Sustainable weddings: how to make your wedding or elopement more eco-friendly

Planning a wedding or elopement is one of the most exciting adventures you'll ever undertake. But have you ever thought about making your special day not only memorable but also eco-friendly? In Perth, embracing sustainable weddings and elopements is becoming increasingly popular, providing couples with unique opportunities to celebrate their love while respecting our beautiful planet.

In this blog post, I’ll share some ideas about eco-friendly practices you could incorporate into your wedding or elopement.

This Bicton wedding featured eco-wedding vendors Rustic Romance (styling and flowers), Red Eclectic (photography) and Sally Bruce (Celebrant)

Why Choose Sustainable Eco-friendly Weddings and Elopements?

Sustainable weddings are more than just a trend; they reflect a commitment to caring for our planet. With climate change and environmental issues in the spotlight, couples are more aware of their ecological footprint when planning their celebrations.

By choosing sustainable practices, you not only reduce waste but also promote the importance of environmental consciousness among your guests. If protecting the planet is important to you as a couple, you will want your wedding to reflect these values.

Use the Wedding Footprint Calculator

You can use this free resource by Mindfully Wed - Less Stuff, More Meaning to calculate your wedding's ecological footprint and get ideas of how to reduce and offset any impact.

Choose vendors that align with your sustainable values

Planning a wedding or elopement gives you enormous consumer power to make choices that support the things that are important you as a couple.

Book vendors who will align with your values as well as your vision. As eco-ethical weddings are a high personal value of mine, I've put together this list of my personal recommendations: Perth's best elopement and wedding vendors

Make your own eco-confetti by hole-punching eucalyptus leaves which will biodegrade naturally.

Elopement Options for Intimacy and Sustainability

Have you ever considered eloping? Elopements offer a fantastic alternative for couples who prefer a more intimate setting and want to eliminate the vast number of traditional wedding logistics. I'm an elopement specialist celebrant, and I've been marrying eloping couples who want the marriage without 'the wedding' since 2020.

Elopements equal fewer guests, which means reduced waste and a more personal experience. And with fewer people involved, you can focus entirely on each other without the added stress of managing a large celebration.

Rest assured, elopements are legal marriages in Australia!

Eco-Friendly Wedding Venues in Perth

When considering your venue, look for locations committed to sustainability. Many venues in Perth take the initiative to incorporate eco-friendly practices such as solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and recycling - ask the venues you're considering what sustainable practices they have in place.

A personal favourite venue is Perth City Farm for its beautiful spaces combined with its commitment to sustainability.

In Perth, you can choose breathtaking natural spots along our coastline, the river or bushland as the backdrop for your ceremony. You don't need single-use ceremony decorations like a balloon arch when you have nature as your backdrop!

For instance, open-air settings like popular Kings Park or the Swan River and Canning River foreshores can provide stunning locations for your ceremony while allowing you to embrace nature. You could also consider private non-traditional wedding venues like your backyard or an AirBnB.

But if you're planning an outdoor ceremony, you'll need to have an undercover/indoor Plan B in place in case of extreme weather - this includes heat as well as rain, lightning and wind. Climate change means we just can't predict what the weather will do on any given day, no matter the season.

A breathtaking outdoor wedding venue surrounded by nature.

Sustainable Wedding Decor Ideas

Firstly, personalise your ceremony with words instead of single-use stuff. I help all my couples write their own vows as a simple, free and earth-friendly way to make their ceremony unique.

Hiring always trumps purchasing furniture like chairs and tables, and there are many wedding stylists who hire reclaimed and recycled furniture for a more sustainable option. See my recommended vendor list for my personal recommendations.

Choose decorations made from sustainable materials, like bamboo, reclaimed wood, or recycled products, rather than plastic. Balloons are a popular decorating choice that are best avoided as they can end up choking wildlife in our waterways. Instead, consider reusable bunting or other natural fibre fabric decorations. Plants and flowers are attractive and sustainable decorations - but see the next point for more on this.

Sustainable Wedding Flowers and Greenery/Plants

Sustainable elopement bouquets by The Freo Florist

Some of the worst offenders in the wedding industry for single-use plastic, high carbon footprint, slave labour and poisons look so innocent that you'd never guess it - yep, it's wedding flowers.

Ask your florist if they use the industry-common, but nasty single-use plastic 'floral foam'. If so, look for another florist. My favourites are Euka Floral Design, The Freo Florist, The Botanic Edit and Rustic Romance.

Read why sustainable florists don't use floral foam

Flowers and plant decorations can usually be repurposed from the ceremony to the reception - talk to your florist about this.

A fun idea is to incorporate potted plants that double as decorations or centrepieces and can be taken home by guests as lasting mementos.

In-season and local wildflowers bring vibrant colours to your celebration while reducing the impact associated with long-distance shipping and irresponsible farming.

Eco-Conscious Wedding Attire

The most eco-conscious wedding attire you could choose would be something that you already own. Or you could embrace the 'something borrowed' wedding tradition and borrow an outfit from a friend.

Another option is to explore second-hand wedding attire. For preloved wedding gowns, check out local business Little Bird Bridal, and don't forget to check out your local opshops too. Remember that you can always have preloved items tailored by a local dressmaker to fit you better.

Hiring your wedding outfit is another popular option that reduces waste.

Finally, if buying new, opt for eco-friendly natural fabrics and ethically made garments. You could also think outside of the box and choose an outfit that's not a 'traditional' wedding dress or suit, but is a fit you feel amazing in that you'll wear again and again.

Sustainable wedding and engagement rings

This isn't my area of expertise, but I recommend reading this blog post by Mindfully Wed: Ethically made engagement and wedding rings - which is packed with useful info, including an interview with an ethical jeweller.

Catering: Savouring Sustainable, Local and Organic

Food brings people together, and your wedding menu can make a significant impact on the environment. Choose a catering service that emphasises local and organic ingredients, and consider including more plant-based options to reduce the amount of meat served.

Highlighting locally sourced produce not only supports Perth’s farmers but also reduces your event's carbon footprint associated with food transportation. To further minimize waste, consider serving a buffet-style meal, letting guests choose their portions. Don’t forget to ask your caterer about composting food scraps!

Eco-Friendly Wedding Favours and Gifts

Sending your guests home with meaningful, eco-friendly wedding favours is a wonderful way to leave a lasting impression, but like all wedding traditions, it's totally optional.

If you do give wedding favours for your guests, consider gifts like seed packets, which they can plant and nurture, or get them to take home some of the sustainable wedding flowers.

For a unique and eco-friendly wedding favour, plant trees, or even a whole forest to increase native habitat through Greenfleet, who can also assist you with offsetting the carbon footprint of your wedding.

Your guests will appreciate the thoughtful touch, and you'll feel great knowing you've chosen sustainable options.

Conclusion: Celebrate Sustainably

As you plan your wedding or elopement in Perth, remember that sustainability can and should play a significant role. By incorporating eco-friendly practices, you’re not only celebrating your love but also making a positive impact on the world around you.

Embrace sustainable weddings and elopements for a mindful, beautiful occasion. Let your special day tell a story of commitment—not just to each other but to the planet as well.

Are you ready to start planning the most unforgettable and eco-friendly celebration of your lives? Let’s make it meaningful and memorable together! Enquire now