How can a wedding be sustainable?

Hi there! I’m Ally, also known as Greener Unions, and I’m a sustainable wedding planner, coordinator, and consultant. Whenever I tell people that I do wedding planning, coordination and consulting with a sustainability twist, the first question I get is, “what’s a sustainable wedding?” The simplest answer is kind of a “no duh” one – any wedding can be a sustainable wedding if you incorporate sustainability initiatives. I hate to give a blanket list of initiatives, because the best weddings are ones that are authentic to the couple, sustainability included. As a sustainable wedding planner and coordinator, I work with couples to understand their priorities and areas of highest impact. From there, we develop a plan to incorporate sustainability in a way that feels authentic, meaningful, and aligns with their vision for the event.

Okay but Ally, I still need some examples. Help me understand.

My main gripe with online tip guides is that they’re generic and don’t tell the user what’s actually involved with implementing each initiative. Sourcing vendors and items that align with eco-friendly principles can be much harder in practice. But some examples of initiatives I help my clients implement include:

• Donating leftover food and flowers after the events to local non-profits

• Incorporating thrifted, vintage, and secondhand items into wedding wardrobes

• Renting décor instead of purchasing it

• Using local vendors

• Buying carbon offsets for guests flying in

• Providing plant-based options on the menu

• Sourcing food, beverage, and flowers ethically and locally

• Repurposing existing structures instead of custom build-outs

• Using reusable or compostable glassware, flatware, cutlery, and linens instead of disposable

But isn’t having a wedding wasteful no matter what?

It can be. But it also doesn’t have to be! By focusing in on the areas with the highest impact, you can help reduce your event’s carbon footprint significantly. And it also doesn’t need to have a steep price tag. Weddings are expensive enough already! In many cases, incorporating sustainable initiatives will save you money.

Having a sustainable wedding doesn’t have to be your top priority. But with a little effort and some help from a sustainable wedding coordinator and consultant, you can make your event much more eco-friendly!