After months of dreaming and planning, your wedding day should be a perfect reflection of who you are as a couple, including your values. If sustainability matters in your daily lives, why not weave that commitment into your celebration? With spring blooms bursting and summer sunshine beckoning, there's no better time to plan a wedding that honors both your love story and our planet.
When you picture your perfect day, consider this: the average wedding produces over 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of CO2. From cross-country flights to single-use decorations, traditional celebrations can leave quite an environmental footprint. But here's the beautiful truth: your wedding can tell a different story.
"Your wedding choices reflect who you are and what matters to you," explains wedding planner Sophia Chen. "When couples prioritize sustainability, they're setting the tone not just for their marriage but for their entire community."
There's something magical about planning an eco-conscious celebration during the warmer months. As nature awakens from winter, your sustainable wedding becomes part of spring's natural renewal cycle:
When you choose these seasons for your celebration, you're already starting with a sustainability advantage. Nature provides the perfect backdrop, with lush greenery and vibrant colors that minimize the need for resource-intensive decorations.
Your venue selection is perhaps the single most impactful decision in creating a sustainable celebration. Beyond its beauty, consider what environmental practices are already in place. Many forward-thinking venues have integrated impressive sustainability measures into their operations:
Look for venues that balance stunning aesthetics with environmental responsibility. One of the easiest ways to cut down on energy use is to choose a venue that already floods with daylight and is surrounded by greenery.
For example, at Canopy Grove by Wedgewood Weddings, a reimagined barn boasts soaring ceilings and wall-to-wall windows that flood the reception hall with daylight. Outside, a manicured courtyard and tucked-away garden offer verdant ceremony settings without the need for extra décor or energy-intensive lighting.
A truly sustainable wedding considers everyone's needs. Environmental responsibility and accessibility go hand-in-hand—both are about thoughtful planning that respects all participants and our shared planet.
When selecting your venue, prioritize:
For spring and summer celebrations, also consider:
Many venues are implementing impressive eco-friendly practices you might never notice. Boulder Creek by Wedgewood Wedding, for example, maintains separate recycling stations in both bar and kitchen areas and practices double-sided printing for Banquet Event Orders (BEOs). These seemingly small touches add up to significant resource conservation over hundreds of events.
When you choose a venue with these practices already in place, you're getting turnkey sustainability without additional planning stress. Remember that sustainability isn't just about environmental impact—it's about creating a celebration where everyone feels welcome and comfortable.
Your wedding communication sets the tone long before the celebration begins. Consider these planet-friendly alternatives:
If paper elements feel essential to your vision, consider:
The natural abundance of spring and summer provides the perfect foundation for sustainable décor:
Work with florists who prioritize:
"Spring and summer offer such abundance," says floral designer Marcus Lee. "From April tulips to June peonies to August dahlias, nature provides an ever-changing palette of local options."
Consider how your décor might have a life beyond your wedding day. Could those potted herbs become part of your first garden together? Might those rented lanterns bring joy to another couple's celebration?
Your wedding attire isn't just about looking beautiful—it's an opportunity to align with your values:
For spring and summer weddings, lightweight, natural fabrics like organic cotton, linen, and silk not only look season-appropriate but also reduce the environmental impact of synthetic materials.
Every bite at your reception is an opportunity to celebrate local bounty and reduce environmental impact:
Spring and summer offer unparalleled access to fresh, local ingredients:
Partner with caterers who share your sustainability values by:
Sustainable doesn't mean sacrificing luxury. Consider using fresh, local ingredients that change with the seasons, like crisp spring asparagus or juicy summer tomatoes, alongside grains such as farro or freekeh cooked into creamy risottos.
If you include seafood, consider responsibly harvested shellfish like oysters, mussels, or line-caught scallops, and ethically sourced lobster delivered from nearby waters. Pair these with simple sides like goat cheese from a nearby farm on toasted bread with a bit of jam, and finish dishes with fresh herbs or local honey. This approach cuts down on shipping, supports local farmers and fishers, and gives your guests a true taste of the region.
When selecting your venue, look for spaces with commercial kitchens that can accommodate green-minded catering teams or select vendors. These facilities allow greater flexibility in menu planning and execution while supporting your sustainability goals.
Transportation often creates the largest carbon footprint of any wedding element. Consider:
Spring and summer weather make walking between nearby ceremony and reception venues not just possible but pleasant. Imagine your wedding party strolling through a charming downtown area or garden path between events!
Work with your venue to minimize what ends up in landfills:
The warmer months are ideal for outdoor composting systems, turning biodegradable waste into soil nutrients rather than methane-producing landfill material.
Send your guests home with meaningful, sustainable tokens:
Summer wedding? Consider mini jars of local honey or herb plants guests can grow on their windowsills. Spring celebration? Wildflower seed bombs or small potted bulbs make perfect seasonal favors.
Your wedding can strengthen community bonds while reducing environmental impact:
Build a team that shares your values:
Remember that sustainability often requires upfront investment but can create meaningful savings elsewhere. For instance, seasonal flowers often cost less than imported blooms, offsetting investments in reusable décor elements.
Your wedding day marks the beginning of your shared journey—what better way to start than by honoring the planet that will support your future together? By thoughtfully considering each element of your celebration, you're creating not just memories but meaning.
The most beautiful weddings aren't defined by lavish spending or perfect aesthetics, but by authentic expressions of who you are as a couple. When your celebration reflects your commitment to each other and to our shared environment, that's truly something worth celebrating.
As you dance under the summer stars or toast amid spring blossoms, you'll know your special day did more than celebrate your love—it honored our planet and set the tone for a mindful marriage ahead. And really, isn't that the perfect way to begin?