Ways to make your wedding more eco-conscious 

The word 'larger-than-life' is synonymous with most Indian weddings. They are grand and over-the-top. But let’s admit, this is exactly what makes them not quite eco-friendly. Thankfully, more couples are realising the large carbon footprint weddings can have, and are choosing to have smaller, more intimate weddings that are environmentally sustainable. Apart from scaling down your celebrations, there are other factors that will ensure your big day has a smaller impact on the environment.

So, if you have an eco-friendly wedding in mind, these five tips will help get you started in the right direction. 

Seeds and saplings as wedding favours

Over the years, wedding favours have become an essential part of the celebrations. Instead of things your guests are unlikely to use again, why not gift them something that is out-of-the-box and eco-friendly? Seed bombs or even a sapling will make an interesting wedding favour that guests are sure to appreciate, and through customised packaging, you can also add a personal touch to them. 

E-invites instead of the traditional printed ones

While printed wedding invites will always hold a special place in most people’s hearts, the material wastage they lead to has made many opt for e-invites. Most bespoke wedding invite and stationery designers and planners offer e-invite services today, which means you don’t have to worry about them looking too informal or not personalised enough.

Decor that is reusable and multi-purpose 

Wedding decor is not always the most eco-friendly—from the confetti that you throw at the couple, to one-of-a-kind installations and decor pieces that don’t serve much purpose once the celebrations are over. If you want to be more responsible and conscious of your wedding decor, start by making a checklist of areas you can incorporate eco-friendly ideas or materials in. Discuss it with your wedding planner or decorator—they’ll know sustainable vendors to source from or may have more ways in which you can make your wedding decor have the least environmental impact. It could be something as simple as using more natural materials like cane and bamboo in a creative manner!

Reducing food wastage 

We know that one of the best parts about a big fat wedding is the even bigger buffet. But let’s face it, this leads to a lot of food wastage. To resolve this, get in touch with your caterer beforehand and check if the leftover food can go to an NGO instead of being thrown away. Or, if you’re having an intimate ceremony, opt for a pared-down menu that won’t lead to unnecessary wastage.

Keep it local

Keeping it local could mean something as simple as choosing to have a wedding in your own backyard (a la Dia Mirza!) instead of a lavish destination wedding, or supporting local vendors and craftsmen for wedding decor that will be eco-friendly and cost-effective.