An eco-friendly marriage will not only make a difference on the planet, but it will help you make responsible and conscious decisions as a couple. If you're looking for help in having a wedding that aligns with your values, check out this article and the eBook with the best tips for organizing and enjoying an eco-friendly wedding .

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What is an eco-friendly wedding?

The eco-friendly or sustainable concepts are not just a trend, they mean a lifestyle, where we modify some habits or behaviors to live a more friendly and responsible life with the environment, with the aim of leaving the least amount of waste during our presence on earth. An eco-friendly marriage will not only make a difference on the planet, but also will make thewill help you make responsible and conscious decisions as a couple.

And it is that these concepts are transferred to all kinds of activities: diets, forms of transport, energy use and even applied during the organization of a marriage.

An eco-friendly wedding or sustainable wedding is a celebration in which the couple tries to reduce the effect of the party or event on the environment, taking into account each of the items to consider when organizing the big day. From the menu, the event center and decoration, to the bride and groom's looks, parties and gifts. And if you're wondering how to organize an eco-friendly wedding? Here are some ideas.

Benefits of organizing an eco-friendly wedding

Forest Houses

An eco-friendly wedding is an opportunity to make a difference. on many levels, not only contributing to the planet, but bringing direct benefits to you and your guests.

From an economic point of view, you will get more out of your budget because two important keys to a sustainable wedding are reduce and reuse This is achieved by avoiding producing waste, reusing decorative elements or even your costumes, and supporting local producers and entrepreneurs. With this, you will not only be supporting a green or circular economy, but you will also have an impact on your guests who, seeing your interest in having an environmentally responsible event, will be able to start applying some of these practices in their own lives.your day to day life.

Having an eco-friendly wedding will also make the event unique and unforgettable. Having an environmentally conscious wedding will definitely be a message that everyone will remember for years to come. Making this decision forces you to pay attention to more details and get more creative, so you'll be more aware of the environment, and you'll be much more aware of the environment. more involved in the planning of the event which will make it reflect your personality and not just an ordinary marriage.

A sustainable wedding will allow you to avoid distractions and focus on what really matters. Love and your loved ones who accompany you on this great day.

Place of the celebration

My Wedding

Do you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your marriage? The place where you decide to hold your ceremony or party will be key to define if it will be eco-friendly or not.

According to the book The Green Bride Guide, a wedding party produces on average 200 kilos of garbage and 63 tons of CO2 That's why you should ask a lot of questions before choosing an event center, so that you can find one that loves the planet as much as you do, and your only concern is to have a good time and enjoy yourself, without worrying about the recycling at the end of the day.

Today's couples value contact with nature, and choose to surround themselves with unique green surroundings. Opting for a daytime wedding in an outdoor setting is a great way to save energy during your event. You'll be able to take advantage of the maximum amount of natural light, without needing additional lighting for much of the celebration. And there's nothing like natural light to get the most out of your wedding day.better photos, especially at sunset.

An outdoor event will also allow them to create different atmospheres You'll be able to have spaces for children's games, places to rest under the trees, and incredible spaces for photos, all surrounded by a natural environment. In addition, being an outdoor wedding, the need to decorate the place is considerably reduced.

Ecological marriage parties

SaveTheDate

One direct way to reduce the environmental impact of your party is to choose an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wedding parties. Producing paper not only requires millions of trees to be cut down, but also high amounts of water, which is why it's so important to choose an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional wedding parties. we must opt for sustainable options Recycled or reusable paper is readily available and there are many suppliers and printers that work with recycled and acid-free paper.

If you want to opt for a less traditional option, there are suppliers who work with handmade papers They not only recycle the paper, but also dye them with natural inks, and add details such as flower petals and dried leaves to make each invitation completely unique. Or they can also be papers with seeds, which are biodegradable and compostable, and if you cut them into small pieces and plant them, flowers or vegetables will grow from them.

Wedding invitations online

If you want a version that definitely leaves no physical trace, you can send your digital wedding parties by email and make a wedding website with all the relevant information of the event, such as location, bride and groom list, dress information, party playlist and confirmation of special menus.

But parties aren't the only piece of stationery that can make your wedding more sustainable: thank you cards for guests, guest lists, menus, etc. These are all opportunities to opt for eco-friendly alternatives.

Sustainable wedding menu

It's not that hard to come up with eco-friendly wedding menu ideas. It can be a lot easier than you might have imagined. Choose a caterer or an event center that works with local producers and that have seasonal menus This considerably reduces the carbon footprint of the food, as it does not have to be transported from far away and is produced according to the seasons without forcing nature. The more local, the smaller the footprint.

It is important to always have vegetarian and vegan alternatives. There is a myth that vegetarians only eat salads so your guests might go hungry, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is no need to get complicated, there are hundreds of vegan and/or vegetarian options to surprise your guests with. Integrate new flavors to the menu with alternatives such as risotto, quiches, pastas, roasted vegetables, falafel and others to leave your guests with a taste of your own.guests impacted with the variety of flavours that can be found in an eco-friendly menu .

They can apply the same criteria when choosing wine with a sustainable alternative. In Chile there are multiple options of vineyards that produce organic, natural or biodynamic wines.

Last but not least, avoid waste It is one of the main pollutants related to food, and a major global problem, so it is important to try to avoid or reduce it during the day of your wedding. In any big event will generate leftovers and waste, but the case of buffet menus is not the best option. The remains accumulate on trays, looking less and less appetizing and will be thrown away in the trash.garbage at the end of the event.

Wedding decorations and details

Petite Casa Zucca Weddings

Wedding decoration is one of the elements that tends to generate more waste and garbage. Many times non-recyclable and non-reusable elements are used, so the only thing that awaits them at the end of the party, is to go directly to the trash.

Search for suppliers committed to the use of eco-friendly products. and with a sustainable and conscious way of working, it will always be an option that will give you peace of mind both because you will be able to rely on expert professionals in the field and because you will be able to have an ad hoc decoration according to your principles.

Creativity

Now, if you are a creative couple and good at crafts, make your own wedding decorations has several benefits: you will save money, it will be extremely personalized, you will be able to reuse it or donate it and you will also generate a moment to share with your partner, family or friends. All hands are useful to make recycled fabric garlands, dream catchers, hang bottles as vases on the trees or other details to decorate. Make sure they are durable to be able to donate them after themarriage or save it for the next holiday.

Floral arrangements are one of the first ideas that come to mind when we ask ourselves how to decorate for a simple marriage or a big wedding, but fresh cut plants are not the best alternative if you are looking for a "green" option. Consider flowers or plants in pots, they can be simple like sighs or elegant like orchids. Another option is herbs.Aromatic herbs such as mint or basil, which will not only give a different look to your wedding, but will also fill the atmosphere with an incredible aroma. You can make a big garden with them after the event or give them as a gift to your guests.

Finally, if you are going to choose fresh flowers, it is better to choose a local and seasonal variety Work with a small grower to source your flowers, this will reduce your carbon footprint and you can even save some of your budget by buying direct from the supplier. At the end of the party guests can take the flowers home as a gift or donate them to a local hospital.

Bridal fashion and styling of the bride and groom

For a cruelty free look there are several alternatives The first thing is to try to opt for natural fabrics. Linen and organic cotton will be perfect for a daytime wedding in the sun or evening, as they are fresh and light.

For the groom's look: Choose a suit in a colour that you can wear again later. Forget about the accessories that you will use only that day, the idea is that the jacket, shirt, trousers and shoes can be used separately in your day to day.

For the bride's look: the most eco-friendly option is to use a vintage dress and modernize it to suit your taste, but if you want something definitely more modern you can opt to rent a dress or buy a modern used one. With this you will avoid overspending and polluting with the production of a new dress. If you are planning a small wedding and you are looking for simple wedding dresses, you can buy someneutral design or have a custom dress made, but with an elegant and versatile design that you can wear many more times after your big event.

In terms of make-up, there are nowadays a lot of make-up artists who work only with cruelty free and/or vegan products . but what does cruelty free mean? This concept is that they have not been tested on animals. There is a wide variety of national and international brands of makeup and eco-friendly beauty products, of different qualities and prices, overthrowing all the myths about it.

Souvenirs for guests

Tremun Chile

When organizing a simple wedding, civil or a big event, there are elements that should not be missing, and one of them are the gifts for the guests. How not to generate extra garbage in our event? Making sure that your guests take the memory of your marriage and not be left lying on a table at the end of the party. For that, there are three keys: that they can enjoy it, that it is emotionally charged, that it is useful, that it is .

Something simple and appreciated by everyone are the edible alternatives. A cloth bag with chocolates, candies or cookies is a perfect gift to enjoy a sweet touch on the way home or the next morning to recover post marriage energies.

A meaningful and touching gift can be an excellent idea to generate memories. Use instant photo machines or photo booths to immortalize moments with your family and friends.

Are there any eco-friendly products that outperform a real plant? Some time ago plants and succulents have also become fashionable as a sustainable gift that will last more than a couple of days after your marriage.

More ideas to consider

Matías Leiton Photographs

Throwing rice and colored paper also harms the environment and can even get you in trouble at the church or event center, which is generally not a big fan of littering.

Why not opt for a natural mix with flower petals, lavender, some fresh herbs and small flowers. It's a colorful eco-friendly option You can pass them out to guests in kraft paper cones or leave two large baskets at the entrance of the center for all guests to grab a handful before leaving to launch, greet and celebrate the bride and groom.

Carbon footprint

There are several benefits to having guests travel in chartered vans or buses The party is a great opportunity to enjoy the party without worrying about who is going to be the designated driver and, in addition, not everyone arrives in separate cars, which would generate polluting gases that can be saved in a very simple way.

If all the measures we have mentioned above are not enough, you can add a different ceremony and plant a tree as a symbol of your love and commitment to try to leave the planet better than you found it.

Turning your marriage into a 100% eco-friendly one may seem impossible, but with preparation, creativity, planning and, above all, desire, it can be an excellent challenge to start a life together that can make a difference in your lives and the lives of those you love.

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