Wedding season is nearly back in full swing, and this summer promises to be a busy one
Many weddings were put on hold for the past two and a half years, but with things slowly returning to normal, it’s the perfect opportunity to start planning your dream sustainable wedding.
Here are a few tips, courtesy of Fleur De Lis Events founder Nargess Tabrizy-Shokrani...
1. Swap the buffet for a plated dinner service
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashTraditionally with food service, weddings offer large dinner buffets with a surplus of food, most of which goes to waste. As a minimal-waste alternative, opt for plate service instead. This means each guest is served only the entrée selection they have requested.
“Many venues and caterers now offer the option for couples to pre-order the entree selection for each guest, which is very helpful in avoiding unnecessary garbage,” says Nargess.
2. Choose eco-friendly florals
Fleur De Lis Events, Luxe Bridal Brunch 2022
By incorporating silk or faux florals, you can create lavish designs while using fewer real florals, and in turn reduce waste. “In one of our recent wedding brunches, we utilized faux cherry blossom trees and branches as larger centrepieces (pictured above),” says Nargess.
Florists like Bloomiér offer zero-waste floral services and create beautiful designs while avoiding the use of plastic, foam and other materials that are not recyclable. Bloomiér also collects flowers post-event to deliver to women’s shelters and seniors' homes.
“We don’t just create beautiful designs, we make them in the most sustainable way possible,” says Kamila Alikhani and the Bloomiér team. “We don’t use single-use plastic, instead we search for local flowers, professionally clean and reuse almost all technical elements of the design, and give your flowers a second life by turning them into small bouquets to be donated on your behalf after the event if you wish to do so.”
3. Opt for sustainable stationery
Violet Gray Creative/Hong Photography
When printing wedding invitations or name cards, go with stationery brands that provide the option to print on recyclable paper. Brands like Violet Grey Creative do just that, offering a recyclable white cotton paper material that is both beautiful and recyclable.
3. Consign your wedding dress
Photo by Liz Martin on UnsplashRather than purchase your wedding dress brand new, consider shopping from a consignment boutique like Ontario’s Sixpence Bridal. “As the fashion industry is notoriously wasteful, choosing consignment is one of the best ways to lessen environmental impact on such an important occasion,” says the Sixpence Bridal team.
Consigning your dress is a great sustainable alternative that also gives other brides the chance to wear a stunning gown for their dream wedding.