We’ve been hearing it in nearly every industry— sustainability. However, weddings might seem like a hard place to cut back on extras, but being less environmentally harmful doesn’t always mean having less. We talked to two top wedding planners at Preston Bailey’s PB Live!, which gives up-and-coming designers and planners all the tools they need to put on the perfect weddings, on how brides- and grooms-to-be can make changes that benefit local vendors, charities, and the planet.
Bryan Rafanelli, trusted planner of Michelle Obama, mentions two ways to make your big day more sustainable: choose vendors and venues that focus on eco-conscious products and offerings and try spotlighting family heirlooms. “Some venues today grow the food they offer by using resilient farming practice, in turn creating a healthier food future for your guests and more importantly for the planet,” he says.
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Wild Basin Lodge in Colorado and Agriturismo Il Rigo in Tuscany are two great places to host a more eco-friendly wedding. And of course, if your grandmother’s dress isn’t your taste, we love places like Happy Isles in Los Angeles, which specialize in chic, vintage bridal… don’t underestimate the “something old” and “something borrowed” this time around.
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Jennifer Zabinksi of JZ Events, who has done a few OTM-featured weddings and Serena Williams’s big day (no big deal!), highlights using eco-friendly stationery companies, local caterers, and minimal-waste florists. Paper Culture, which combines contemporary design and 100% post-recycled paper, is an excellent source for invitations, if you’re not willing to go full online with the likes of Paperless Post‘s Brock Collection e-vites. Zabinski is also for charitable registries and donating floral centerpieces to hospitals, churches, and nursing homes.
With these easy inclusions into your wedding, there really is no excuse in making even just the smallest effort to be more sustainable…