On your big day, one of the last things you may be considering is the environmental impact your wedding will have. After all, you want to enjoy yourself and make sure your guests enjoy themselves too. However, with the average wedding producing 400-600 pounds of waste (and with 40 billion plastic utensils being wasted each year just in the United States), factoring in eco-friendly products and considering the impact of certain wedding staples are things worth thinking about.

And because we wanted to make thinking about having an eco-friendly wedding easy on you, we compiled a list of 4 things we believe are worth the extra consideration and investment when it comes to your wedding day. 

Non-plastic dinnerware and drinkware. 

Plastic is the leading cause of pollution in our oceans and our world, and the use of single-use plastic items, like utensils, is unfortunately a huge source of waste when it comes to events and weddings. However, there are so many alternative options and budget-friendly ones too!

Dishware

• Palm leaf plates 
• Dtoc – Also made from palm leaves, these biodegradable plates are more budget-friendly than the first option. 

Utensils 

• WoodAble wooden cutlery – These wooden utensils are not only affordable, but are 100% wood making them compostable.

Glassware

• Repurpose compostable cups 
• Another option is to rent glassware or for those throwing an eclectic, smaller wedding, try thrifting your glassware/dinnerware

Additional Resources 

The Top 5 Most Eco-Friendly Plates For Your Sustainable Wedding

Compostable Plates: Wedding Planning for the Eco-Friendly Couple

Ethically-sourced jewelry

An exciting part of your big day is the exchanging of rings, but making sure the jewelry you purchase is ethical is just as important. That’s why we’ve included a list of companies to purchase from whose jewelry is environmentally friendly and ethical. 

• Aether  – Aether jewelry not only is ethically-sourced but it actually has a positive impact on the environment as their jewelry is made from captured carbon! 

Price – $689-39,898

• Holden – Unlike other jewelers, Holden makes each piece to order so there are no wasted materials. Not only will they melt any returns down to create new rings, but they use only 100% recycled materials. 

Price – starting as low as $249

Brilliant Earth – This jewelry company is known for going above and “Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds.” All of their diamonds come from miners who follow strict protocols that protect the environment and any labor involved. The majority of their jewelry is made from recycled materials.  

Price – Inexpensive options, but tends to be pricier than other retailers

Heirloom jewelry – Continuing to pass on jewelry that belongs to your family ensures that harmful labor and environmental practices aren’t continued making heirloom jewelry an eco-friendly option!

Additional Resources 

9 Ethical Jewelers Making Sustainable Engagement Rings And Wedding Bands For The Conscious Bride

14 Sustainable Jewelry Brands to Wear on Your Wedding Day

Locally grown flowers

Often, the flowers most couples purchase for weddings or special occasions come from faraway. Unfortunately, the transportation process for these flowers leaves a large carbon footprint and can involve unethical labor practices. 

When choosing what kind of flowers you’d like to have at your wedding, consider these two factors.

1 – Is it local?

When deciding what flowers you’re looking for, pay attention to if that type of flower is grown locally. The most eco-friendly option is to purchase flowers from your local farmers. 

2 – Is it in season?

If the flowers you want are not in season, not only will they have to be grown in a climate that will support their growth and then transported, but they’re also going to cost more. Choosing flowers that are in season not only ensures that your flowers will be fresher from less time traveling across the country, but they’ll be more affordable because there will be an abundance of them!

You can find local flowers by doing a Google search to see what’s available in your area. Or, if you have the backyard and green thumb for it, you can always try growing flowers yourself!

Seed paper wedding invitations and stationery

Beautiful wedding invitations and stationery are a beloved part of your big day. However, some options are more environmentally friendly than others. The ideas below are not only beautiful, but they are also eco-friendly!

1 – Seed Paper 

Invitations and stationary made from seed paper consists of paper that you can plant. Most likely, you’ll be able to choose what kind of seeds the paper contains so you can send guests flowers or herbs, making these invitations extra special. 

A few companies to check out:

• Flower Seed Paper
• Botanical Paper Works 

2 – Recycled Paper 

Looking to go a more traditional route with standard paper? No problem, these companies are dedicated to using reclaimed and environmentally friendly materials which ensures their invitations and stationary leave no negative impact on the environment.

• Artifact Uprising 
  • Inspired by the Rocky Mountains, this company uses recycled fibers and reclaimed wood to create beautiful paper products.
• Anchal
  • As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, Anchal is committed to both having a positive environmental impact and to economically empowering women all over the world.

• Paper Culture 
  • Not only is every invitation made from 100% recycled paper, but for every invitation ordered, Paper Culture goes out and plants a tree.

Hopefully, these eco friendly wedding ideas showed you all of the exciting possibilities when it comes to planning an eco-friendly wedding even in the cases where it costs a little more. Head here to see ways to keep your Earth-friendly wedding budget friendly! There’s no better feeling than getting to enjoy your wedding, knowing your money has been well spent on products contributing to a better world and a healthier planet.