Planning a wedding can be a huge undertaking, take it from me. I’ve planned a bunch. How can you incorporate ethical and socially conscious wedding decisions into your planning without causing additional problems. Let’s face it: wedding planning can be a mine field of etiquette, decisions, money problems and stress. And while the first thing I should tell you, is that with the right wedding planner, it doesn’t have to be. I would be lying. Even when I am at my best, the couples I work with will feel some stress at different points of the planning process. I can guarantee you, it will be less-so with me than it would have been without me. When you are planning a wedding, you are likely juggling work or school (or both) while planning an event for a few hundred guests with people who have strong opinions about what should be (or should not be) included. It’s hard to make decisions that make everyone happy and also allow you to stick to your own ethical code. But know this: according to The Huffington Post, during a six hour wedding with 100-120 gusts, roughly 400-600 pounds of waste are produced. There are a few ways to minimize the environmental impact and make planning decisions that are socially conscious, as well.

Planning a Socially Conscious Wedding

I’ll give you a real-life example from my own attempts at planning a socially conscious wedding. It was really important to me to minimize the amount of floral waste at my wedding. I made a few huge mistakes. I made my own centerpieces. I was a hot mess (and so was my house) the week of my wedding. I went into a local field and gut greenery (I knew what I was cutting), but I am probably just lucky that I didn’t end up with a tick or poison ivy. I knew I did not want floral foam used. And I wanted people to walk away with a plant that they could continue to enjoy. So, I used my mom and sister’s antique oil lamp collections along with small jars of flowers and ceramic bowls with succulents planted in them. Was it pretty, yes. Was it ethical and environmentally conscious, yes. Did I nearly lose my mind, absolutely. With the right florist, all of this could have been avoided. I could have just explained my concerns and asked them to accommodate them.

Photo by Idalia Photography

Eight Ways to Plan a Socially Conscious Wedding

Here are a few things that you can easily do while planning your socially conscious wedding that will help to make sure you are treating the Earth and its inhabitants well on your wedding day.

1. Locally Sourced Food. Talk to your caterer about where your food is coming from. Locally sourced foods are always going to be easier on the environment.
2. Recycling. Talk to your venue about how they recycle. You might be surprised to find out that they only do the minimum.
3. Eliminate Single Use Plastic. Place paper or metal straws at your bar. Paper is probably more realistic, but if your event is small, metal might be a workable option. This gos for stir rods, too!
4. Flowers. Talk to your florist about locally sourced florals and greenery. You might not be able to get everything you want locally, but you might be surprised by what you can get. Choosing flowers that are in season or locally sourced can also help with your budget.
5. Wedding favors. I see what’s left over at the end of the night. It’s a lot. Unless it’s a donut wall, and then there’s nothing. Think about making a donation instead. Or, donate your time to a charity! I knew a couple who volunteered at a camp for children with diabetes for a weekend, painting cabins for the upcoming summer season. Take pictures and include them in your wedding day details. Guests will love that you did something so generous with your time. And you will have created a special memory as well.
6. Rings. We don’t have to worry about blood diamonds anymore, diamonds come certified and blood diamonds are illegal in the US. You can’t get one. But there is a really cool company out there, Do Amore. They use a portion of their sales to build wells for underserved communities.
7. Centerpieces. You will be shocked and dismayed at the end of the night to see how many are left behind. Make arrangements to have them delivered to a local nursing home. Many nursing homes will even come get them the next day from your venue.
8. Rent. Don’t Buy. Renting decor, linens, and as much as possible will reduce the amount of stuff you have to find a home for after your big day. It will save you stress, time and money. It’s a win-win-win!

I hope you find a few things on this list that you will incorporate into you socially conscious wedding planning. Even choosing a few, makes a difference. You’ll feel really good about it! If you are getting married, and looking for some more great planning information that you might have never considered, check out this blog post on things every couple should do at their wedding.