A wedding celebration is a special time to celebrate love and commitment with family and friends but they can also generate a lot of waste.

According to The Knot, the average wedding generates 400 pounds of garbage, much of which ends up in landfills.

If you want to plan a sustainable wedding to reduce your impact on the environment, here are some easy ideas for eco-friendly wedding decorations.

Venue & Catering

• Select a venue that is already beautiful so you won’t need to do much in the way of decoration which also means less waste.
• Consider an eco-friendly venue that uses renewable energy such as solar panels.
• Choose caterers that source local, seasonal and organic produce.
• Use real plates, silverware, glasses, or disposable palm leaf plates and bowls that are biodegradable for that peace of mind.
• Consider printing your menu on recycled paper and using it as a placemat.

Floristry & Plants

• Choose flowers that are in season and native to your area. Contact a florist that is close to the wedding venue to reduce the carbon footprint.
• Consider donating your cut flowers to a local hospital or nursing home after the wedding or giving away the flowers as part of the wedding favors.
• Use burlap or jute as an eco-friendly alternative to ribbon for the flowers.
• Paint glass jars or other recycled glass bottles and containers to use as vases for your flowers.
• Use potted plants and succulents as decoration. Potted plants are a beautiful and sustainable way to decorate for your wedding. You can use them as centerpieces, aisle markers, or even as wedding favours for your guests to take after the wedding.
• Use leaves, branches, or log pieces for a natural feel.

Table Decorations

• Fill glass jars with shells, pebbles, or other natural materials for rustic wedding decor.
• Consider visiting the local charity shops or browsing online for second-hand fabrics that can be used as table runners.
• Use tree bark, log pieces or recycled paper for name signs.
• Use hole punchers to create biodegradable confetti out of tree leaves. 

Lighting

• Use LED lights instead of traditional lightbulbs.
• String up some LED Edison bulb lights for a vintage vibe that is still eco-friendly.
• Consider using solar-powered lights for your outdoor wedding if your venue allows it.
• Use beeswax candles instead of paraffin candles. Beeswax is biodegradable with cleansing properties when burnt whilst paraffin candles can produce soot and stains (keep these away from the wedding dress!)

Draping/Hanging Decorations

• Use recycled sari fabric or vintage scarves as draping fabric for a bohemian-themed wedding style.
• Use natural wool instead of nylon for your hanging decorations like dream catchers. Nylon is not biodegradable and takes centuries to decompose.
• Bamboo sticks, tree branches, or even driftwood can be used to create unique hanging decorations.
• Consider hanging paper lanterns for decorating.

Signage

• Get creative with other eco-friendly wedding ideas like using recycled wood for signage or seating charts. These can also become keepsakes after the wedding.
• Consider using bamboo or other sustainable materials for decorations. Avoid using plastics or other non-biodegradable materials.

Wedding planning can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be!

From sustainably sourcing wedding dresses to creating eco-friendly wedding favors and biodegradable wedding decor, there are many eco-friendly ways to reduce wedding waste on your big day.

These are just a few easy ways to get started. With a little creativity, you can have a beautiful and sustainable wedding that you and your guests will remember for years to come.

We will have more eco-wedding ideas to come so be sure to stay tuned at The Wholeleaf Co for more eco-friendly wedding tips in the future.

Looking For Eco-friendly And Biodegradable Wedding Plates?

We at Wholeleaf Co supply wedding plates and bowls, sustainably sourced from naturally fallen palm leaves. Shop yours today here.