How to Plan a Wedding with Minimal Environmental Impact

Climate change and the impact on the environment is on trend. Wedding or event planning jobs and planners are increasingly being asked to consider minimizing impact on the environment. If you are looking at how to become a wedding planner, here are some effective ways of integrating environmentally friendly initiatives for weddings.

Think Local

One of the biggest impacts on the carbon footprint is air travel. Keeping events as local as possible ensures that minimal travel is needed. Sourcing the catering and wedding flowers locally also cuts down on food mileage, and minimizes impact on the environment. This also boosts the local economy by keeping expenditure within the region.

Streamline Stationery

Keeping invitations simple will cut paper waste. Updates can be done electronically to avoid repeat paper messages. Even table decor such as place holders can be made using sustainable material instead of throwaway items.

Minimize Plastico

Plastic waste is an environmental hazard and tons of single use items end up in the oceans each year. As a wedding planner you can factor in plans to cut the use of plastic and reduce the impact on the environment. Examples include plastic cups and glasses, drinking straws, and wedding favors. These can be replaced with reusable crockery, paper straws, and biodegradable favors. If you use items that are single use, check whether they can be recycled so they cut down on waste disposed of at landfill sites.

Use Natural Products

There are several ways that wedding planners can integrate natural products into a celebration and minimize the environmental impact. Paper confetti is thrown at weddings but generally ends up in the trash. Check out the confetti made from dried flower petals. This biodegrades naturally and is really colorful. Floral decorations can include shrubs and even trees that can be replanted at a later date. This is a trend used at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding in 2012.Wedding favors could include some bee friendly seeds to plant instead of single use items. Even wedding gifts can be themed around the environment such as planting a tree in place of a present.

Recycle and Go Vintage

A wedding dress is usually used once. An option for the bride is to check out vintage and second hand dresses as this also has a minimal impact on the environment. When choosing dresses and shoes for the bridesmaids, consider clothing that is likely to be reused at another event such as a party so the wearer gets as much use from the garment as possible. Wedding planners should have directories of people who rent bridal clothing as this also avoids waste.

Focus on Minimal

The most important aspect of a wedding is the new bond between partners. All the decor, favors, and food adds up, creating an impact environmentally. Balloons and Chinese lanterns result in environmental waste when let off at celebrations and can be harmful to animals. Each small aspect you can take out of a wedding will help reduce the carbon footprint by avoiding unnecessary use of resources. By focusing on the vows and the new bond between the happy couple, most of the physical items associated with a wedding become less important.

ThWith the environment being on trend it is important that people looking at how to become a wedding planner think about how this integrates with planning a celebration.