Do you and your future spouse want to have a planet-friendly, sustainable wedding ceremony and reception? You can show some love on your big day by making a few eco-conscious swaps for traditional wedding foods, venues, and garments.

From the choice of stationery to type of cake, here’s what you can do to have a low-waste wedding that suits your sustainable lifestyle while also celebrating your marriage:

1. Deciding on Stationery

Sending wedding invitations online is by far the most sustainable option, but many brides prefer to send RSVPs by mail. There’s something about receiving mail that feels timeless and nostalgic, and the elders on your guest list will especially appreciate the gesture.

If you wish to send paper wedding invitations, purchase stationery made from recycled paper. Other items like wedding programs and menus can also be printed on recycled paper. Alternatively, you can use a website like Wedivite to send out RSVPs, make seating arrangements, and more.

If you and your wedding guests are willing to forgo the formality of paper invitations, sending RSVPs online can save trees and money.

2. Choosing Sustainable Clothing and Jewelry

Fashion is an unavoidable part of your wedding day. From the bride’s dress to the rings, a lot of thought goes into the clothing, shoes, and jewelry that the bridal party and newlyweds will wear.

Fortunately, you don’t have to walk down the aisle in a potato sack to prove your love for the planet. Choose your wedding garments from an ethical, sustainable designer to reduce your impact on the planet.

When shopping for wedding rings, man-made diamonds have a much lower environmental impact than mined diamonds. While natural diamonds require energy-intensive and environmentally destructive mining to retrieve, man-made diamonds are produced in a lab with little impact on the Earth.

3. Opting for Cruelty-Free Beauty

Makeup is a big part of the day for a bride and her bridesmaids. However, not all makeup artists use sustainable products. If you want to take a cruelty-free approach to your wedding day, you should talk to your stylist about the types of products they use.

You can hire a sustainable makeup artist who will only use vegan cosmetics when they apply your wedding look. Traditional hair and makeup products can be detrimental to the environment but using vegan makeup will reduce your impact on the planet.

4. Using Sustainable Decorations

Traditional wedding decorations like balloons, lanterns, and confetti aren’t produced sustainably and they can harm wildlife. Decorating your venue with eco-friendly items like glassware, ribbon, and biodegradable glitter allows you to create a beautiful space to tie the knot without harming the environment.

Some decor items can be rented or bought secondhand to reduce waste. When it comes to decorating for your wedding, it’s important to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible to avoid single-use decorations that will end up in the landfill after your big day is over.

5. Selecting a Sustainable Menu

Food is one of the most important aspects of any wedding reception. From the appetizers to the cake, countless resources and ingredients will be used to create your wedding day cuisine.

Not all foods are created equal, and the menu is a great place to start if you want to have a more sustainable wedding.

Plant-based foods are typically more sustainable than dishes with a meat base. While it may not be practical for you to go fully vegan on your wedding day, simply swapping out a few items on the menu can lower your wedding day footprint.

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