A Celebrity Wedding Designer Shares Tips on How to Throw a Sustainable, Zero-Waste Wedding

When we mull over the wedding trends for this new year, we definitely can't skip on the biggest one yet—an intimate affair with a keen focus on sustainability and zero-waste production.

And after all, who to thank for this paradigm shift in perspective from the quintessential big-fat-Indian wedding? None other than the unforeseen global pandemic which taught us important life lessons and survival instincts, and continues to do so day in, day out.

Ambika Gupta, Luxe Event Designer

'The pandemic has certainly put things in perspective for us. No longer can we endlessly (read greedily) consume our resources, generate vast amounts of waste, and live life as if there's no tomorrow! The fact remains that there is a tomorrow—a tomorrow for which we have to save our resources in a viable manner. And, in the case that we fail to bring about this change, the upcoming generations will have to bear the brunt of the crisis in a more serious way than we can imagine,' claims Ambika Gupta, luxe event designer and founder of The A-Cube Project.

Ambika Gupta, the renowned wedding planner who is known for designing celebrity weddings—including that of actor Kajal Aggarwal—states that working amid the challenges posed by Covid-19 encouraged her to open important conversations regarding 'greener' weddings, with her clients.

'The pandemic has urged families to host intimate events, which automatically cuts down on a chunk of waste. However, besides that many of my clients are well-informed about climate concerns and want their weddings to set an example. For instance, for a wedding in Pondicherry my team worked closely with the couple to address the issue of floral and food waste. This conversation was propelled by the bride who is sensitive to the environmental concerns we face today. The flowers were composted and the leftover food from each event was distributed, locally. India Wasted and The Robin Hood Army hopped onboard to help us take these interventions forward,' she adds.

Here are 6 expert-approved tips to throw a green, sustainable wedding:

Buy Local

Opt for local floral produce instead of imported items, as this will considerably cut down the carbon footprint, along with helping distressed farmers in these trying times. Besides excessive use of floral accents, pick statement arrangements that will really stand out.

One-of-a-Kind Wedding Favours

Instead of store-bought gifts, engage NGOs that support artisans to create one-of-a-kind wedding giveaways! For the Pondicherry wedding that Ambika designed, jute bags with Van Gogh inspired embroidery were curated by Purkal Stree Shakti(an Uttarakhand-based NGO).

Disposable Cutlery

Make use of disposable cutlery and crockery, made with biodegradable materials like bamboo.

A 'Green' Wedding Card

Choose wedding cards that can be made out of recycled paper. Alternatively, as we live in digital world, you could also go for e-invites.

Sustainable Props

Use materials like clay, straw, living plants, or recyclable items to create props. For Kajal Aggarwal’s wedding, Ambika themed an event around a 'Kitsch Mandi', and used Kutch workmanship in furnishings, traditional dry palm weaves, a Chettinad console, and brass pots with banana leaves. She also featured 'pettis', contraptions used by coconut farmers as a backdrop in place of a wasteful prop. Also, use classic furniture that can be hired or reused by the designer, instead of plastic chairs. When it comes to lighting, opt for less-energy consuming alternatives.

The Intimate 'Mini-Mony'

Consider hosting 'mini-monies', where the number of guests are minimal and the couple get married at a local venue.

In conclusion, Ambika states, 'Sustainable weddings are 'in' and small is the new big, owing to a more thoughtful approach  that impacts the planet positively. I recently learned that more than 10 million weddings take place in India every year, leaving behind mountains of trash, discarded plastic cutlery, used flowers, and wasted food. I firmly believe that, together we we can bring about a welcome change.'