5 Simple Choices That Will Make Your Wedding Outfit More Eco-Friendly
Guest post written by Daisy Moss
Your wedding is going to be one of the most special days of your life, however, they are notorious for producing horrendous amounts of waste. From the actual rubbish produced on the day to the travel required and the by-products of creating everything needed, billions of pounds of rubbish going to landfills and significant amounts of C02 emissions are released into the atmosphere each year as a result of weddings.
So, more and more eco-friendly wedding options are emerging to help you celebrate your special day as you deserve whilst minimizing the damage to the environment. A great place to start is with your wedding outfit, so we’re going to introduce 5 simple choices that will make your wedding outfit more eco-friendly!
If we haven’t met yet, hi! I’m Lindsey Nickel and I’m a local Sonoma and Napa wedding planner and the owner of Lovely Day Events. Since 2010, I have helped stylish, fun-loving couples (and their dogs) plan destination weddings. Our clients want the ceremony to be outside, the food to be outstanding, and the dance parties to be epic. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place, so you might want to learn more about our wedding planning services.
Buy A Vintage Outfit
When deciding what your wedding outfit is going to look like, start by thinking vintage. Whether you are wanting to wear a dress, suit or anything else, you are sure to find something you love by shopping vintage. Not only do vintage pieces have an unparalleled character, but they are also pre-loved items, so you know that you are not responsible for any damaging mass production.
Your options are endless, as there are plenty of vintage wedding shops all around the world. You will have a beautifully unique dress or outfit that is an environmentally friendly alternative.
Choose Vintage Jewelery
Whilst we’re on the topic of vintage, you could also opt for vintage wedding jewelry. The modern jewelry industry is hugely exploitative and damaging, both to societies and the environment, so choosing beautiful vintage jewelry is a wonderful alternative.
Vintage jewelry has so much character, it is excellent value for money, it has an element of uniqueness that you don’t find in modern equivalents and it is authentic to particular time periods. Not to mention, it is absolutely beautiful and the level of craftsmanship that went into creating these pieces is phenomenal, so the quality often far exceeds modern pieces.
Choosing vintage jewelry for your wedding band, or engagement ring, will be helping the environment and you will know that you are becoming a special part of the story behind that piece of jewelry. Just take some time to make sure that the jewelry is genuine, by visiting a reputable jeweler who has proof of the authenticity.
Consider Renting
Another eco-friendly and cost-effective option for your wedding outfit is to consider renting. There are so many benefits to renting your wedding outfit, from being able to afford a dress you might not have been able to otherwise, to saving money and of course, helping the environment.
Creating a wedding dress can be very damaging when taking into account the materials needed to create the dress, the production needed to make it and then the transportation. Mostly, people wear their wedding dress or outfit once and then store it in the attic where it is never worn again. By renting, you can have the dress of your dreams, without the guilt of environmental damage or the stress of having to store the outfit properly.
Don’t Be Afraid To Borrow!
When it comes to your wedding outfit, it is lucky to have an element of it borrowed. So, why not apply this to more of your outfit? You could wear items owned by your loved ones, making the occasion even more special, and you are reducing your environmental footprint. Things like jewelry, hair accessories, shoes, waistcoats, cufflinks, and bags could be borrowed from your family and friends, helping to make your day extra special and to save you money.
Start your search early on so that if you don’t find what you’re looking for from your family and friends, you still have time to rent things or go thrift shopping!
Choose Something Re-Wearable
The main issue with purchasing a wedding outfit is that on the most part, they are only worn once. However, if you do want to buy your outfit, try to find something that you could wear again. This could be a more casual suit that you know you will get wear out of, a more simple dress that you could wear for anniversary dinners, or a pair of shoes you know will work well for many different occasions!
As this is your big day, it should be everything you want it to be, so don’t feel shamed into renting a dress or buying something you don’t completely love! However, just make sure that your beautiful dress doesn’t go to waste. You could consider selling it on to another bride who will love it just as much as you do.
Final Thoughts
Not everybody wants a traditional wedding, so don’t be afraid to do things a bit differently and put the environment first. Some simple changes can make such a big difference, so take some time to think about how you can put an eco-friendly spin on each element of your wedding and enjoy your big day!
Author Bio:
Daisy Moss is a freelance writer specializing in eco-friendly living, with a love for weddings and vintage jewelry particularly. In her spare time, she loves to find environmentally friendly swaps in day-to-day life to do her bit to help the planet.