9 Easy Tips to Create A Zero Waste Wedding

Having a zero waste wedding is a major goal for any green bride. Based on recent findings, the average wedding produces over 400 pounds of waste and garbage! [Source] We all know this is a huge amount of trash for a one-day event.

When you really consider how much money can be wasted, the amount of trash that is now in a landfill and the overall ecological footprint that is left behind, it can put a huge damper on your big day if you live an eco-conscious lifestyle.

A wedding is a joyous union between two people that should be celebrated, but with so much waste being produced, it’s no wonder that more couples are choosing to have an elopement wedding. But if a bigger wedding is what the two of you want, then there’s no reason why you can’t find a few ways to cut waste on your wedding day. Check out the tips below to see how you can plan a zero waste wedding or at least minimize the waste created.

bride and groom at HIP at the Flashlight Factory in Pittsburgh

Nine Zero Waste Wedding Tips

#1 Be Thrifty

Instead of buying everything brand new, like so many brides do, you can actually choose to rent your linens, dishware, and most decor items from wedding venues or businesses that supply such items.

This is a great way to save yourself money as well as save yourself the headache of trying to figure out what to do with so many random items. While many brides will buy items new in hopes of reselling them after the wedding, we all know how big of a headache selling things online can be.

If you can’t find the rentable items that you’re looking for within your budget, you can also shop for them at thrift stores. While the items may not match exactly, you can purchase items that go well together and that will not only give you a beautifully unique wedding reception but will also help you to save money.

While you will need to either keep, store, sell or donate the items purchased from thrift stores, you’ll be much less stressed about the process because there is significantly less money involved in the initial investment and you may even find that it’s easier to sell the pieces in smaller amounts rather than a large matching bundle.

#2 Use Sustainable Paper Goods

Paper is used a lot at weddings and receptions. From the initial engagement announcements and save the date cards all the way to the thank you cards at the end there are several pounds of waste produced from cards and paper alone.

Then you add in the printed programs, table setting cards, menus or food labels, paper lanterns, tissue paper inside gifts, and countless other paper products that have snuck their way into your wedding and reception.

Thankfully, you can make a huge dent on your eco-footprint by simply choosing a different brand of paper goods. Just one simple change can make a large impact and it’s so easy to do that it doesn’t require much additional work.

These days it’s getting easier to find recycled paper, compostable paper, and sustainable papers that even have seeds built into the sheets so they can help to grow flowers! With so many different options to choose from you can have an incredible stationary that helps the earth.

#3 Choose Zero Waste Wedding Food

While there might always be some food waste created, you can greatly reduce it before and after it’s on the table.

Before the Wedding

By choosing locally sourced foods or opting for vegetarian and vegan foods you are making an impact. Not only that but by shopping for locally sourced foods, you are helping your own local community of farmers and cooks, which is another added benefit that you may not have taken into consideration yet.

After the Wedding

After the wedding reception is over, you can minimize the amount of food being tossed in the trash by offering guests to-go containers for uneaten food. They make paper food containers that are recyclable and bio-degradable so having these on hand for guests will allow them to take food home to enjoy.

Traditionally the married couple leaves the reception to go on their honeymoon, which means that they aren’t as likely to take home the several pounds of untouched food on the buffet table that they already paid for. By offering it off to guests, it won’t save you money, but it will help you to feel like all of that hard earned cash didn’t go to waste.

Another idea not often thought of is contacting a local food bank, community kitchen or food rescue organization. For this, you can team up with a charity and offer to donate your leftover food. Just make sure to schedule with them in advance a time and place to meet up, what food is and isn’t allowed, and then make sure your guests are aware as well. Now you’ve helped the local community, put your money to good use, and helped to reduce the wedding food waste!

#4 Buy a Used or Ethically Made Wedding Dress

There are so many different options when if comes to buying your wedding dress and tips to follow for the perfect dress. But the biggest impact you can make on waste and your budget is to find one that was already used.

You can find used wedding dresses at thrift stores both online and in person. You can also find them on any number of reselling apps as more women are deciding to let them go. If you don’t plan on wearing a wedding dress that was passed down for generations, then buying yours used is a great option to consider!

If would like to buy a new dress, your most sustainable option is to purchase from a designer who uses ethical, fair trade and sustainable practices. Pittsburgh local, dress designer Colleen Bankovich owner of Bohyne commonly uses what she describes as “Deadstock fabrics”. Which are “unused bolts of fabric that were discarded by fashion brands, often in massive quantities. Though still in pristine condition, the fabrics are often the result of waste due to fast fashion’s standard of constant turnover and new collections. With the environmental toll of producing new fabrics in mind, we decided to opt for a more sustainable alternative by using these excesses.”

#5 No Gifts

The happy couple is usually gifted with dozens of nicely wrapped or bagged presents, cards, and plastic gift cards and as nice as each gift may be or as heartfelt as it was, it’s still producing waste.

By asking for donations instead of gifts, you can greatly reduce the amount of trash produced. You can have your guests donate to your favorite charities, animal shelters, or even to your honeymoon. There are plenty of websites that the guests can log on to and submit as low as a few dollars towards the overall cost of your honeymoon. You can then take that money and use it as cash or have it put onto a reusable Visa gift card that works anywhere.

#6 Don’t Overdo It

As easy as it is to get swept up in the wedding decorating, sometimes simple is better. Keep your decorations minimal and don’t over decorate. This not only helps you to save money on your wedding but also helps you to reduce the wedding waste!

By choosing a beautiful wedding and reception venue, you may find that you hardly need any decorations at all! As an added bonus, the fewer decorations you have to put up, the less work you have to do before and after the wedding, which helps to reduce your stress and make your wedding timeline move much more smoothly.

#7 Use Responsibly Sourced Flowers

You’re most likely going to want to have flowers at your wedding, and many brides choose to use fresh over fake, but making sure that the flowers were responsibly sourced is another simple choice that makes a large impact on your footprint.

Make sure that you ask your potential wedding florist about where their flowers come from and how they were sourced. A zero waste wedding starts months before the ceremony, so if you’re serious about a minimal waste wedding, this is one of the top questions to ask your florist.

#8 Use Items That Can Be Re-Purposed

By choosing to use items that can last longer than a wedding day you’re not only taking a minimalistic approach to your wedding but also helping to reduce the wedding waste.

One example of a re-usable item is to use potted plants as centerpieces. You can also use decor pieces that will be used in your new home for years to come. Even your wedding shoes can be something simple that looks great with formal attire you already own.

These items will all last long after the wedding and reception and help to create less waste while still adding to the beauty and excitement of your wedding day.

#9 Let The Bridesmaids Choose

Instead of having your bridesmaids choose the exact same dresses, give them a color, style, or the complete freedom to choose their own wedding dresses. When bridesmaids pay for a dress that they specifically chose, they are much more likely to pull it out for formal events and wear it again. This is a much better alternative to the idea of a dress being purchased and stored in the back of a closet for years untouched.

Just remember, if you’d like to cut down on wedding waste as a way to reduce your effects on the planet, implementing any of the above tips are all excellent steps you can take. Creating a minimal waste wedding is totally achievable with a little forethought and intentional planning!