I haven't had my own wedding yet, but after planning hundreds of them, I know this: sustainable doesn't have to mean boring. When the time comes, I'll choose intentional design, rentals, and silk florals that feel elevated and eco-friendly—without sacrificing style or sanity. Whatever you do, make sure it aligns with what feels good to you. Some people go all in on sustainability. Others just want a day that feels big and beautiful. Either way is okay. Just be intentional and pick what matters most to you. That's what makes it special.
As elopement photographers and guides, we work with couples who are often traveling to wild and beautiful places for their wedding day, which means we've had to think a lot about how to make these experiences more sustainable. One big thing we encourage (and help coordinate) is working with local vendors wherever the elopement takes place. That means hiring florists, hair and makeup artists, chefs, guides, and officiants who are already rooted in that region. Not only does it cut down on unnecessary travel, but it also supports the local economy and helps couples feel more connected to the place they're eloping. We also prioritize Leave No Trace practices and help our couples do the same, whether that's staying on trail, packing out everything we bring, or avoiding single-use items like plasticware and disposable plates during post-ceremony picnics or dinners. We keep group sizes small to minimize impact on the environment (and as a bonus, it tends to make the whole experience more relaxed and budget-friendly). Our advice for eco-conscious couples? You don't have to forgo travel completely to be intentional. Support small businesses on the ground, reduce what you bring in, skip the disposables, and always leave the location better than you found it. That mindset makes a big difference.
The average wedding produces around 400 pounds of waste and 63 tons of CO2 per wedding—so even one small change can be a big deal. For our wedding day, we opted out of printed programs and menus at all—finishing up with one large mirror at the entrance hand-lettered with the day's schedule and seating information. Not only was it sustainable, it turned into a photo worthy focal point that our guests loved. The benefits were immediate: we saved money on printing, reduced paper waste, and we did not have to collect and throw away the printed paper materials after the event. And even better, the mirror is now mounted and hanged in our home as a keepsake for us to remember the day and the values we celebrated together. For couples planning an eco-friendly wedding, my recommendation would be to pick one detail that is both functional and beautiful. Sustainability does not mean you have to want something ugly—it means you have to want something well-designed. You could use reusable signage, source local flora to use as decoration, or give out edible favors—but the best options are the ones that will last longer than the end of the last dance.
We held our wedding at a beautiful botanical garden that doubles as a conservation center, which meant our venue fee actually supported local environmental education programs. From my experience staging homes, I'd recommend looking for venues that already have natural beauty and sustainable features built-in, as this reduces the need for additional decorations and helps support eco-friendly businesses.
I own a wedding vendor company and work with many eco-conscious couples. My recommendations regarding wedding bar service are: - Swap plastic disposable cups for glassware - Give a mason jar or glass as a gift and add signage that tells couple to reuse their cocktail/mocktail glass - At the bar, we provide dump buckets, to dump residue from drinks and swish the glasses with water, in order to provide a fresh drink. - Use a large water filter and glass water station as opposed to picking up hundreds of plastic water bottles. - Ask the bar to put bottles and cans in a separate recycling container throughout the night - Shop local for wedding bar inclusions - local wineries, local distilleries, etc. - Grow your own herbs (Chesapeake Bartenders grows our own cocktail herbs - mint, basil, rosemary, sage, etc.) - If you do opt for plasticware, use a biodegradable brand like Tossware - Use biodegradable straws and cocktail napkins. These are some of the tips we recommend when working with eco-conscious wedding couples.
We picked a local garden for our wedding to be greener. It meant we didn't need tons of flowers because nature was all around. Plus, it helped a group that protects plants. The garden looked great, so we hardly needed any decorations, which cut down on trash and kept things easy but classy. It was a win-win: less harm to the earth and our money went to something good. If you're trying to have a green wedding, try to find suppliers and places that care about the same things you do. Rent decorations, pick flowers that are in season, or serve meals without meat. Little things can really add up.
One of my close friends from Vivint got married a few years back and made one smart decision that stuck with me. Instead of a traditional venue, he and his wife chose to hold the ceremony at her family's farm outside of Ogden. That one choice eliminated the need for artificial lighting, heavy power use, and long guest travel. It was simple, clean, and local. They also made a point to rent everything—tables, dishes, linens—and returned it all. Nothing thrown out. No trash from disposable items or plastic. The food was prepared by a local caterer using ingredients from Utah farms. The menu was limited, but everything on it was intentional and used. When you are planning a wedding and when you care about sustainability, skip the excess. Use what's already there. Borrow. Rent. Choose local. You don't need twenty centerpieces or a dessert table from five states away. The experience matters more than the spectacle.
One couple I know hosted their wedding at a local botanical garden that already had seating, lighting, and natural decor in place. They didn't need to bring in rentals or build structures. That one decision reduced extra travel, limited vendor deliveries, and avoided using extra supplies. Holding both the ceremony and reception at the same place meant guests stayed put and didn't need to drive elsewhere. They also skipped printed invitations. Everything went out digitally by email, text, and a simple RSVP form. No envelopes, no postage, no leftover stacks of paper. Guests responded quickly, and nothing ended up in the trash. They hired a local bakery that delivered in reusable containers. No plastic wrap or disposable trays. These were basic moves with immediate impact. Not expensive. Not complicated. Just thought-through. If you're planning a wedding, pick a space that works as-is. Partner with vendors who think about waste. Skip the printed invites. You'll reduce your footprint and avoid paying for things people forget in a week.
One of the easiest but most powerful things we did to help make our wedding more eco-friendly was to entirely eliminate printed paper invitation and go completely digital. We used a beautifully designed wedding website to send invitations, collect RSVPs, and share information about our timeline and registry. Not only did it save us a lot of money, but it also saved paper, and the logistics were so much easier to manage, especially with last-minute changes. Given I operate a sustainable company, I think a lot about waste, and we treated our wedding in the same way. For example, we sourced local florals and reusable materials like fabric runners, rented glassware, and potted plants instead of cut flowers. My advice to couples who care about the environment: be meaningful. You don't have to be totally zero-waste to make an impact, just make a few intentional swaps that help minimize waste while remaining meaningful to you. These small changes add up, and your guest will notice.