From the dress to the venue and even the cake, you can make your wedding day as sustainable as it is memorable.
Weddings are celebrations of love and commitment. But your nuptials could be causing harm to the planet. The average wedding generates 400 to 600 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, according to The Green Bride Guide, a book that helps eco-conscious couples plan their big day. Factor in millions of weddings each year, and the industry’s environmental impact becomes difficult to ignore.
As more couples rethink what their day should represent, sustainability has moved from niche priority to meaningful standard. That doesn’t mean sacrificing style or celebration — it means making choices that reflect both your values and your vision. Whether it’s opting for seasonal flowers over flown-in orchids, choosing a venue that gives back to its community, or rewearing a vintage dress with its own story to tell, sustainable weddings can be every bit as beautiful. Sometimes more so.
“This shift [toward sustainability] seems to have picked up momentum in the past three years,” Jill Garrett, secretary for the Green Wedding Alliance, told Martha Stewart Living. Paige Fox says to be open-minded to things you have not thought about previously, “and it may end up even better than you envisioned.”
This guide offers practical ways to plan a wedding with a lighter footprint—without losing any of the magic. Because planning with care doesn’t mean doing less. It means doing it differently.
How to plan a sustainable wedding
Ready to say “I do” to the eco-friendly wedding of your dreams? All you need is something old and nothing new, something borrowed and something… green! You can have a minimalist wedding theme. To make it extra green, have a greenery wedding theme, like a eucalyptus wedding, so it’s in touch with Mother Nature. Choose a color or design motif that’s not too extravagant — think items that can be easily found in thrift shops, like baskets, white china, and neutral tones.
- Hire local vendors to save on extra fees that include gas and mileage.
- Consider hiring a zero-waste wedding planner and vendors with the same values as you.
- Having a smaller, intimate wedding means a smaller carbon footprint with fewer decorations, flowers, and food waste.
- Rent what you can rent instead of buying brand new items that you can only use one time.
- Opt for e-cards instead of the traditional paper wedding invitation.
- Use soy-based inks and recycled or seed paper so it’s less damaging to the environment.
Of course, it’s not just the wedding theme that can get a sustainable makeover. From the rings to the food, there are lots of ways to make your wedding greener.
The rings
So, you’re ready to put a ring on it, eh? An easy way to reduce your impact on the planet when planning your nuptials is to ensure your wedding bands are ethical. From reclaimed to vintage and even lab-grown, brands are increasingly turning to ethical jewelry amid consumers’ demands for more sustainable products.
There are several jewelry companies that offer engagement rings and wedding bands that incorporate conflict-free stones, recycled metals, and other repurposed jewelry components. Ethical jewelry brands Jean Dousset, Aether, Pandora, Brilliant Earth, and others create diamonds in a lab — reducing their environmental footprint and ensuring there’s no risk of human trafficking for forced labor. (Check out our guide for more eco-friendly jewelry.)
- Shop vintage rings. They are the most sustainable and may come with some fascinating history.
- Gift a family ring if available. Like vintage rings, they’re an incredibly sustainable option and come with a family story.
- If buying new is the preferred option, be sure to work with respected jewelers or designers.
The dress and tux
For a wedding gown or tuxedo that’s timeless, sleek, and environmentally friendly, rent, rent, rent! In addition to saving money, you’ll also be reducing the amount of new clothing waste generated.
If you’re dead set on purchasing a new gown for the big day, then shop brands like Stella McCartney and Reformation. The latter carries dresses made from eco-friendly materials, including viscose, a man-made material derived from wood pulp. The brand’s floor-length Lecee Dress, which has a fitted bustier bodice and a low, scoop back, saves 11 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, compared to a traditional wedding gown.
For a sustainable tux, opt for brands like Everlane, Hangrr, and Brave Gentleman.
- Look for a fabric that aligns with sustainability, like bamboo, recycled polyester, soy cashmere/silk, industrial hemp, and sustainable cotton.
- If you really want to go the extra mile, you can challenge everyone to wear their favorite dress from their wardrobe.
- You can also purchase a second-hand wedding dress or upcycle an old one. Go to thrift shops for this one.
- Here’s another idea: have the bridesmaids and groomsmen wear whatever they want as long as it’s on the same color motif.
The venue
The average carbon footprint of a non-destination wedding is about 56 tons, according to Stanford Magazine. The vast majority, 43 tons, comes from transportation emissions. Destination weddings may be dreamy and IG-worthy, but their environmental footprint is even greater due to air travel. Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to forego a destination wedding venue. There are many eco-friendly hotels and resorts that put sustainability first.
Choosing a venue where most of your wedding guests are located will help to reduce transportation-related emissions. The Green Building Information Gateway is a terrific resource for finding “green” venues, event spaces, etc. in your area. Locally-owned vineyards, campgrounds, botanical gardens, and even national parks that allow wedding ceremonies to be held also make great options for reducing your footprint.
- Book a venue where you don’t need to decorate too much.
- Look for a venue that uses renewable energy to add to the sustainability badge.
- You can book the ceremony and reception at the same venue.
- Find a venue that promotes reduction, reuse, and recycling.
- It’s better to have a wedding in a beautiful garden, so you don’t need to put too many decorations.
The cake (and the food)
Is there a more important component of your wedding day than the cake and the post-wedding dinner? There’s no easier way to lower your footprint than by shopping locally, from seasonal fruits to fair trade products. You can also help counter the environmental impact of the animal agriculture industry by incorporating plant-based foods into the spread. Look for local vegan restaurants that offer catering services for a meal to remember.
- You can plan a locally-grown menu, like having farm-grown products served on the table, which reduces transport emissions.
- Use real utensils, metalware, or wood to avoid using disposable plastics.
- Use cloth napkins instead of tissue paper.
- Go for buffet-style dining instead of plated meals as some people are picky eaters, which means more food wasted if they don’t finish off their plate.
- Not everyone wants a piece of the wedding cake, so it’s best to keep it in a medium size and on a table where anyone can take a piece whenever they want.
- You can skip the champagne toast altogether, but if you want one, have another option where everyone can drink the liquid-like juices of the guests’ choice.
- Ask your caterer or food service provider to compost and recycle the event’s garbage. You can even help them find an organization where you can donate the compost.
- Avoid single-serve packets. Instead, have a jar of condiments where the guests could do a self-service on how much they need.
The flowers and decor
Last, but certainly not least — the flowers and bouquet. Did you know that imported cut flowers have to travel thousands of miles in airplanes just to make it to the flower shop? And many flowers are grown overseas in industrial-scale greenhouses, which means lots of water and chemicals are needed. Even if they’re grown in the U.S., they may still need to travel long distances via gas-guzzling trucks. So, before you choose your perfect bouquet, consider where the flowers were produced. Were they ethically and sustainably grown? In lieu of freshly cut flowers, you can also opt for locally grown, in-season herbs, foliage, and other potted plants.
- Give eco-friendly wedding favors to your guests, such as tote bags, soaps, soy candles, and bath salts.
- Since it’s about zero-waste, having succulent plants or flower seeds for the guests to grow in their garden is a great option.
- You can also present edible favors like homemade jams, coffee blends, organic tea blends, and sachets of herbs and spices.
- Want something that’s not physical yet everyone will love? How about a coupon for a relaxing day in a local spa studio or a free movie ticket with the movie they want to watch?
And, of course, remember the honeymoon! For a list of sustainable resorts and hotels to escape to for a little TLC after your big day, click here.
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