While it has often been said that weddings are wasteful in many ways, this is not always the case. You can choose from a variety of eco-friendly wedding choices to cut down on waste.

It is evident that you’re unable to achieve every single thing to create an eco-friendly wedding. However, the accumulation of several small choices leads to more significant outcomes.

Conscious decision-making throughout the planning of your wedding has an impact and this is coming a lot more popular, meaning the number of eco-friendly weddings in the UK is significantly increasing!

When attempting to do your part for the environment, there is no decision too tiny, and every little thing counts. So, if you are wedding planning, here are ways to be more eco-friendly on your wedding day!

9 Ways To Be More Eco-Friendly On Your Wedding Day

Buying an Eco-Friendly Wedding Dress in the UK
Eco-Friendly Marriage Decorations and Props
Make Your Own Confetti
Ask Guests to Donate to a Charity or to Plant a Tree Instead of a Gift
Choose Seasonal Florals From Local Flower Farms
Real Cutlery Instead of Plastic or Use Biodegradable Options
Consider Your Wedding Favors to be Either Consumable or Eliminated
Eco-Friendly Wedding Venues in the UK
An Eco-Friendly Wedding Photographer

Buying an Eco-Friendly Wedding Dress in the UK

A woman wearing a flowing, delicate gown with shimmering embroidery stands gracefully, holding the train of her dress. The setting features soft lighting, decorative elements, and a warm color palette, creating a romantic atmosphere.

There are so many preloved wedding dresses out there, that are yearning to be worn and loved again!

Wedding dresses can be super expensive, and it is understandable that people pay so much money for them because it is a big part of their day and something they have always dreamed of. Therefore, it has got to be perfect!

However, there are many eco-friendly wedding dresses in the UK, that are just waiting for you. There are so many different websites, as well as personal sellers on depop and vinted that offer these preloved gems. Some boutiques such as Aime Moi Encore have a huge range of preloved wedding gowns and their selection is STUNNING!

Four women in bridal gowns posing together in a rustic venue decorated with draped fabric and flowers.

Once you have made your purchase, you can see a seamstress and get it altered so it fits you perfectly and you can get it dry cleaned, so it is like new!

You have a gorgeous wedding dress and you have saved yourself a lot of money.

Eco-Friendly Marriage Decorations and Props

Instead of buying all of your decorations and props brand new, you could save yourself a tonne of money and it is a way to be more eco-friendly on your wedding day, by hiring them from a supplier or buying second-hand.

Flat lay of wedding invitation materials including RSVP cards, accommodation details, and decorative elements like a flower and ribbon on a textured fabric background.

One of my favorite suppliers to work with is Samphire Vintage Props

they offer a huge variety of vintage props for your boho or vintage wedding day. Everything from table ware to ceremony props like these triangle arches & rugs! They have everything you might need!

A couple holding hands during their outdoor wedding ceremony, surrounded by floral decorations and a wooden arch, with the sun setting in the background.

Make Your Own Confetti

We all love a confetti moment, don’t we? The moment you just exchanged vows and all of your family and friends are cheering you on, a confetti moment is needed!

With that in mind, confetti can be quite damaging to the earth because often it is not biodegradable. Well, you can in fact be more eco-friendly on your wedding day by making positive decisions and saving money by creating your own.

There are many ways to make your own confetti. Here are some of my favourite ideas:

Dried flower petals
Leaves (did someone say autumn leaves?!)
Buy from a business who creates biodegradable confetti
Fresh flower petals
Lavender – it looks pretty and smells good!
Seed paper
Bubbles – this is SUPER fun!

A joyful couple embraces under a teepee structure at their wedding, with the bride laughing and holding a colorful bouquet. Confetti is falling around them, creating a festive atmosphere.

Ask Guests to Donate to a Charity or to Plant a Tree Instead of a Gift

A lovely way to be more eco-friendly on your wedding day is to ask your guests to donate to a charity or to plant a tree, instead of giving you a gift! A lovely company called Ecologi makes it really easy, in fact I donate money to them monthly as part of my own eco pledge!

A picturesque autumn scene featuring trees with vibrant orange leaves lining a quiet path under a blue sky.

Let’s face it, we probably do not need a zillion gifts given to us on our wedding day and the presence of our family and friends is enough to be thankful for. Encourage them to do something good for the earth as it will make your wedding day dreams come true.

Choose Seasonal Florals From Local Flower Farms

The carbon footprint of imported flowers is said to be up to 95% higher than that of locally grown flowers.

A decorative wooden ladder adorned with floral arrangements, leaning against soft, draped fabric. Nearby is a vintage lantern with a candle, and a bouquet of dried flowers in a metal vase.

Save yourself money and be eco-friendly on your wedding day by sticking to those seasonal and locally grown flowers. Are you a lover of a particular season in the UK? For example, I am a lover of autumn, so autumn flowers and leaves would be an amazing theme.

Some of my favorite florists who do local flowers are:

Suzy with Doesn’t Cost the Earth

Georgie with Gorgeously Gathered

Both of these lovely suppliers use flowers grown in their own gardens!

Real Cutlery Instead of Plastic or Use Biodegradable Options

A beautifully set dining table with cutlery, plates, and glasses. A floral arrangement of white roses and greenery decorates the background. A name card reading 'Rachael' is placed at each setting, alongside a decorated cookie on a napkin.

We all know how bad using unnecessary plastic is for our environment and with a wedding often being a big event with quite a lot of people, you are bound to use a lot of it!

Instead, consider using real cutlery that can be reused or donated afterwards or use biodegradable options such as wooden cutlery or banana leaf plates. I’ve always had great luck finding these on amazon for my son’s birthday parties!

Plus, how boho would it look with wood and banana leaves? Those wedding photos would look gorgeous and a lot more attractive than plastic!

A hand holding a brown paper bowl containing rice and a savory mixture topped with cilantro and a wooden spoon.

Consider Your Wedding Favors to be Either Consumable or Eliminated

Wedding favours have been a tradition for a very long time, so it is understandable as to why people still do it, plus it is a lovely gesture!

However, most people either don’t take them or throw them away shortly after. So, consider either eliminating this tradition altogether or switching it up. This is a way to be more eco-friendly on your wedding day – to eliminate any waste.

Perhaps a photobooth to double as your wedding favour and part of your reception – it is a win-win really! Plus, a great way to capture fun memories with family and friends.

A collection of photo booth strips scattered on a table, with a handwritten message and a pen. A sign is visible in the background.

Eco-Friendly Wedding Venues in the UK

A great way to be more eco-friendly on your wedding day is to consider an eco-friendly wedding venue in the UK!

This is often overlooked as people focus on the smaller things. But, if you do your research, there are many venues that strive for a better earth and you know that the things they offer at their venue are likely to have a much better impact on the earth than other venues. My absolute favorite wedding venue is also highly eco friendly and they even host the Eco Wedding Fair every year!

Wellington Wood

A rustic wooden barrel surrounded by a field of wildflowers, with a string of decorative lights overhead and a distant structure in the background.

An eco-friendly wedding photographer!

Last, but not least, is an eco-friendly wedding photographer!

This goes the same for any of your wedding suppliers. Ensure that your wedding suppliers strive for a positive impact on the earth by being as eco-friendly as possible for them.

I am an eco-friendly wedding photographer and this is how I do better for the earth:

I am a Suffolk and Cambridgeshire wedding photographer, who tries to stay as local as possible to elimate lots of travel! However, if I do travel to other areas of the UK, I try to book more weddings in that area at the same time.
I recycle all of my batteries from my flash, I don’t push unnecessary printing, and all of my galleries are digital
I am eco conscious in my home life, recycling/reusing/reducing as much as I am able, making things myself, cloth nappies for my littles or bamboo when I can’t do cloth, buying second hand as much as possible, and as I mentioned I donate to ecologi monthly to help plant more trees for our eco system! Along with more eco conscious habits but my list could go on forever!

Are You Ready To Plan Your Eco-Friendly Wedding Day?

Now you know the best ways to be more eco-friendly on your wedding day, you can plan and organise your day accordingly.

If you are ready to book your eco-friendly wedding photographer, I would love to chat!

A smiling woman with long hair and a wide-brimmed hat, captured in a black and white photograph.

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Julie Clarke https://julieclarkephotography.com

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