According to a survey conducted by Deloitte, climate change and protection of the environment was the No.1 concern for Gen Z. This generation has managed to incorporate eco-friendly and sustainable ways into their daily life. So, why should their wedding celebrations be any different?

On average, about 30-40kg of waste is produced by an Indian wedding, most of it being plastic waste. And any eco-warrior couple would not dare have a wedding which shall contribute to the already degrading system of our planet. 

Hence, a new wedding phenomenon has been on a rise. Couples are now holding a green wedding so our environment is spared from bearing the brunt of mankind’s actions. A green wedding is a celebration where the couple and other parties, through planning, try to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment. 

Contrary to popular belief, having a green wedding is not going to make your wedding look inexpensive and cut-rate. You can plan your dream big fat Indian wedding while being sustainable about your vendors and choices. So, let's get into planning with 4 tips on making your wedding eco-friendly and sustainable. 

Choose local over the destination wedding venue

To want a destination wedding or a local one is not something we can decide for a couple. However, we can surely tell you the benefits of opting for a local venue over the other in order to have an eco-friendly wedding. 

By now, you’ll have a rough list of all the guests for the wedding. So, do you think it’s a good idea to fly about 200 guests to your potential destination wedding venue? The entire process shall surely take up loads of travel, be it air, road, or rail. And this is just the interstates! We haven’t even started on intrastate transportation, which would lead to more carbon footprints. 

If the majority of your guest list resides in the same town or city as yours, the local venue is going to be hassle-free, cost less, and certainly be eco-friendly.

Wedding invites

Traditional wedding invites have continued to exist in our 21st-century weddings. Maybe with a little variation, but nonetheless. Nowadays, environmentally conscious couples are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wedding invites sent on paper. 

With several budding invite alternatives, the trend of couples opting for these alternate wedding invites has been on the rise. 

Recycle paper- Tried and tested, wedding invites using recycled paper have been in trend for years. But is now being incorporated more than ever. By using recycled paper for your wedding invites, no trees shall be harmed in the process of sending out your big day announcements.  

Seed paper- A great alternative to printed cards is the plantable seed paper invites. This plantable paper is biodegradable in nature and has seeds embedded in them. Once the wedding celebrations are over, you can plant the paper in a soil pot and watch flowers, herbs, or vegetables grow in your backyard. 

E-invites- A trend that started involuntarily during lockdown but has made its impact in the industry, e-invites are simply wedding invites sent through digital platforms. A basic yet quality platform for making such invites is Canva. These e-invites are not only quirky, easy to make, and cost-efficient but also sustainable in nature.

Wedding celebration outfits

Every bride and groom want to fulfill their dreams of a royal wedding and celebrations. Therefore, wanting to look like one is surely something everyone understands. However, is it worthy enough to create carbon footprints and increase the material wastage we already are suffering from? 

Founder of Sui by Sue Mue, a sustainable fashion brand, Mahima Gujral created her own wedding outfits, keeping the repeatability value in mind. “If people are going to buy something new that is unsustainable, they should promise to wear it at least 30 times'' she adds. 

Keeping in mind how wedding attires are rarely worn again, it is really a question to ponder about. No, we are not discouraging you from buying your once-a-life wedding lehenga. We are just suggesting sustainable ways of carrying out your wedding affairs. 

You can also opt for sustainable designer lehengas from labels such as Anita Dongre and Ritu Kumar. Or opt for designer lehengas that use natural color dyes and support local artisans. 

A simple and effective option can be to wear your mother’s or ancestral wedding outfits, opt for a pre-loved lehenga, or rent out from quality and fashion brands for all your pre-and-post wedding ceremonies. While you can go ahead and get a Sabyasachi for your big day. It need not necessarily reduce carbon footprints but shall nullify the implications of your wedding outfit. 

Donate excessive food

According to several reports and surveys, about 40% of food at Indian weddings is wasted and thrown away. The country holds an estimated 20 million weddings annually. The amount of food wasted is unfathomable. 

Food is one of the key elements in a wedding, which requires massive research and investment. People don’t remember what color sherwani you wore on your wedding day; they’ll remember the quality and taste of the food they consumed. Hence, one cannot dare to take any shortcuts when it comes to food. However, one can certainly make sure no food goes to waste. 

Here are a few tips you can use in order to reduce food wastage on your d-day-

Menu selection- If your guests prefer Indian, continental, and Chinese cuisines, there is no point in going ahead and planning for exotic cuisines. Tried and tested menu options to make sure food wastage is as controlled as possible. 

Caterer selection- As planning and preparations begin, caterers shall be nudged on their way through friends and family. However, when planning a wedding, you need to know that you and your caterers are on the same page. Opt for recommended caterers who have experience in reducing the chances of food wastage. 

Food donation- A phenomenon that was alien a few years ago, food donation of your wedding food is one of the best ways to make your wedding a sustainable affair. This not only reduces food waste, helps someone battle hunger, but also counts as a blessing for your new journey of togetherness. 

Indian stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma during his wedding ceremonies donated food from his reception and wedding day to Feeding India, a not-for-profit organization of food delivery giant Zomato. Similar lists of NGOs include ISKCON Food Relief Foundation and World Food Programme.

The process is simple, pick any NGO of your choice that helps in food donation, and sign up with them providing basic information such as name, contact number, venue, date of the wedding, and preferred time of pick up. 

However, do make sure the food is edible and safe before it reaches the underprivileged.