The Green Wedding Series: Styling and decor
Sustainable wedding styling
A big part of planning a wedding for most people (us included) is how your day looks, but how can you approach this with a more eco-friendly stance? It’s perfectly natural to want to create a day that is bespoke and full of personal touches, this can often mean items that seemingly only have one use, but opting for hired/second hand products or taking a holistic approach and buying pieces that can be reused in your own home is a kinder way to style.
Hire vs Buy
Hiring in decor and linens is so easy to do and there are lots of options to choose from. It also doesn’t take much to give a space a new lease of life - bold napkins, interesting chairs, coloured glassware or crockery instantly lift your table design and are relatively low impact choices because they’ll get re-used. The key here is to hire locally or get it all from one supplier to minimise transport miles and avoid additional delivery/collection charges.
Some great hire companies to check out - depending on your area - are Allens Hire, Whitehouse, Coordination Hire, To Have & To Hire, Wedhead, Duchess and Butler and Rustic Hire.
Xander and Thea Photography
If you can’t find what you’re looking for then you could look at online marketplaces for second hand options and see what other couples are offering up for a second outing. If the only option is to have something specially made or buy it new then aim for decor that can be reused by you or guests so they get more than one use. Statement pieces that can then be put into your home will not only look great but have a sentimental attachment to your wedding day
Low impact styling
Low impact styling is using decor that has minimal impact on the environment. Pick natural or sustainable materials like glass, bamboo or macrame which can be used as vases, serving platters or backdrops. In our flowers chapter we talk about making sustainable choices such as dried flowers and faux foliage or decorating with herb, flower and plant pots that can be re-planted or re-homed after the wedding.
You can also make use of technology instead of paper, we’re talking projections for signage and/or table plan, shared menus on tablets or live streaming to keep guest numbers down. Or go old school analog and opt for pin boards or Etch A Sketch table names for a hit of nostalgia.
Use the natural beauty of your venue for a less is more approach and embrace minimal decor for tables and other styling points.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - AVOID PLASTIC
Neale James
Good vs Bad
Surprise, surprise, some materials are better for the environment than others. Balloons and Chinese Lanterns aren’t going to win you a thumbs up from Sir David Attenborough anytime soon due to the danger they pose to animals when they eventually come back down to earth. A lot of companies won’t even sell you balloons if they are going to be used as a balloon release. Having said that, there are biodegradable balloons on the market, although there is some debate over how long they take to degrade so if you’re a balloon lover please do your research before including them in your wedding.
Megan Elle Photography
What should you look for in your styling choices to make it low impact?
Is it biodegradable? Great news glitter fans, biodegradable glitter is now available
Can it be reused or recycled? Which circles us back to hire vs buy to some extent. If you’re buying something new then aim to use it, donate it or re-sell it after the big day. If it’s a one use item then go for recyclable material
How much energy does it take to run? Solar lighting, LED lights and candles are much better for the environment then the alternative so ask your venue and/or production supplier what they use
Where does it come from/who made it? Think about those air or transport miles and the hands that might be behind the item. It’s great to support artists and makers, not such a big pat on the back for handing off cash to exploited cheap labour
What is it made from? Candles can be a beautiful and cost effective way to style but not all candles are equal. Opt for beeswax or coconut oil based candles, ideally with a wood wick. They may be slightly harder to source or more expensive but they are much better for the environment
Could you make it yourself? Don’t get us wrong, we’re not a huge fan of DIY. These design professionals are professional for a reason, but having said that if you’ve got a knack for the crafts and fancy giving it a go, then a DIY version might help the environment and your budget
