Three years ago, my husband and I had the most sustainable marriage I could have imagined (and we’re going to ignore the fact that one year later we threw a big party that…wasn’t super sustainable). In Colorado, you don’t need an officiant or witness to get married - just pick up your marriage license at the Denver Clerk and Recorder office, bring it back within 30 days signed, and voila! It’s official!

That’s cute and everything, but how might I plan a normal wedding in the most sustainable way? 

I’m so glad you asked! I know firsthand how quickly "simple celebration" transforms into "three-ring circus." The average American wedding produces 400-600 pounds of garbage and has a carbon footprint of about 63 tons—equivalent to what about four people produce in an entire year.

But, before you decide to elope in Crested Butte like yours truly, there are countless ways to create a memorable celebration that aligns with your values. Let's break it down:

Venues With Values

The venue sets the tone for your entire wedding footprint. Consider these options:

Existing Structures: Museums, art galleries, botanical gardens, or historic buildings are already beautiful and need minimal, if any, additional décor. Many of these venues also fund conservation or community projects with their rental fees.

Outdoor Venues: Parks, beaches, and family properties can make stunning backdrops with minimal environmental impact. Just be sure to check permit requirements and leave no trace - anything you bring with you should leave with you, too.

Sustainability-Minded Venues: Some venues are specifically designed with sustainability in mind—look for LEED certification, solar power, rainwater collection, or farm-to-table programs.

Questions to ask potential venues:

• Do you compost food waste?
• Do you have recycling programs?
• Do you use renewable energy?
• Are you accessible by public transportation?
• Do you have relationships with local, sustainability-minded vendors?

Mindful Meals

Here's how to serve a feast that doesn't cost the earth:

Plant-Forward Menus: You don't need to go fully vegan, but reducing animal products—especially beef—makes a massive difference. Consider serving meat as a side rather than the main, or opt for chicken or fish over red meat.

Local & Seasonal: Work with your caterer to design a menu around what's in season in your region. Food that travels less creates fewer emissions.

Food Waste: Ask your caterer about portion control strategies and what happens to leftover food. Some services partner with food rescue organizations to donate unused meals. Family Style is a great way for guests to choose their own adventure and avoid items they may have otherwise been left untouched. 

Ethical Booze: Local breweries, wineries, and distilleries reduce transportation emissions and may have greater control over their sustainability practices than mass-market brands. Companies like Greenbar Distillery even plant a tree for every bottle sold!

Décor That Doesn't Destroy

Those Pinterest-perfect tablescapes are gorgeous - though they often come with a heavy environmental price tag. Explore these alternatives:

Rentals Over Disposables: From linens to tableware, renting is almost always more sustainable than buying something new. If you can’t avoid disposables, opt for recyclable or compostable options (and see if the venue is able to help guide guests on proper disposal to ensure things are sorted properly given your venue’s local infrastructure). While we’re on the topic of rentals, did you know companies like Rent the Runway now even offer bridesmaid dress rentals? So chic.

Secondhand & Vintage: Thrifted vases, picture frames, and other décor add unique charm, while reducing the demand for additional resource extraction for new goods.

Bottom line: The most sustainable décor items are those that already exist, will be reused, or can return to the earth without doing undue harm.

The Green Registry: Gifts That Give Back

Let's be honest—as couples, we may already accumulate a lot of stuff. The tradition of wedding registries dates back to a time when couples were moving from their parents' homes directly to their first shared household. Today, many of us have been living independently for years and don't need another toaster.

Here's how to approach your registry with sustainability in mind:

Experience Gifts: Research shows experiences contribute more to long-term happiness than material possessions. Consider registering for cooking classes, concert tickets, national park passes, or contributions to a honeymoon fund.

Charity Registries: Platforms like The Good Beginning allow guests to donate to causes you care about in your name—whether that's climate action, social justice, or animal welfare.

Quality Over Quantity: If you do need household items, register for high-quality pieces that will last decades. Companies like Parachute Home offer more sustainable bedding with transparent supply chains, while Caraway provides non-toxic cookware built to last.

Secondhand Options: Some registry services now let you add vintage or pre-owned items to your list. This is perfect for furniture, art, or specialty kitchen equipment.

Other Sustainable Brands We Love:

• Material Kitchen for responsibly-made kitchen tools
• Our Place for non-toxic, multi-functional cookware
• Coyuchi for organic bedding and towels
• ReBorn for homewares made from recycled materials
• West Elm for their Fair Trade and FSC-certified furniture options

Bottom line: Your registry is a perfect opportunity to introduce friends and family to brands with real sustainability credentials, while ensuring gifts won't end up in the landfill next year.

Ethical "I Do's": The Jewelry Question

While we're talking about weddings, let's address the elephant in the room: wedding jewelry often comes with serious ethical and environmental concerns. The good news? The industry is changing, with more transparent and responsible options available than ever before. See what Finch has already said about this here. 

Lab-Grown Diamonds: Nearly identical to mined diamonds, but without the environmental destruction or potential human rights issues. Companies like Brilliant Earth and VRAI offer stunning lab-grown options.

Recycled Metals: Brands like Catbird NYC and Bario Neal use recycled gold and platinum to create beautiful, unique pieces without new mining.

Vintage & Heirloom: Perhaps the most sustainable option of all—using rings that already exist, whether from family members or vintage jewelers.

Alternative Gemstones: Consider Montana sapphires (mined in the USA under strict regulations), moissanite (a lab-created stone with more brilliance than a diamond), or colored stones with transparent sourcing.

Whichever route you choose, ask questions about sourcing, manufacturing practices, and company ethics. A truly special piece deserves a story you can feel good about.

Honeymoon Harmony: Travel That Treads Lighter

Your honeymoon is a chance to celebrate your new marriage—and it can also be an opportunity to support destinations and businesses that prioritize people and planet.

Stay Close(r): Consider destinations within train distance, or at least without long-haul flights. This dramatically reduces your carbon footprint without sacrificing the quality of the experience.

Eco-Lodges & Sustainable Hotels: Look for accommodations with recognized certifications like Green Key, LEED, or Earth Check. Properties like the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge or Costa Rica's Pacuare Lodge demonstrate that luxury and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.

Community Tourism: Choose operations owned by local communities rather than international chains. Your money circulates locally within the region (rather than flowing to a touristy chain) and typically creates more meaningful experiences.

Carbon Offsetting: If long-distance travel is non-negotiable, purchase high-quality carbon offsets through organizations like Gold Standard or Climate Neutral.

Slow Travel: Instead of bouncing between multiple destinations, choose one or two places to explore deeply. This reduces transit emissions and often leads to more time to rest and recover post-wedding.

Pack Mindfully: Bring a reusable water bottle, shopping bag, and reef-safe sunscreen that uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide instead of oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Sustainable travel operators we recommend:

• Intrepid Travel (B-Corp certified)
• Natural Habitat Adventures (carbon-neutral since 2007)
• Responsible Travel (carefully vetted experiences)
• Kind Traveler (donations to local causes included in booking)

Bottom line: The memories you create on your honeymoon will last a lifetime—make sure they're positive for the communities you visit, too.

Wedding FAQs:

Is it more sustainable to have a destination wedding where everyone flies, or a local wedding with lots of stuff being shipped in?

It depends on the specifics, but generally, a local wedding with mindfully sourced materials wins out. Even with shipping some items, the collective carbon footprint of dozens of guests flying (especially internationally) quickly outpaces local transportation and shipping emissions. If you're set on a destination event, consider locations accessible to most guests via train or car, or plan additional activities to make the trip more worthwhile from an emissions perspective.

What's the most sustainable way to handle flowers for a wedding?

Local, seasonal blooms are your best bet! Find a florist who sources from nearby farms practicing regenerative agriculture. Some innovative florists even "rent" potted arrangements that continue living after your event. Dried flowers and greenery foraged from permitted areas (or your own garden) make stunning, low-impact decorations. After the event, arrange for flowers to be composted or donated to nursing homes or hospitals—organizations like Repeat Roses specialize in this service.