As the world continues to grapple with plastic waste, couples planning outdoor weddings are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact. But reducing waste at a wedding can seem like an overwhelming task – after all, it’s easy to overlook the small details when you’re busy planning your special day. 

However, these finer details are often the most important, and present the best opportunities to reduce your carbon footprint. There are so many different ways that plastic can seep into your plans, with experts estimating that the average wedding day can produce up to 20kg of plastic waste. In this post, we explore just three of the areas you should be viewing as opportunities to reduce plastic use.

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Small changes add up

Start by looking at each component of the event and assessing whether you can use plastic-free alternatives. For example, consider having reusable plates and cups for any food or drink you’re serving, and opt for bamboo or reusable utensils instead of disposable ones. This will not only save on plastic waste but also show guests that you care about being eco-conscious.

You could take it one step further and encourage your guests to adopt your eco-friendly stance. On the day, hand out green wedding favours for them to take home, and if your guests are kind enough to offer gifts of their own, present them with some plastic-free options to help limit your wedding’s environmental impact throughout the day and beyond. 

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Choose reusable decorations

Decorations are key for any wedding, but when you’re heading to the great outdoors for your celebration, you also have the option to lean on the beauty of Mother Nature. This means you aren’t necessarily starting with a blank canvas and can therefore save both money and materials when organising your decorations. 

For those special finishing touches that you do want to add, look for ways to utilise reusable items instead of disposable ones. Instead of purchasing plastic decorations or balloons, which can be difficult to recycle and produce a lot of waste, choose decorations such as string lights or hanging plants that can be reused after the event. Ensure there’s a focus on sustainable materials that will have less of an impact on the planet after the day’s over. 

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Choose sustainable vendors

Finally, when selecting your vendors for your big day, consider their environmental impact as well as their services and prices. Many vendors now offer environmentally friendly options such as compostable tableware or plastic-free packaging to transport produce – these choices will help reduce plastic waste while still providing a quality experience for guests. 

Start planning your plastic-free party

Planning an outdoor wedding is an exciting experience – and even more so when it's done in an eco-friendly way. By making small changes and opting for sustainable vendors and decorations whenever possible, couples can create a memorable event without generating excess plastic waste. With just a bit of research and careful planning any couple can host their dream outdoor wedding while still being mindful of the environment – so get started today!

By guest author, Emery Walsh