In a recent GreenPrint survey more than half of Americans value sustainability. As a matter of fact, 64% of Americans of all age groups are willing to pay more for a sustainable product or experience.
When broken down by generation, 75% of millennials value sustainability, 63% of Gen Z, 64% of Gen X and 57% of Baby Boomers. 78% of Americans said they would choose a product that was labeled as environmentally sustainable.
We love an eco-friendly wedding!
Minimizing your carbon footprint while you maximize your love creates a beautiful and memorable experience you can really feel great about.
Our team at Cactus Collective Weddings is here to help you to make your eco-friendly wedding everything you dreamed it could be!
Our 10 easy ways to make your wedding eco-friendly are:
1. Find Local Floral Suppliers
Flowers are an important part of your wedding and they’re also an easy space to focus on eco-friendliness. Finding local floral suppliers and focusing on local blooms can limit your carbon footprint in a few different ways. Local suppliers that source their blooms from nearby growers don’t contribute to the miles and miles of land or air shipping. And by choosing local seasonal blooms, you can keep your flower sourcing natural. These blooms require less water, chemicals and energy to grow.
2. Do A Little Vendor Research
Researching who you hire can ensure you’re choosing eco-friendly vendors that comply with environmentally sustainable practices. When you’re assured that your vendors share in your priorities the planning process is made easier and cleaner.
3. Consider A Chic Micro Wedding
Micro weddings are a seriously hot post-pandemic trend. Not only intimate and convenient, a micro wedding is also more environmentally conscious. The smaller the guest list the less resources will be used and potentially wasted at the end of your day. Keeping your guest list small and prioritizing those closest to you also makes for a more personal experience!
4. Seek Out Recycled Invitations Or Go Virtual
You have a couple of different options when it comes to eco-friendly wedding invitations. Hard copy invitations can be crafted from all recycled materials or you may choose to go virtual with your invites. Virtual eco-friendly wedding invitations are no longer considered a faux-pas and they can be as unique and innovative as you want them to be!
5. Use Your Registry To Give Back
If you plan to have a wedding registry, you can always include the option of donating to an environmental organization that is close to your heart. Help to save the forest where you had that memorable date, donate to clean up the oceans you’ll be relaxing by on your honeymoon or put that energy into saving your favorite endangered animal! You’ll make a positive impact not just through a monetary contribution, but by saving the packaging, wrapping paper, and resources that come along with physical gifts.
6. Eco-Friendly Wedding Rings To Symbolize Your Love
To keep your environmental passion close to your heart you can also put an eco-friendly spin on your wedding rings. Vintage jewelry, rings made from petrified wood or other natural materials and lab grown stones are a few super popular sustainable options couples are loving!
7. Dresses That Are Sustainably Beautiful
Sustainability is beautiful and the proof is in the number of stunning eco-friendly wedding dresses on the market today. A dream dress made from natural fabrics and ethical production feels as good as it looks, while the vintage bride may wish to opt for something unique and pre-loved.
8. Let Nature Be Your Venue
There’s no venue that can compare to the beauty of the great outdoors. Tying the knot outside ensures that you’re going with an environmentally conscious venue and you’re guaranteed the perfect backdrop for stunning photos. The sights, sounds, and scents of nature create a magic atmosphere ripe for romance!
9. A Send-Off Of Dried Florals
If your dream includes a grand send-off you might want to skip the rice, bubbles, or confetti. One eco-friendly trend we love is using dried flowers instead, with the popular options being dried rose petals and lavender. Crushed up, they’re beautiful and easy to toss into the air!
10. Locally Sourced Eco-Friendly Catering
Locally sourced catering is just as delicious as it is environmentally friendly! The carbon emissions used to ship food across long distances make a serious impact on our environment and air quality. Catering services that source their foods from local farmers dramatically limit these emissions, while seasonal fresh foods can be grown and harvested naturally without wasting resources. Going with a vegan or vegetarian menu can help you to limit the environmental impact of your catering even further.
Planning Your Eco-Friendly Wedding
Planning your eco-friendly wedding is simple and you can still keep every aspect of your special day close to your heart! Cactus Collective Weddings can help you to plan your micro wedding or elopement with beauty and sustainability in mind. Our natural locations provide the most picturesque backdrops, letting the natural surroundings shine just as bright as your love. We’re always here to answer your questions at Cactus Collective Weddings, ensuring your sustainable wedding is the one you’ve always dreamed of.
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