by Jervise Penton, Content Producer, and Researcher
Wedding planning is a rewarding and varied job – you have helped plenty of different couples, all with their own expectations and needs. Each wedding is a wonderful, exciting thing… but some ideas require more research and hard work than others.
Creating a zero carbon footprint wedding for eco-friendly couples might sound like an impossible task, but it is an increasingly popular choice for those who are passionate about the environment. Weddings can have a fairly large environmental impact – so going green is pretty great! And yet it may be challenging to know how and where to start.
As a wedding planner, it is your job to make dreams come true. Read on to find some ways to create a zero-carbon footprint wedding to remember!
Source locally
It can be tempting to order the prettiest flowers from all over the globe – after all, it is easier than ever to get exactly what we want from anywhere in the world. But when it comes to a zero-carbon footprint wedding, this becomes a little trickier.
Rather than ordering exotic flowers or even clothing from overseas, make it your mission to find local shops that can cater to your clients’ needs. There may be some necessary travel created for certain parts of the wedding, but finding local places not only cuts down on carbon emissions, but also helps to support the economy where you are. A win on all fronts!
Mindful materials
A major consideration when planning a wedding of this nature is that every material possible should be ethically sourced. This means that you should aim to reduce paper when decorating, find reusable products whenever possible, and steer clear of things like balloons and confetti altogether.
There are plenty of places that will create gorgeous sustainable wedding decorations and favours, allowing you to help the happy couple create the day they want without deviating from their all-important values.
Reduce travel
While for every wedding there are likely to be guests who need to come from across the country or even overseas, the overall carbon footprint of the wedding can still be reduced. Suggest keeping the wedding venue and the reception venue close together – this will reduce fuel emissions. It may not always be possible to have a walkable distance between the two venues, but bringing down the overall travel will be a great step towards having a truly eco-friendly day.
Think seasonally
With weddings, a lot of people really look forward to enjoying a great meal, whether it is a three-course sit-down feast or a less formal buffet. When it comes to helping your clients come up with their perfect wedding meal, make sure that the venue they have chosen has green credentials. This means farm to table cooking where possible, with locally sourced produce that will not only taste fantastically fresh but won’t be creating a big carbon footprint by being flown in from overseas. It also means that fewer pesticides and preservatives will have been used on the food itself, making it a healthier choice all around.
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