Love your mother…mother earth that is! Today on the blog, we’re talking all things sustainable and discussing some easy tips for having a more sustainable wedding – using some advice straight from our followers. From recyclable materials to opting out of some classic wedding traditions, there are so many small ways you can make a big impact. Let’s get started!

Tip #1: Forgo wedding favors. How many times have you been to a wedding and received a personalized koozie or individually wrapped bubble wand? Instead of handing out favors, use that money to donate to charity. Better yet, opt for seeds for your guests to take home to plant in their own gardens.

Tip #2: Rent! Rent! Rent! Seriously, rent whatever decor you can! Instead of buying a million tiny candles and vases, find a local company that you can rent from. Because really, what are you going to do with all those leftover vases? If you can’t find what you need, hop on Facebook Marketplace or any of the local buy, sell, trade pages and start searching. There are a ton of bridal focused pages dedicated to decor. 

Tip #3: Instead of mailing out RSVP invites us digital RSVP’s. You’ll save paper and a ton of cash. Yes, it probably is a little more work wrangling your older relatives for their email accounts, but in the end, it will be worth it to save some trees. If sending out digital invites just isn’t your thing, opt for a company that uses recycled paper, like Paper Culture. They use 100% recycled paper and even plant a tree in honor of every purchase. 

Tip #5: Compost what you can and recycle the rest! Make sure to work with your caterer and venue on this one but where you can, compost! Try to use compostable drink stirrers and napkins (better yet cloth napkins) and if your budget allows, use real glassware that can be washed and reused. If not, make sure your venue has a plan to recycle all glasses and empty alcohol bottles. Also talk with your caterer to see what they do with the leftover food. Some will gladly donate meals to a local shelter or even let you box up the rest for yourself. 

And there you have it! Five easy tips for a more sustainable wedding. You don’t have to make major changes to have a big impact. It’s all about doing what you can where you can to help reduce your footprint.

Originally written and posted by Essence of Australia.