5 Simple Ideas for an Sustainable Wedding Day

Weddings are supposed to be one day. Maybe one long weekend. So, why do some weddings have the carbon footprint of an entire year? 

 

It’s time to make weddings sustainable! Truly sustainable. And it's totally possible, one step, and one celebration, at a time. With that in mind, here are 5 ways you can plan an intimate, personal wedding that doesn’t wreck the planet. 

 

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5 Simple Steps to Plan an Sustainable, Green Wedding Celebration

 

1. Skip paper wedding invites & printed programs

 

Reduce waste on the wedding day with digital wedding invites, save the dates, and QR codes for your wedding programs. These options have less immediate environmental impacts than traditional paper products, and save you money.

 

Digital save the date cards and wedding invitations are easy to make yourself using free templates online, or commission a favorite artist or creative friend to create a custom design. Add an illustrated portrait, animation, music — whatever fits your vibe — and make them easy for guests to download and save.

 

Note: We’re not getting into the digital vs paper debate at a population level here. All we’re saying is that one wedding at a time, 100 emails and a QR code generate less waste than 100 printed cards and programs. 

 

Related: Creative Save the Date Wording & Designs for Your Wedding

 

 

2. Quit using AI for wedding planning

 

If you want a sustainable wedding, you’ll have to give up the convenience of AI. AI might be fast and easy, but it costs, especially when it comes to environmental impacts. The climate toll of AI is hard to overstate. AI data centers consume more energy and water than entire cities, and they run nearly unchecked. With an estimated 20% of all couples using AI to plan their weddings this year (double the number from 2023), the impacts to an already wasteful industry are multiplying.

 

Related: A Simple Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline for Busy Couples

 

Sure, AI can write a ceremony script for you, although often it's not a very good one. Or instead, you can use one of the free templates in this Wedding Ceremony Script Library.

 

These free wedding scripts cost you nothing, don’t pollute the planet, and are written by wedding professionals — so you’re helping to slow AI’s steady takeover of creative jobs, too. (No complaints here.)

 

And instead of using AI to plan your wedding, consider purchasing a low-cost wedding planning guide instead. Like one of these wedding books, written by real wedding professionals. Take notes in the margins. Bookmark the pages you like. Pass it on to your friends when it’s their turn to get married.

 

Related: These Wedding Planning Books Make Great Gifts

 

Support real people and build community while creating a moment that’s intentional, sustainable, and authentic — not something curated by an algorithm.

 

 

(Photo: pixdeluxe / iStock)

 

3. Create a plant-forward or vegetarian wedding menu

 

Don’t worry, you don’t have to skip all meat options on the wedding menu. But keeping your celebration plant-forward can go a long way toward making the day more sustainable. 

 

Related: Vegan Wedding Ideas: From Clothing to Catering & More

 

There’s just no denying that livestock farming contributes significantly to climate change, with meat and dairy products adding the most waste to the equation. But it’s easy and delicious to cut back on these costs by featuring veg-adjacent and plant-forward items wherever it makes sense. 

 

For example, a vegetarian or vegan appetizer uses about one-half the amount of water to produce than a meat option, and produces only one-third the amount of carbon dioxide waste. That’s a huge benefit from changing out just one course. (via Wildlife Friendly Wedding Guide) And the more vegetarian and vegan options you substitute in, the more sustainable your wedding day will be.

 

 

(Photo: LumiNola / iStock)

 

 

4. Consider paper flower wedding bouquets & dried flowers

 

Paper flowers are one easy way to make your wedding eco-friendly, and have very few downsides. They don’t stain like roses, they’re affordable, long-lasting and durable, and they’re never out of season. No allergies or potential toxin risks to pets, either. 

 

Dried flowers are also a great choice for sustainability. They last for years, making them a great keepsake, and like paper flowers are never out of season. They eliminate the risks of pollen allergies, and offer a unique look and aesthetic, too. 

 

If you’re the kind of person who likes DIY, you can craft your own arrangement. Dried and paper flower wedding bouquets are also available from local artists and online specialty shops, many of whom will happily customize your order by color and type.

 

There is one catch though: Paper flowers and dried flowers both have some environmental impact, though it’s generally lower than the high carbon footprint of cut flowers. Fresh cut flowers can sometimes be greenest option when they're grown locally on small farms.

 

Related: 7 Fall Wedding Trends You'll Love, From an Expert Planner

 

 

(Photo by Blair Roberts Castagnetta on Unsplash)

 

 

5. Keep the celebration small with a microwedding

 

Microweddings are an ecofriendly option because they keep the celebration small but still significant — around 50 people or less. This matters because the longer your guest list, the bigger the environmental impact. 

 

Microweddings are a great option if you want more energy than an elopement while planning something sustainable. Here are some ideas to get you started: 

 

 

• 10 Micro Wedding Ideas to Inspire An Intimate Ceremony
   
• Involve Children in Planning Your Microwedding Ceremony with Seasonal Crafts
   
• The Wedding Officiant's Guide to Planning a Minimony
   
• 5 Alternatives to a Traditional Wedding Ceremony
   
• Fun Ways to Include Kids in Your Elopement Plans
   

 

(Photo: Andres Molina / Unsplash)

 

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More Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas from American Marriage Ministries

 

• 7 Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas Inspired by Earth Day
   
• Attn Couples: Have You Considered an Eco-Friendly Wedding?
   
• Eco-Friendly Wedding Officiants -- How to Keep Weddings Green From Behind the Scenes
   
• Officiants: Adapt Your Business as Climate Change Fuels More Fall Weddings
   

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Have a Friend Officiate Your Wedding with Help From AMM! 

Your loved one knows just what to say to make you smile, to keep you calm, and to bring out the best in you. This makes them a natural fit to serve as your wedding officiant - the person who will guide you through the ceremony, pronounce you married, and sign your marriage license. They'll ensure there's nothing but positive energy and love surrounding you on your big day! 

Ask a friend or family member to officiate your wedding with free online ordination through American Marriage Ministries (AMM). 

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American Marriage Ministries is an inclusive nondenominational internet church that ordains and trains ministers to officiate marriage ceremonies. We're a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit church, and help people from all backgrounds and beliefs become ordained ministers for weddings. Our online ordination is free, accessible, and never expires.

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Become an ordained minister with free online ordination from AMM to officiate weddings for friends and family! (Photo: staticnak1983 / iStock)

 

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