Getting married at a destination is a dream for most couples. Picture stunning landscapes and one-of-a-kind views setting the stage for your special occasion. It will hold special memories by you and your loved ones.
While destination weddings are undeniably stunning, they can be difficult to successfully execute. In addition to the financial and operational aspects, sustainability problems may also arise.
As the demand for eco-friendly practices grows, more couples are seeking ways to reduce the environmental impact of their weddings, especially when traveling. Sustainable packing for a green destination wedding is not only possible—it’s a wonderful opportunity to align your celebration with your values and contribute to the preservation of the planet.
In this guide, we’ll explore practical tips for packing sustainably for your green destination wedding, and also tips to ensuring that your special day is eco-conscious and also memorable.
Travel with only essential items
Packing lightly for a destination wedding not only reduces the burden of carrying heavy luggage but also helps decrease your impact on the environment. Reducing the amount of luggage you pack reduces emissions by decreasing the amount of fuel an aircraft needs to carry for heavier weights.
Select versatile clothing items that can be easily combined, and strive to pack only the necessities. If you’re planning to stay for a long time, you might have the option to do laundry where you are staying, which can help lessen the amount of things you need to bring.
Reusable packaging bags
Choose long-lasting, reusable bags that can endure repeated travels to minimize the use of disposable plastic bags or single-use suitcases. When preparing for travel, think about utilizing reusable packing cubes for better organization of your items and steer clear of disposable plastic packing items such as ziplock bags or plastic wrap.
How To Ensure Your Dream Destination Wedding Is Also Eco-Friendly
Offset Your Carbon Footprint
Air travel is greatly impactful on carbon emissions. Chances are you will opt for air travel to attend a destination wedding. It’s likely inevitable because flying is the most convenient method of traveling to various countries. Even if you are having your wedding at home, the majority of your guests will still need to journey to your selected venue.
An option available to you is to counterbalance the carbon footprint of the air travel required for your wedding. Look for airlines that are environmentally friendly and work to balance out their carbon emissions.
Another option, which will demand more coordination from you, is to select a flight that can fit all of your guests. Consolidating everyone onto one or two flights instead of flying separately can greatly increase the sustainability of transportation to your wedding. Think about employing a custom wedding travel planner. Someone capable of providing charter flights, group booking discounts, and guest management throughout your wedding week.
Offer sustainable travel options for your guests
Visitors will require transportation to their lodging upon their arrival at the airport. You have the option to make this procedure more environmentally friendly by coordinating group transportation for guests. This might just be another sustainable option for your dream destination wedding, enhancing your guests’ travel experience as well.
Instead of everybody taking separate taxis, hire a large vehicle to fit everyone. Logistics will be necessary as everyone needs to be on the same flight for this plan to succeed. That’s the reason bringing on board a logistics and guest manager or someone similar to a travel agent can alleviate this burden for you! Inquire with your wedding planner about whether they provide this service or if they can suggest a recommendation for you.
Shop Sustainable Diamonds
When selecting your engagement ring and wedding bands, make sure to trace the source of your diamond or gemstones. You wouldn’t want to unintentionally select a blood diamond, which is a smuggled diamond financing a civil war, to represent your everlasting love (we’ve all watched the Leonardo DiCaprio movie). The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme is a valuable tool for monitoring your gemstones, but it’s also crucial to inquire if your jeweler is dedicated to selling conflict-free jewelry pieces.
Despite being counter-intuitive, lab grown diamond rings have a smaller environmental footprint. Moissanite, a scarce gemstone found in nature, is created in a laboratory, eliminating the need for mining. It does not harm the planet and is not associated with any conflict trade. Another favorable option is stones that require less resources to be extracted, such as salt-and-pepper diamonds.
Pick an Eco-Friendly venue for your destination wedding
How can you reduce the environmental impact of your wedding and make it more eco-friendly in a simple way? Select a ceremony and reception venue that prioritizes sustainability. You also have the choice to select an outdoor area. Getting married in a beautiful natural setting such as a forest, hills, or vineyard is an amazing way to connect with nature on your special day.
Reserving a wedding venue in a national park contributes to its conservation funding, while beach charges often go towards cleanup activities. You will reduce your energy consumption by using less lighting, thanks to the sunshine. Beautiful photographs will be produced due to the abundant natural light.
A fantastic place to begin looking for a venue is the Green Building Information Gateway. You have the option to look for hotels and event venues that have both LEED certifications and Energy Star ratings. You can be sustainable without giving up style as many lovely venues are embracing eco-friendly practices.
Support local Suppliers
Think about exploring suppliers that are already based in the country you are planning to visit. There is no need to transport them by plane, and you will also be contributing to the local economy.
Begin by enlisting the services of a wedding planner in your area. They will possess a well-developed roster of suppliers such as photographers, caterers, florists, and others. They are capable of assisting in coordinating all aspects on their side and reducing a significant amount of stress during the planning process.
Look for wedding planners who have experience in organizing environmentally friendly weddings.
