By Jody Sackett
There is something different about the wedding you’re attending. It still has the gorgeously attired bride and groom, a charming venue, beautiful tables with colorful flowers and lovely nuptial decorations.
But it’s not until the newly married couple gives their toasts – and welcome guests to their eco-friendly wedding – that you realize it’s all sustainable. How chic!
Sustainable weddings are a hot trend, and not just because they can actually be less expensive than one with a negative environmental impact. Today’s bridal couples are conscious of their carbon footprint and want to reduce their impact on the planet.
Turns out there are lots of ways to achieve this goal. You can go whole-hog or adopt just a few ideas, but it’s all to make your Big Day more earth-friendly.
The focus here should be on simplicity, not glitz. Starting with wedding invitations, opt for websites like Zola to issue invites and accept RSVPs electronically instead of with traditional paper formats. But if you really prefer snail-mail invites, try using recycled, bamboo (more sustainable) or even wildflower-seeded paper (guests can plant the invitations and grow flowers).
Consider a wedding reception location that uses eco-friendly practices. Unusual indoor venues like barns, museums, universities, art factories, boathouses, theaters and ferries are always exceptionally memorable and pair nicely with environmental themes. Or choose an outdoor celebration for a fun vibe with fresh air and natural lighting. They generally use less energy overall and who doesn’t crave a beach or park wedding? Or maybe use your own lovely backyard – a real cost-saver!
Be creative – choose a venue that reflects your personality and values.
Everyone loves to eat at weddings, so look for a green-certified caterer who uses locally sourced ingredients. The Green Restaurant Association certification is based on categories such as sustainable food, recycling, water efficiency and pollution reduction. Ask for local food, which is fresh and has a low carbon footprint. Farm-to-table is still trending, as are locally brewed beer and wines. Not only do you get delicious vittles but you’re supporting local businesses while reducing shipping emissions generated by imported items.
Speaking of eating, plates and forks are rather essential, but please avoid plastics here and substitute sustainably instead. How about setting your tables with scavenged tableware from Goodwill or flea markets? Couples who have done this love the shabby chic look of mismatched plates and glasses, especially in casual venues. Sell or donate it back to Goodwill when the event is over.
Renting is also an excellent eco-idea and manager Maria Flynn of the Party Corner in Shrewsbury recommends rentable tableware, utensils, glassware, tablecloths and even the tables, too. For appetizers and drinks, Flynn suggests “beautiful plates and cups made from natural bamboo, sugarcane or palm leaf.” Mason jars with guests’ names etched on them help avoid lost drinks and also make useful party favors.
Nothing says celebration like decorations. The Party Corner also offers biodegradable balloons; traditional balloons can take hundreds of years to biodegrade and, over time, turn into microplastics, not to mention the risk to marine life if ingested.
Check out Facebook’s NJ Brides-To-Be Swap & Sell page for second-hand chic that looks great but costs less. Reusing is even more sustainable than recycling, and honestly, how much use could it have gotten from just one wedding? Sell it afterward to recoup expenses while reducing waste and keep the (re)cycle going.
Try searching thrift stores for whimsical one-of-a-kind candleholders and unique vases to use in Pinterest-inspired centerpieces. You can even rent decorations from party stores or online, which means less landfill waste and no storage problems when the wedding celebration is done.
Of course, flowers are essential to weddings. As with food, try using locally grown, seasonal flowers which are more eco-friendly and support local farms and greenhouses. Craig Kiely Designs in Red Bank uses locally sourced flowers from nearby farms and farmer’s markets. “We use wood, hemp and natural fiber baskets too, with local dahlias, peonies and sunflowers,” said owner Craig Kiely.
Another option is Bloomerent, a flower-sharing online marketplace that repurposes event flowers for others to use. And don’t forget potted flowers or herbs, which can be strategically arranged on elegant tiered stands (rescued from a vintage store, maybe?) as beautiful centerpieces that can be given to guests as party favors.
Don’t stop at potted plants; some couples celebrate their commitment to each other and the earth by planting a tree (if in New Jersey, preferably a native oak) as part of their ceremony.
Saying yes to the dress is a big part of any wedding for a bride but after the big day that dress languishes in the back of a closet or box, most likely never to be put to use again. Why not consider renting? Guys already do it with tuxedos and online sites like Poshmark or Rent the Runway offer gorgeous wedding dresses so brides don’t have to buy expensive new gowns that are only worn once. Thrifting is super-chic, so visit vintage shops for classic wedding attire for men and women. Remember the bridal adage requirement for “something borrowed?” It could be a wedding gown lent by mom or a friend. Repurposing attire is very earth-friendly.
And while you’re at it, take some pressure off your bridal party to purchase dresses they will only wear once. In some weddings now, groomsmen simply wear suits they already own. Let bridesmaids wear dresses they already have, just specify the colors.
Finally, waste not, want not. “Green” caterers and venues may have recycling and composting services available, but if not, contact companies like Un-Waste (unwastemovement.world) that will deliver a collection container for food scraps, then pick it up after the wedding and take it to be composted. As for the rest of the wedding paraphernalia, remember the simple mantra: Donate, Sell or Share. Donate leftover decorations (maybe on Freecycle or to a charity like Goodwill or The Salvation Army), sell items online through Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or share with friends.
Happy sustainable wedding!
This article originally appeared in the February 8 – 14, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
