Everyone agrees it’s time to go green, which means stepping up and doing what you can to help save this planet! It’s the small, incremental changes that can have the biggest impact if we all do them together. Unfortunately, throwing a party for a bunch of people means a bunch of trash no matter how you slice it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the overall carbon footprint of your wedding! In fact, we have a long list of ways you can reduce, reuse, and recycle on your wedding day! We have adopted many of these at our Vow Exchange chapels so we can personally attest to these eco-friendly finds!

Paper Straws

It’s time to jump on the band wagon and ditch the plastic straws. According to National Geographic, “One study published earlier this year estimated as many as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world's beaches.” Instead of adding to the pollution, opt for biodegradable eco-friendly paper straws! They come in all sorts of colors (including metallics) so you can even match your wedding color scheme!

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Palm Leaf Plates

If you plan on having a buffet on your wedding day, consider using these adorable palm leaf plates from Eco-gecko. The amazing thing about these lightweight, yet sturdy plates, is that they are made from all-natural palm leaves (which means they are both compostable and biodegradable). They come in multiple shapes and sizes, including a heart shaped version which couldn’t be cuter for your wedding!

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Meat Free Buffet

In recent years it’s become more apparent that the meat industry in America is one of the top contributors to climate change. In fact, one study claims “meat creates half of all greenhouse gases”. So if you really want to reduce your wedding’s carbon foot print, consider skipping the traditional options of beef or chicken and instead serve fan favorite dishes such as pasta, pizza, fruit, cheese, and veggies!

Chalk Signs

One word: reusable! We are big advocates for giving your wedding guests the necessary need-to-know info. And the best way to do that, hands down, is with signage. But anyone who’s made a trip to the print shop knows that custom prints are pricey and end up in the trash. That’s why if you need some signs (for your drink table, buffet, dining tables, or wherever) - we suggest investing in these cute reusable chalk signs.

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Recycling Bin Decals

This one seems like a no brainer, but you would be surprised by how many wedding venues do not provide recycling bins. It breaks our hearts to see empty card board boxes and plastic cups get thrown in the trash when they could so easily be recycled! These adorable recycling decals would be so on point for any wedding. We suggest buying a big trash can, slapping on this decal, and voilà - you’ve just kept our landfills that much smaller!

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Cloth/Linen Napkins

It may be an extra expense up front, but buying bulk cloth or linen napkins will last you far beyond your wedding day. Instead of stuffing them in a box with the rest of your wedding decor, you can incorporate them into your home and before you know it they will have paid for themselves and continued to keep paper towels out of your trash for years to come. And as an added bonus, having cloth napkins at your wedding will immediately notch up the “classy factor”. We suggest mixing and matching across your wedding color spectrum!

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Reusable Drinkware

Whether you rent, buy, or borrow, going with reusable drinkware at your wedding is one of the best things you can do to have an eco-friendly event. Get creative and assemble a mix matched set and let your friends and family pick out which style cup speaks to them. You can find so many cute options at places like Home Goods, World Market, or even Walmart! Or better yet, find authentic vintage cups at a more than reasonable price by hitting up your local thrift shops!

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Fake Plant Centerpieces

Although real plants are biodegradable, so much time and energy is put into growing, clipping and arranging real life plants only for them to end up in the trash. The nice thing about fake plants is that they will last a lifetime! These darling artificial succulent centerpieces are sure to wow your guests. And since you and your new spouse likely don’t need dozens of them in your new home, we suggest spreading the love by letting your close family and friends take them home!

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Leaf Confetti

Literally go green by taking a hole punch to some leaves to make your very own environmentally friendly confetti! The biggest downside to traditional confetti is that it’s made from plastic and is so tiny it inevitably ends up outside or down the drain polluting our land and seas for literally decades. We suggest grabbing a few friends and equip them with paper sacks, gloves and a hole punch and going on a leaf hunt! You’ll have enough confetti for all your guests to throw in no time. Make sure to get a variety of shades so your confetti really pops!

Reusable Tote Bag Wedding Favors

Make an even bigger impact by giving the gift of going green! Equip your wedding guests with their very own canvas tote bag wedding favors and you’ll make an entire eco-warrior army! But seriously, your guests will love getting a gift they can actually use instead of sitting on a shelf collecting dust. And it will be a frequent reminder of the good times had at your once in a lifetime event! Pro tip: pick a design that is timeless (like your favorite quote about love) so people are more likely to use it for years to come.