Need To Know: Hosting A Sustainable London Wedding
London is an amazing city. Whether you’re a local or are choosing to have a destination wedding in the ‘Big Smoke’, the iconic red buses, bridges and familiar architecture all make for the perfect background to your nuptials. And with so many ceremony and reception venues to choose from, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you and your partner.
But how can you celebrate without causing a negative impact on the planet? Weddings are familiar culprits when it comes to waste, with plenty of food getting left behind, tons of plastic waste generated and balloons and confetti creating a choking risk for animals. But it doesn’t have to be that way – a wedding can be both sustainable and stylish. In this post, we explore how you can make sure your London wedding is a positive experience for both you and the planet.
Curating your outfits
You might think that getting a custom-made dress or suit is a waste of money – after all, it’s designed for one day. However, tailors are skilled at making garments that can be adjusted to wear in the future as well as on your big day. When it comes to sustainability, they’ll also be able to advise you on the most suitable eco fabrics, and craft an item with no unnecessary wastage. A well-made custom outfit will last for years to come, and can be repaired rather than needing to be thrown away.
Custom clothing is also a sure-fire way to make you feel your best, which is exactly what you want on your wedding day. Don’t be afraid to buck the trend and choose something unique either – if you’re going to go for a custom outfit, you might as well make it something you love.
Reducing the carbon footprint of your food
You might not think about the impact that your wedding breakfast will have on the environment, but it plays a big role in the overall waste generated on the day. Financially, research shows that £488 of food is wasted at an average wedding, so it’s also well worth taking the time to reduce this where you can.
Fortunately, having a city wedding can actually make this easier, since you’ll have such a large range of eateries to choose from. Opting for private hire of a restaurant, for example, means that you have more control over the menu than you might do at a remote country house venue, and you can work with the chef to choose dishes that are both correctly portioned and seasonal, further reducing the carbon footprint.
Sourcing seasonal flowers
Flowers are often a primary source of decor for weddings, but they can be highly unsustainable depending on what you order. Forcing flowers to bloom exactly on time and out of season can require highly controlled growing conditions, and this extra energy isn’t good for the planet. Additionally, sourcing flowers from far-flung locations can lead to a high transportation carbon footprint, so it’s best to keep things local and seasonal for your sustainable day.
Luckily, London is the perfect place to source local and beautiful blooms. Either work with a local florist, or head to the best flower markets in London in the early hours of your big day to handpick your own flowers. You might wince at the early start, but it will all be worth it.
