We believe in sustainable wedding practices for SO MANY REASONS (see Values page) and if you are considering sustainability as part of your celebration, we commend you! We want “going green” with your wedding to be more than a buzzword and we know that it can be hard to decide where to start, or where to stand your ground. Some bloggers will tell you it doesn’t have to take extra effort to pursue environmentally friendly wedding ideas and that it’s just as easy as “regular wedding planning”. We’re here to level with you: it will take more work. Just like it takes more work to live an eco-friendly home life with truly sustainable products and low-impact services, the same applies to your wedding. But it’s the good work! And it’s the work we are here for. So we want to make it just a bit easier to save the planet on your big day by doing some of the research for you and by providing tips to make the extra effort just one step easier.

DECOR + ACCESSORIES

Think about the little purchases that add up quickly.

Does your decor include one-time-use items? 

We’re talking about the string lights that have no place in your home after the party; the 50+ hurricane or votive candles and candle holders that will sit in a box after the celebration; or the decorative knick-knacks that are only wedding relevant. If so, consider scaling back the decor you’re using. We truly believe that with the right location and high quality services, the “stuff” matters less both in terms of what you’ll notice on the big day and your guest experience. For the items that you do want to include in your decoration plan, consider renting them or buying them secondhand. We typically recommend renting anything that you don’t plan to use in your home after the party shuts down. While the cost of renting something is often priced at 30-60% of the cost of buying the product itself, renting the item saves waste by not creating demand for buying and producing another of that item for one-time use AND has the benefit of not having to deal with reselling or recycling the item after the event. For any one-time-use items you do purchase, consider donating them to another couple, offering them on social media gifting groups like the Buy Nothing Project, or donating them to your local Goodwill.

Does your decor use seasonal and local items?

If you are incorporating cut flowers, make sure to speak with your florist about using in-season items from local farms which will reduce transport related to your design. Ask if any flowers require importing from outside the country and be aware of the impact, or ask for local alternatives. Also inquire about post-event use: do they rearrange leftover blooms and donate them? Or compost the leftovers? Or place them in the trash? If you are working with a caterer or food provider, look for a service that offers local, sustainable, and seasonal cuisine. Get curious about the farmers they work with, where they source their proteins, and what kind of carbon footprint comes with your wine or beverage selection. Also ask about leftovers--what happens? Do they box up the food and send it home with you or the guests? Do local regulations permit donating leftovers to a homeless shelter? Make a plan in advance for what to do with potential food waste.

Are you purchasing gifts for friends or family as part of the celebration?

One of the biggest downsides of commercial products related to weddings is the promotion/culture of single-use item sales. Think about buying gifts that will be “evergreen,” or that will stand the test of time and be used over and over again. Are you getting monogrammed items for your bridal party? Consider putting their name or initials on an item, rather than “bridesmaid” or “mother of the bride.” Also, consider trading in high quality items that will last a lifetime, like a YETI or Miir cup, in place of cheap, bulk options that will be used and discarded more quickly. Adults appreciate and recognize quality, so invest in quality gifts above quantity. For anyone not receiving a physical gift, your wedding is the biggest show of gratitude and appreciation you can extend. ;)

Are you shopping for a wedding dress?

Did you know you can buy a used wedding dress? Or rent one?! If you’re a revolutionary bride ready to step into a truly “green” ensemble, then buying a used wedding dress from an online retailer like The Budget Savvy Bride or a local consignment shop like Blue Sky Bridal (Seattle + Portland) is the move. Not only will you get an amazing deal (often between 20-60% off), but  you will also be reducing demand on the garment industry and offsetting the footprint of creating one more wedding dress for one-time wear. 

If I (Kate) could go back and do it all again, buying a consigned wedding dress would be one of the things I would change. While the initial thrill of a “new dress all our own” was lovely, watching my wedding dress sit relatively untouched in the closet 4 years later is heartbreaking. Instead, how cool would it be to have a dress that has history and love already infused in it? Like a dress passed on through your family, you could have a dress passed on through your community, but in a current design and in near-perfect condition! I digress, so in summary, I am a fan of this method. 

If you want to go even greener and more wallet-friendly, consider renting a dress from an online retailer like Rent The Runway or a specific wedding retailer like Wedding Dresses for Rent. While the selection of white, floor length dresses can be limited, we like this option to spice things up and think outside of tradition (and perhaps with a designer label attached) for a dress that is unforgettable.

Are you shopping for a wedding suit?

We got your back. There are lots of options available for anyone who wants to rent a suit for their big day. For a masculine frame, our favorite sources are The Black Tux (for formal and casual options to rent or buy), Men’s Wearhouse (great for groups), Stitch & Tie (for designer labels), Menguin (which has groomsmen order tracking built in), and Generation Tux (with rent 5, get one free OR rent 7, buy one free deals). Many of these services include free at-home try-ons so you can figure out the right cut and shape for the big day from the comfort of your abode. For a feminine frame, you can find suits at Little Black Tux and Her Tuxedo to purchase, with ideas on their website about how to repurpose your suit pieces and make them a forever investment. There are also women’s suit departments at Stitch & Tie and SuitShop to rent items in true eco-friendly fashion.

Are you shopping for wedding bands?

If so, there are so many rad alternatives to the traditional diamond or gold band these days. When shopping, track the origins of your diamond or gemstone to avoid unknowingly using blood diamonds to seal your promises to each other. You can do this by asking your jeweler if they are committed to conflict-free stones and/or by using the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme to track the origins of your stones. And though it seems counterintuitive, lab-created stones are actually more environmentally friendly than those that are mined. Mining practices are harmful to the earth, the transportation of items causes carbon emissions, and there is a lot of conflict in diamond and gemstone trade. Lab-created stones can include rubies, emeralds, alexandrites, and sapphires, and the lab-created versions are often higher quality than their earth-mined equivalents. Our favorite shops to get started are…

• Feminine looks: Valerie Madison, Anueva Jewelry, Point No Point Studio, Charles & Colvard

• Masculine looks: Manly Bands,Rustic & Main, Alpine Rings

Do you have ideas or photos of eco friendly celebrations? We would love to see them in the comments section!

If you are looking for more environmentally conscious tips for hosting a marriage celebration, check out the blogs below.

— Kate, Tapestry Creative Director + Founder