more connected to the place they're eloping.
We also prioritize Leave No Trace practices and assist our couples in doing the same. This includes staying on trails, packing out everything we bring, and avoiding single-use items like plastic utensils and disposable plates during post-ceremony picnics or dinners. We keep group sizes small to minimize impact on the environment (and as a bonus, it tends to make the whole experience more relaxed and budget-friendly).
Our advice for eco-conscious couples? You don't have to forgo travel completely to be intentional. Support small businesses on the ground, reduce what you bring in, skip the disposables, and always leave the location better than you found it. This mindset makes a significant difference.

Lara Woodham · Answer

I replaced traditional paper invitations with digital ones and saved nearly 200 sheets of paper, plus all the fuel emissions from shipping. Having worked in energy efficiency, I'd suggest couples also consider venues with natural lighting and LED fixtures, as I've seen how much impact small changes like these can make for reducing energy consumption.

Phill Stevens · Answer

One of my close friends from Vivint got married a few years ago and made one smart decision that stuck with me. Instead of a traditional venue, he and his wife chose to hold the ceremony at her family's farm outside of Ogden. That one choice eliminated the need for artificial lighting, heavy power use, and long guest travel. It was simple, clean, and local.
They also made a point to rent everything—tables, dishes, linens—and returned it all. Nothing was thrown out. There was no trash from disposable items or plastic. The food was prepared by a local caterer using ingredients from Utah farms. The menu was limited, but everything on it was intentional and used.
When you are planning a wedding and you care about sustainability, skip the excess. Use what's already there. Borrow. Rent. Choose local. You don't need twenty centerpieces or a dessert table from five states away. The experience matters more than the spectacle.

Brandi Simon · Answer

We held our wedding at a beautiful botanical garden that doubles as a conservation center, which meant our venue fee actually supported local environmental education programs. From my experience staging homes, I'd recommend looking for venues that already have natural beauty and sustainable features built-in, as this reduces the need for additional decorations and helps support eco-friendly businesses.

Andrew Griffith · Answer

We picked a local garden for our wedding to be greener. It meant we didn't need tons of flowers because nature was all around. Plus, it helped a group that protects plants. The garden looked great, so we hardly needed any decorations, which cut down on trash and kept things easy but classy.
It was a win-win: less harm to the earth and our money went to something good. If you're trying to have a green wedding, try to find suppliers and places that care about the same things you do. Rent decorations, pick flowers that are in season, or serve meals without meat. Little things can really add up.

Hassan Morcel · Answer

The average wedding produces around 400 pounds of waste and 63 tons of CO2 per wedding—so even one small change can be a big deal. For our wedding day, we opted out of printed programs and menus altogether—finishing up with one large mirror at the entrance hand-lettered with the day's schedule and seating information. Not only was it sustainable, it turned into a photo-worthy focal point that our guests loved.
The benefits were immediate: we saved money on printing, reduced paper waste, and we did not have to collect and throw away the printed paper materials after the event. Even better, the mirror is now mounted and hung in our home as a keepsake for us to remember the day and the values we celebrated together.
For couples planning an eco-friendly wedding, my recommendation would be to pick one detail that is both functional and beautiful. Sustainability does not mean you have to settle for something ugly—it means you have to want something well-designed. You could use reusable signage, source local flora to use as decoration, or give out edible favors—but the best options are the ones that will last longer than the end of the last dance.

Courtney Smith · Answer

I own a wedding vendor company and work with many eco-conscious couples. My recommendations regarding wedding bar service are:
- Swap plastic disposable cups for glassware.- Give a mason jar or glass as a gift and add signage that tells couples to reuse their cocktail/mocktail glass.- At the bar, we provide dump buckets to dump residue from drinks and swish the glasses with water, in order to provide a fresh drink.- Use a large water filter and glass water station as opposed to picking up hundreds of plastic water bottles.- Ask the bar to put bottles and cans in a separate recycling container throughout the night.- Shop local for wedding bar inclusions - local wineries, local distilleries, etc.- Grow your own herbs (Chesapeake Bartenders grows our own cocktail herbs - mint, basil, rosemary, sage, etc.).- If you do opt for plasticware, use a biodegradable brand like Tossware.- Use biodegradable straws and cocktail napkins.
These are some of the tips we recommend when working with eco-conscious wedding couples.

Karen Aucoin · Answer

I haven't had my own wedding yet, but after planning hundreds of them, I know this: sustainable doesn't have to mean boring. When the time comes, I'll choose intentional design, rentals, and silk florals that feel elevated and eco-friendly—without sacrificing style or sanity.
Whatever you do, make sure it aligns with what feels good to you. Some people go all in on sustainability. Others just want a day that feels big and beautiful. Either way is okay. Just be intentional and pick what matters most to you. That's what makes it special.

Adam Yong · Answer

We were focused on reducing waste and our carbon footprint when it came to our wedding. The choice of a zero-waste catering service was one of the most effective decisions. The caterer did not use single-use plastics but instead utilized compostable containers and utensils. We even motivated guests to carry their own reusable containers to take away leftover food. This minor alteration was quite effective in cutting down waste, and this was in line with our ambition of ensuring that the event was as environmentally friendly as possible. We experienced less packaging waste, and the sustainability of the whole event was more considerate.
We also used all locally sourced flowers and did not burden the environment with the cost of importing flowers. This not only helped the local economy, but the flowers were fresher and lasted longer. The flowers used in the wedding were donated to a nearby hospital after the event to ensure that they did not go to waste. The recommendation I would give to other environmentally-conscious couples is to be deliberate in their decisions during the planning. Each little action matters, and in the case of sustainability, your choices can have a great impact on the environment. Your wedding day can be special and still contribute to a more sustainable future.

Hailey Rodaer · Answer

When we planned our wedding, we paid attention to the reduction of waste, and materials were as sustainable as possible, especially in terms of decoration. We decided to use local flowers and wild foraged greenery rather than buying overseas flown cut flowers. This alone reduced transport emissions and had an impact of reducing wastage that using floral arrangements can have. We also considered the use of reusable linen as tablecloths and napkins, so there was no need to order disposables. These minor yet purposeful decisions brought a difference that was quite noticeable in minimizing the footprint we made on the environment with our wedding day.
I would advise other couples to think in terms of sustainability in every wedding plan they make. A seemingly minor change, such as selecting vendors that are more focused on being eco-friendly, can mean a lot. We collaborated with local craftsmen who maintained values similar to our own, not only helping small businesses but also lowering the carbon footprint of our event. Couples can make wise decisions to create long-lasting memories without causing unnecessary waste of materials. It is about making the experience more sustainable, not only as a trend but also as a fundamental value that represents individual dedication towards the planet.

Menachem Shemtov · Answer

One small but super meaningful decision we made for our wedding was choosing locally created and recyclable decor, especially for Judaica items like our Kiddush cup and challah cover.
We didn't want to buy mass-produced items or one-time-use pieces. We found a local expert to create long-lasting items for our wedding.
It added a lot of meaning to the ceremony, knowing that what we were using was not just beautiful but would certainly last. It also decreased the waste that I see with large local weddings.
My advice to eco-conscious couples is to think about the long-term. If you are buying something special for your wedding day, especially ritual items, take a moment to ponder how your family will use it in the future, and how it will last. It makes a big difference in your heart and mind; it's like feeling your wedding day will just keep going on and on.

Nicole Robins · Answer

I am a proponent of planning weddings that produce less waste. When working with couples who are willing to embrace sustainability, I ensure that we use decor that can be reused without compromising the warmth and beauty of the day. In one of our weddings in the Southern Highlands, we used hand-dyed fabric runners and muslin drapes which I ordered through a local artisan and have utilized in five weddings to date. They were designed for an original vineyard ceremony and were brought into a candlelit reception with long tables beneath olive trees.
These decorations are tonally neutral yet have a texture and softness that can be used in various venues. They are professionally washed and kept after each wedding. In this case, we saved more than $900, as we did not order single-use florals or disposable linens for the table settings. Moreover, we prevented approximately 12 kilos of trash from going directly to landfill. Even brides and grooms have inquired about borrowing the same pieces for anniversaries or family occasions, which speaks volumes about how special they can be.

12 Eco-Friendly Wedding Ideas

Table of Contents

12 Eco-Friendly Wedding Ideas

Support Local Vendors for Sustainable Elopements

Digital Invitations Save Paper and Energy

Choose Simple Farm Weddings for Eco-Friendliness

Botanical Gardens Offer Natural Wedding Venues

Local Gardens Reduce Decorations and Waste

Reusable Signage Creates Lasting Wedding Memories

Eco-Friendly Bar Service Tips for Weddings

Intentional Design Balances Style and Sustainability

Zero-Waste Catering Reduces Environmental Impact

Locally Sourced Flowers Minimize Carbon Footprint

Sustainable Judaica Adds Meaning to Ceremonies

Reusable Decor Saves Money and Reduces Waste

Up Next