Weddings are often accused of being wasteful in many ways, however there are now many different eco-friendly wedding choices you can make to reduce wedding waste or lessen the carbon footprint of your event. While it’s not practical to expect every aspect of your big day to be environmentally friendly, but a few small, smart decisions will add up to bigger results that go a long way in helping the earth. Barlens is the trusted choice for wedding supplies and décor in Canberra, and with over 50 years’ experience in the event hire industry, we have seen a huge shift in people wanting to do their bit for the environment and lessen the impact of their events. The good news is, you can do it without sacrificing your budget, style or sanity. Here’s our tips for going a bit greener on your wedding day.
Go Alfresco
One of the best ways to cut down on energy is to get married outdoors, such as at a farm, vineyard or private property where the sun can provide all of your lighting. Alfresco venues will offer modern conveniences so you don't have to sacrifice on the hygiene or comfort, but if you are choosing to get married completely surrounded by nature you can hire everything you need form marquees and furniture to toilets and catering equipment. If you prefer to be indoors, choose a venue that gets plenty of sunlight or look for venues that recycle and take sustainability seriously. Many beautiful venues are choosing to go green, so you shouldn’t have to sacrifice on style in order to be eco-friendly.
Use Sustainable Stationery
Millions of trees are toppled every year to make paper products like invitations, and the process of producing these items pollutes the environment. Wedding vendors are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, so it's easier than ever to find invitation suites that are printed on recycled paper or use alternative materials like upcycled fabrics, leather, and wood. While old fashioned snail mail is still recommended for wedding invitations, paperless is becoming more and more common, especially for save-the-dates and RSVPs. You can reduce the inserts in your invitations by directing people to your wedding website for any extra details or for the most earth-friendly approach, you can get your invitations, programs, and menus printed on seed paper - a biodegradable material that sprouts into flowers when planted in a pot of soil.
Choose Catering Carefully
Food is the highlight of any celebration, and going green doesn't mean you have to sacrifice taste. The farm-to-table movement is rising in popularity, meaning it's more accessible than ever to source earth-friendly, organic food. Look for caterers who focus on local, sustainable, and seasonal produce. The more local, the less carbon-footprint from long distance shipping. When it comes to beverages, look for natural, organic varieties and biodynamic bottlings to support environmentally conscious producers.
Don’t Buy, Hire Wedding Supplies Instead
Single-use products are no good for the environment, so it’s best to rent you decor and equipment. Forgo plastic glasses in favour of rented glassware (it looks more sophisticated too) and forget paper plates and opt for rented china dinnerware. Not only will it add a touch of class and elegance to your whole wedding look, it will significantly reduce landfill waste. The same goes for linens, hire cotton napkins, tablecloths and runners instead of using the paper type. And if you’re going for straws in mixed drinks, pick paper over plastic, which decompose more easily. When it comes to decorations, it’s easy to go overboard with trinkets and products you will never use again, so consider hiring your styling pieces and décor or if you are set on buying items, donate them when you are finished so they don’t end up in landfill.
The prospect of planning a sustainable, eco-friendly wedding can be overwhelming, so these are just a few simple ways you can help to make your wedding a little greener. If you are looking to hire wedding supplies to make your special day eco-friendly, get in touch with the team at Barlens today. We can help with glassware, dinnerware, linens, décor and just about anything you need to set the scene for your big day. Contact us online or call (02) 6206 2020 or (02) 6043 0605 to speak with our friendly consultants.
