The Biggest Sustainability Mistakes Hosts Make
Before beginning our list, we want to share that perfect should never be the enemy of the good. No matter what, any efforts to make any event more eco-friendly are important and admirable. If you are planning a wedding and you want to keep your budget, design and guest experience on track while still considering the environment, here are some tips for avoiding the most common mistakes we see hosts making!
Know the Signs of greenwashing
A vendor describing their practices as sustainable doesn’t necessarily make them so. Just like a “natural” food label doesn’t mean much, neither does an “eco-friendly” label for a business if they can’t back it up. Ask your vendors specific questions about their green practices, scan their websites for this information, and, best of all, use our vetted vendors in the Sustainable Events Collective to help you get a step ahead!
2.Plated Meals Are Actually Great
Sometimes couples think that a buffet or family style meal format will be a better option. While these can sometimes be more affordable, that isn’t necessarily the case. A plated meal actually tends to have the lowest amount of food waste because food is portioned for the guest count and meal selections. Caterers always make a little bit of overage no matter what, but they have to purchase and prepare far less product for plated meals!
3. Venue Matters
Aside from ensuring your venue operates more sustainably, such as having LEED certification or having recycling and composting programs, venue selection also matters because it may affect which vendors you can choose. If a venue has a restricted list for vendors and decor companies, make sure you have eco-friendly options to choose from. A recommended or preferred vendors list is different from an exclusive vendors list! The former means they are guiding you toward business who work there successfully, whereas an exclusive list means you have to work with the vendors on the list.
4. Skip The Extras
As you look through Pinterest and Instagram, you may find lots of ideas for cute little extras to add: favors, cute signs, dance floor props, etc. Remember that your guests are there to celebrate you and to have a good time, not to judge if you don’t follow every consumer trend! Keep the things you like, but don’t feel pressure to bring in more elements just because you saw them on social media.
5. Choose Destination wisely
We love a destination event, but choosing a location that is local to many of your guests and readily accessible via a large airport is far more sustainable than a remote location that requires everyone to fly in and lots of driving—whether on their own or via shuttles—once they do. Choosing location wisely can drastically reduce the environmental footprint of your wedding.
Anything you do to green your day is a step in the right direction. Just keep the above in mind while you’re making the big decisions and you will be in great shape!
