How to plan a sustainable wedding

bride and groom standing in the woods

The ethical jewellery brand Ingle & Rhode have put together a guide on how to plan a sustainable wedding without compromising on that luxury feeling on your big day.

With the world becoming more environmentally conscious, a spokesperson for Ingle & Rhode said: "We're very passionate about ethical sourcing and we know through our customers that there are so many people out there who are interested in the idea of having a more sustainable wedding.
"Weddings often include a lot of single use items wrapped in plastic which of course isn't great for our environment.People will assume a sustainable wedding won't be as luxurious but it's all about knowing where your products come from and where they go after you've used them - you shouldn't have to compromise when looking for luxury items with a clear conscience. Ethically sourced products look beautiful and there are a lot of small changes you can make like switching confetti for petal confetti and using rice paper lanterns.
"We really hope that this will encourage people to have more sustainable weddings in the future."

eco friendly table setting outdoors

How to plan a sustainable wedding:
Think about the distance to your venue
If you're hoping to make your wedding environmentally friendly, it's a good idea to consider how far you and your guests will be travelling when you come to choosing venues. Of course having a destination wedding abroad means travelling by plane which as we all know, lets off plenty of harmful emissions. Similarly, getting married in a remote and distant location may mean more driving for your guests. Consider travelling options for your guestsIt is your big day after all, so if you do end up choosing a location that is further out or a bit harder to get to, why not plan the journey for your guests.
Hiring a coach for long journeys will be better for the environment than all of your guests taking a car each. And the added bonus to this is that your family and friends will probably have a lot of fun on the journey there and back together too.

Switch out your decor
You can actually get a lot of beautiful decor that is environmentally friendly. For example using bamboo wood and switching out balloons for rice paper lanterns will give your wedding a warm feel to it.

Use petal confetti
Confetti is not biodegradable and after being used not only is it harmful to the planet but it's harmful to wildlife too as some animals may end up eating it. Using petal confetti is a much better option and its gorgeous, light colours end up looking better than regular confetti.

Fashion
For couples who want to go fully sustainable, it's good to know that there are ethical bridal designers out there. When purchasing your wedding dress or suit, take some time to research where your fabrics are coming from, look into how workers are being treated and see if it aligns with your values. When it comes to jewellery, Ingle & Rhode have beautifully crafted rings that come from an ethical background so you can enjoy luxury products with a clear conscience.

Invites
Depending on the size of your wedding you may find yourself sending out a lot of invites. Whilst some people may be okay scrapping invites altogether and switching to online invitations, most people will want something tangible to send out and have as a keepsake memory after the big day. Try getting your invites done by someone who uses bamboo material or plantable paper. Not only is this sustainable but it also gives your guests something fun and quirky to do with the invitation after!

Flowers
Another key part of a wedding is the flowers. For a more ethical take, try finding a florist that will use seasonal flowers as opposed to flowers which have been grown out of season and imported across the world.

You may also be interested in

Marriage, Money, and Modern Love: Gen Z and Millennials

Marriage, Money, and Modern Love: Gen Z and Millennials

"As a family barrister, I spend much of my professional life dealing with what happens when relationships break down," says Rosanne Godfrey-Lockwood, Family Barrister at 4PB. "That vantage point inevitably shapes how I think about marriage — not cynically, but realistically. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that one of the most notable trends I have observed in recent years is the growing interest in prenuptial agreements among Gen Z and younger Millennial couples.

READ ARTICLE

Win an Engaged Couple a Dublin Minimoon with GoHen & StagWeb

Win an Engaged Couple a Dublin Minimoon with GoHen & StagWeb

Leading UK stag and hen party providers, StagWeb and GoHen, have launched a brand-new competition offering one lucky engaged couple the chance to win a Dublin minimoon - completely free. Whether it's a little pre-wedding trip to escape the planning stress or a post-wedding adventure before the honeymoon, it could be the perfect little wedding gift for the happy couple - read here now!

READ ARTICLE

Expert says prenups aren't just for the rich and famous

Expert says prenups aren't just for the rich and famous

Legal experts at Richard Nelson LLP are urging Brits to rethink who prenups are really for. While often seen as something reserved for high-profile couples, data suggests they remain largely overlooked in everyday relationships. Just 7 percent of divorced Brits had a prenuptial agreement in place before separating, highlighting a significant gap between perception and reality. Regionally, attitudes vary. Manchester has emerged as the UK's 'prenup capital', with 13 percent of divorced couples having one in place, compared to 8 percent in London and 11 percent in Birmingham. Meanwhile, cities including Liverpool and Southampton reported no uptake among those surveyed.

READ ARTICLE

Pre-wedding nerves, relationship advice and the secrets to a long, happy marriage

Pre-wedding nerves, relationship advice and the secrets to a long, happy marriage

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting seasons in a couple's life. It is also one of the most emotionally revealing. As someone who has coached over 1,300 women into healthy, committed relationships and marriages through my Love Success Framework, I can tell you this: the way you handle wedding planning is often a preview of how you will handle marriage. Not because of the flowers. Not because of the guest list. But because of how you navigate stress, expectations, decision-making, and emotional needs together. A wedding is an event. A marriage is an energetic ecosystem.

READ ARTICLE

Follow Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine on Facebook

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine on Instagram

VISIT SITE

Subscribe to Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine for free

VISIT SITE

Submit your wedding to be featured in Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding Magazine

VISIT SITE