Images courtesy of www.unsplash,com THE FAVOURS Why not take cuttings from house plants and repot them for your guests to take home? They’ll look great decorating the tables and act as a wonderful reminder of your wedding day. Alternatively, gift guests packets of seeds that can be planted and bloom each year. Remember if you’re using confetti buy the biodegradable dried petal variety. THE GIFTS Say thanks to your loved ones with a rose bush, hydrangea or other sizeable plant which can be placed in the ground and thrive each year. It’s a great way for guests to remember your wedding rather than giving them a bunch of cut flowers that will die within a couple of weeks. THE CATERING Feed guests a delicious green menu where possible, with colourful sharing platters having an emphasis on vegetarian or even vegan choices. For meat lovers, a barbecue during the summer months where the food is cooked to order minimises waste and during the winter months, consult with your chosen venue about creating a menu that focuses on using local seasonal produce. Desserts can be served small to also avoid waste. THE CAKE Your chosen wedding cake designer can advise on picking the most tasty, planet-friendly option using organic produce purchased from local and sustainable outlets. Fresh fruit makes a colourful (and delicious) topping, alongside flowers that are picked nearby – natural decorations make the best choice, meaning nothing goes to landfill after the big day. The packaging can include biodegradable food cartons for guests to take the cake home if they’re too full to enjoy it on the day. Consider serving the wedding cake as dessert to avoid much food wastage. THE TABLEWARE Hire your tableware through a local company or visit nearby boot fairs, charity shops and even eBay for pre-loved glasses, crockery, place settings and props. Limit using single-use plastic items. THE STATIONERY You can have fun with sustainable stationery! Pick plantable paper varieties, or paper that’s made from recycled materials and is biodegradable. Textured invitations handmade from fabric swatches, ribbons and other pieces of material you might have collected or sourced will make a great first impression on guests. Alternatively, sending e-invites and digital save-the-date cards is a great way to help save the planet. THE PROPS For styling your venue, pick wooden pieces made using FS-certified materials from responsibly managed forests. DIY enthusiasts can hand-create items themselves using preloved wood and paint they may already have. If you don’t want to attempt this yourself then ask the team at your chosen venue whether they have a prop cupboard that you could borrow items from, or pay a professional local venue styling company or wedding planner who offers a hire service. THE TRANSPORT Choose a venue where both the ceremony and reception can take place, and one that offers guest accommodation to minimise the transportation needed. For guests staying at local hotels, arrange a double-decker bus or coach to take them back to where they’re staying. Encourage loved ones to group together and book an Airbnb. Get to the ceremony on time yourselves by walking – why not arrange a walking procession with your guests? A bicycle; a horse-drawn carriage; a revamped classic car or boat hire (if your wedding venue is near the water) are other sustainable transport choices and if you are thinking of hiring a wedding car then choose an electric or a hybrid vehicle. THE ENTERTAINMENT Choose local bands, musicians and other performers and research their business to ensure they make ethical choices. 36
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