India is well known for its spectacular festivals, so it is not surprising that they are obsessed with large, lavish weddings. The magnitude of these celebrations, however, comes at a huge cost and waste, hidden beneath the laughter and tears of a wedding scene. One wedding might not seem like enough to make a big difference to our environment, but when all the weddings that take place in a year are totalled up, they significantly speed up climate change and global warming.

Keeping this in mind, here are 5 eco-friendly wedding ideas that will inspire you to take significant environmental effort on your special day if you want to have a more environmentally friendly celebration.

One of the best methods to decorate wedding venues is by upcycling. Simple household objects can be used to make unique, personalised gifts for your guests or décor pieces for your weddings. It's definitely one of the best methods to enhance the overall aesthetic of your wedding and add a personal touch while also saving money. 

One can use the aforementioned examples of simple décor for their weddings such as Dixie cups that you likely purchased with the intention of using them on a road trip or picnic. But now that they're just sitting there in a supply closet or the fairy lights in our houses from Diwali last year, utilize your imagination to create the most beautiful use of your fairy lights.

Eco-Friendly invitations for your guests

It's now simpler than ever to find invitation suites that are printed on recycled paper or employ alternative materials, such as recycled fabrics, leather, and wood, as wedding merchants grow more ecologically conscious. When looking for a stationer, look for businesses that support the environment. 

Use seed paper to print invitations, programmes, and menus for the most environmentally friendly stationery.  

Don't throw away the remaining decor. After eco-friendly weddings, there are many opportunities to reuse, recycle, or donate items. One of them is flowers. In order to prevent waste, you can also provide access to the venue's personnel, family, or visitors.

There are possibilities for ornaments including mirrors, signs, and lanterns. Use objects that you already have or that you intend to use in your house after the wedding. 

Any large gathering will have leftovers, and buffet dinners are a particular offender. After the party is over, what happens to all the leftover food? Following the event, it is thrown in the garbage. Choose plated dinners rather than buffets to reduce waste, and if you do choose a buffet, ask your caterer to store leftovers. If regulations permit, you can donate extra food to a local food bank or homeless shelter, be prepared initially, collects all the details ahead of time, and ensure it’s all properly packed and ready to go.

Rent anything and everything you can

Instead of using plastic glasses, use hired stemware instead, which not only looks more exquisite but also replaces paper plates with rented China. It will automatically improve your entire wedding appearance and lessen waste sent to landfills. 

In the same way, linens. Rent linen tablecloths, runners, and napkins in place of paper ones. Even the cost of renting the event space at certain locations includes linens. If straws are desired for mixed beverages, consider renting or purchasing reusable stainless steel straws. Or, as a less expensive alternative, choose paper straws rather than plastic ones because they break down more quickly and won't affect marine life. Refrain from using plastic straws and cutlery and choose instead for environmentally-friendly dinnerware. For instance, you can use edible cutlery and steel straws rather than plastic ones.

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