Top 10 tips for an eco wedding

As weddings return to 'almost-normal' - here's how to help the environment on your big day

Now that the wedding season is in full swing in the UK, OVO Energy found that search volumes for ‘eco-friendly wedding’ have increased by up to 48% from last year. With this in mind, OVO Energy have pulled together ten top tips on how to have a more sustainable wedding.

1. Location, location, location

Keeping traveling down to a minimum on your wedding day, by keeping the reception and ceremony locations close together will start your special day off in a sustainable way. Aside from the environmental benefits, the day will likely run much more smoothly when there’s less logistical stress.

2. Downsize invites

To minimise your carbon impact, use recycled paper for your invites and minimise the number of inserts you include in each mailing. To go that step further, you could direct your guests to a single website that contains all of the information about your big day.

3. Make the most of friends and family

Do you have a family member or friend that has a skill fit for a wedding? Then make the most of it! Whether they're cake-makers, seamstresses, DJs, photographers, or a general crafty type, not only will you get more locally sourced goods, but they will also give your wedding that touch of uniqueness.

4. Something borrowed

The idea of buying a second-hand wedding dress might not sit well for all brides, as lots want their own gown to be designed for them. However, if you can’t get on board with a vintage or pre-owned dress, then after your big day, consider donating yours. When it comes to other bridal outfits, it’s easier to be that bit more flexible. Most gents are happy to hire or rent a suit, while bridesmaids' dresses come in all styles and colours. So when buying them, make sure they’re versatile enough to warrant future outings!

5. Use seasonal flowers 

Source your wedding flowers from local producers, and opt for blooms that are in season, as out-of-season flowers are usually shipped in from abroad. Alternatively, you could ditch the flowers altogether and use other materials: from paper flowers to bouquets made of buttons there are plenty of more sustainable options out there. 

6. Rethink favours

Give your guests something they’ll actually use. Local jam or chutney in a cute, re-usable jar, or a little pot of seedlings adds a bit more elegance, and does the planet a favour too. Avoid the temptation to give your guests something plastic simply because you’re supposed to give them something.

7. Go digital

Developing film roles is a thing of the past. Thanks to Instagram and TikTok everything has now taken a digital form. So when choosing your wedding photographer, you should look for someone that specialises in digital photography. Not only will your pictures be better quality, but you can view them online first, before committing to printing them - less paper and fewer chemicals is better for both the environment and your wallet.

8.Think outside the traditional box

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with wedding planning. With trends for conventional white weddings with glitzy place settings and lavishly decorated reception rooms, it can be hard to break the mould. But think outside the box... Who says place settings need to be printed on a card? Why not use pebbles stamped with a guest’s initials? Think antique lanterns, charity shop finds, or even an arrangement of beautiful live plants, which could be given to your guests as a keepsake afterwards. The possibilities are endless.

9. Offset the impact

The average wedding creates a whopping 14.5 tonnes of carbon, which is nearly a third more than the average person creates in a year. You can reduce the footprint of your big day, by offsetting some of the impact. Make a donation to a carbon-offsetting scheme, or ask your guests to do so, in lieu of gifts.

Take into account any flights you might take for your honeymoon, too. Nowadays couples often ask for financial contributions towards that instead of homewares – so build some offsets into your holiday budget.

10. Plant a tree

Once the big day is over and you’re busy enjoying newly-wedded life, why not take an afternoon out to plant a tree together? It could be in your garden, at the wedding venue, or just somewhere that’s special to the both of you. It makes a great wedding present to the planet – and it will serve as the ultimate symbol of your growing love over the coming years.

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