Fortunately, an ecological lifestyle has now become a trend that more and more people are following. And you can live sustainably in a wide variety of areas and situations. It starts with simple reusable shopping bags and goes up to oneZero waste Christmas. Of course, it's no surprise that you can even have a sustainable wedding if it's important to you.
Of course, low-waste weddings have to be planned correctly so that they are really sustainable. You may not even know where exactly to start or in what respect an ecological wedding is possible. Here we come to your aid! We will explain to you how you can get married sustainably. Find some great ideas and tips on how best to use onealternative weddingcelebrate.
Have you ever noticed how much waste is actually produced even at a simple wedding with just a few guests? If not, pay attention next time. By then you will probably change your mind and want something more environmentally friendly for your own wedding celebration. Paper and foil for invitation cards and forWrapping the gifts, rubber for balloons and not forgetting that a lot of food that is thrown away at the end of the day because many people have not eaten it - all these are just a few of the many examples that are harmful to the environment but can be found at every wedding.
It's not that difficult to plan a green wedding where none of the guests will be left out and you as the bride and groom will certainly not be left out. Let's now come to our tips with which you can get married sustainably and celebrate your wedding cheaply without having to forego the desired atmosphere. And then you can use our tips forZero waste travelStart your honeymoon with a clear conscience.
The outfits for an eco wedding
Of course, you don't necessarily start wedding planning with the wedding dressGroom's suit. But since the wedding dress is perhaps the most important element for the bride, we'll just start our list with it. You are definitely aware that the outfits, and especially the wedding dress, will probably just be hanging in the closet after the big day.
Wedding dress and suit
Too bad, don't you think? You have several options for both the dress and the suit if you want to celebrate a sustainable wedding:
- Used wedding dresses: Although second hand is no longer viewed as negatively as it was a few years ago, some people don't dare. Used clothing is checked very carefully, especially in online shops or in stores, and can therefore rarely be distinguished from new models. This applies to both the dress and the suit in the second hand shop. You only take a certain risk with private sellers.
- TheRent outfitis another variant that is similar to second hand, except that you then return the dress or suit. There are numerous rental companies, so you are sure to find something suitable.
- If second hand isn't for you for your wedding outfit, rely on oneEco wedding dressand more specifically on brands that produce clothing sustainably.
- Clothes that you can continue to wear afterwards, is also a possibility. For example, a white summer dress (or why not another color) is great, or go for oneTwo-piece suit made of trousersor skirt and bustier, which you can later wear with jeans and a normal blouse. The suit doesn't have to be special either.
- If all four ideas don't appeal to you and you'd rather have onenew dress or suitIf you want to wear it, you still have the option of selling it after the wedding. This means someone else can still enjoy it and it doesn't gather dust and yellow in your closet.
Of course, the same tips also apply to shoes and all other accessories. Whether borrowed, used or suitable for everyday use or made of vegan leather - either way the result is that you are celebrating a sustainable wedding and doing something good for nature.
The makeup for the bride
We bet on thatBride's makeupyou wouldn't have thought. What can you choose sustainably? Maybe you didn't know or simply haven't thought about it yet that make-up also mostly contains animal products. Not particularly ecological, right? We therefore recommend that you choose the following products:
- as vegan certified make-up
- exclusively natural cosmetics
- Put together bridal makeup using makeup you already have at home or can borrow from a friend
- choose new make-up so that you can use it after the wedding
Electronically and online instead of on paper
In the age of computers, smartphones and the Internet, it is simply no longer necessary to use paper for everything. This starts with thePlanning the wedding, if instead of buying tons of magazines for inspiration, just search online for ideas and inspiration. Whether Google, Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram, social networks and search engines will simplify your search, multiply it and save you time at the same time.
Compile your wedding guest list in Excel or Word and other lists
There's certainly nothing wrong with taking notes and making lists on a piece of paper or in a notebook, but you could do the same on your phone or computer. It is not without reason that Word and Excel have been a constant companion for many people for many years. Use them to compile the guest list and plan seating arrangements. A wedding checklist in Excel is also very practical. This is much clearer than having dozens of sheets of paper scattered around the apartment.
Tipp:It is not uncommon for bridal couples to want to forgo the planning stress or at least reduce it and therefore hire a wedding planner. If this is also the case for you, you should know that there are planners who specialize in precisely such low-waste weddings and can therefore better accommodate your wishes and ideas.
Celebrate a wedding – save the date and invitation cards
A relatively new trend is the so-calledSave the Date Karten, which are sent out some time before the actual invitation cards and are used to inform guests about the date so that they have the opportunity to keep the day free. The difference to the invitation card is that at this point only the date is certain and known, but not the location, time, etc.
Whether such tickets are really necessary is controversial, especially since the location usually has to be booked a year in advance. If you want a sustainable andgreen weddingIf you want to celebrate, you should avoid it or consider an electronic alternative instead (e.g. email, SMS or a message via Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.). There are great programs that allow you to design electronic cards for this purpose.
The wedding invitations for an Eco Wedding
Wedding invitation cardsare of course unavoidable. After all, everyone needs to know when and where the wedding will take place and what the theme of the celebration will be (mention that it is a green wedding, i.e. a sustainable wedding). But resources can also be saved here as follows:
- You can go to the weddingMake an invitation cardand use recycled and natural materials (e.g. self-picked and dried flowers and grasses, fabric scraps and leftover craft materials from friends' weddings).
- If you're expecting a lot of guests, which makes it difficult to do it yourself, or if you simply don't have the talent for it, you can also make onesustainable printing companycontact for this purpose.
- Electronic We're Getting Married Cardsare also possible here. You can also design these yourself online and then send them by email or in another way. Only the older generation who do not use the Internet should be informed about the traditional way.
Celebrate a sustainable wedding – location
Yes, even thoseLocation for the wedding receptioncan be chosen in an environmentally conscious and sustainable manner. So, where to have a wedding? Organic hotels or farms that value sustainability in themselves are, for example, ideal wedding ideas for the celebration. If the catering is offered on site and you don't have to hire another company (additional travel and expenses), all the better! So if you want to celebrate a wedding in a different way, a location like this is really great and original. It is also important:
- that the wedding and celebration take place in one place or at least close to each other in order to avoid unnecessary travel.
- that the journey is comfortable for as many of the guests as possible. Long journeys also mean more exhaust fumes!
- Locations that are easily accessible by public transport are a plus.
Celebrate a green wedding – eco-style wedding decorations
The many decorations are probably the part of the whole wedding that is most harmful to the environment and where the most waste is generated. If you want to celebrate sustainably, this part of the planning and design can prove to be the most difficult. To comply with a low-waste wedding, you have the following options, for example:
- Choose wedding decorations second hand (from friends, online, in second-hand shops or at flea markets)
- Rent wedding decorations
- Make your own wedding decorations from recycled andnatural materials(e.g. seasonal flowers or potted plants, homemade garlands made from fabric scraps, leaves or wood instead of paper for table numbers, place cards, etc.)
Wedding decoration flowers – ideas and tips
Flowers and flowers are particularly sustainablePlants that are seasonaland not flown in separately. Local meadow flowers, which are often used for hippie wedding decorations, are great. If you are having a small wedding, you can even use flowers from your own garden. Bouquets and other floral decorations should also not be wrapped in foil or paper. Potted plants instead of cut flowers can be given away to guests after the celebration.
Soap bubbles, balloons and confetti for the wedding or not?
Along with flowers, balloons are one of those decorations that many people don't want to do without. Unfortunately, these are also particularly harmful to the environment. The great news is that there are now ecological, biodegradable balloons for weddings. Just use such ecoBalloons for the wedding.
Confetti is also available in an eco-friendly version, so you can also make a confetti bomb yourself. How about confetti made from dried flowers? A shower of confetti affects you when you leave the registry office or churchWedding photos are particularly pretty. You can also dry leaves and punch your own confetti with a hole punch.
If you also value soap bubbles for weddings, choose special environmentally friendly versions. These consist of biodegradable surfactants. This is particularly recommended if you are celebrating a wedding in nature.
As already mentioned, catering is best offered by the selected location. If not, hire a local one. Vegan food is probably the best option, but it's not for everyone. This could lead to dissatisfaction, especially among the many guests, although there are now numerous dishes that no one would want for anything. Alternatively, simply pay attention to organic quality for fruit, vegetables, meat and all other products, which should of course also be chosen seasonally and regionally.
Eco wedding gift
If you celebrate a wedding in a different way and have chosen low-waste as your motto, the guests will of course also have to stick to it. This also applies to gifts, among other things. What needs to be taken into account there?
- Only choose gifts that you are sure will be needed.
- If you can't think of anything original or useful, consider giving away money - in a recycled or natural envelope, of course (How about a homemade envelope made from a leaf?)
- Avoid packaging.
The wedding rings
The rings are the symbol of marriage and imagining a wedding ceremony, not to say the entire marriage, without them is a bit strange for most people. If you want to celebrate an ecological wedding but still don't want to do without it, you can do the following:
- Instead of buying new rings, use heirloom rings that you can use as is or have a jeweler melt it down and make it into a new piece of jewelry.
- Be careful whenBuying new ringsMake sure to choose a jeweler whose materials origin is certain.
Wedding without rings – alternative
If you want to go all out, you can do without the rings completely. Some people don't like wearing jewelry anyway and then alternatives can be chosen. For example, you can plant a tree in your garden or another place that connects you both. Or how about investing the money you save into a work of art that can also be a symbol of your love and marriage?
