It is estimated that more than 10 million weddings take place in India every year and all of these celebrations leave behind truckloads of trash in the form of discarded plastic cutlery, used flowers and a large amount of food, etc.
Add to it the other waste related to weddings like the wedding cards, return gifts and unwanted wedding gifts.
Wedding curators Aaradhana & Prateek Kashyap of made in Heaven lists down some tips for a Zero Waste Wedding:
1. Opt for a hybrid wedding: The pandemic has made hybrid weddings, the norm of the day. It’s safe, can be low on cost and make it a very intimate and personal celebration. Having the guest count to a minimum, you can stay long enough and have an elaborate wedding. A small guest list will also help to better plan catering, favors, and decor, as well as implement low-waste solutions that may not be possible with a larger wedding party.
2. Prefer a day wedding: This will help avoid the genets and the electricity load at the venue. Choose a venue with an open lawn and natural beauty and shade with flowers and trees aplenty. If the venue is naturally attractive, you can avoid the decoration waste
3. Choose your venue wisely: Opt for a sustainable and eco-friendly venue which uses solar energy, composts and recycle waste, has tie-ups with NGOs for donating excess food, fresh flowers, space with reusable decor, a lawn for day events, etc.
4. Go for e-invites or, recycled and seed paper invites: Avoid paper invites and goes for e-invites. If at all, you want to go for physical invites, limit the number and opt for recycled paper or bamboo and even seeded invites.
5. Avoid theme weddings: A theme wedding involves elaborate structures, involving use of wood, thermocol and other materials that cannot be used; therefore it’s advisable to avoid theme weddings. If at all, you plan a theme event, rent rather than buying decor and equipment, rent it. This will ensure that there is less wastage and you are not contributing directly to it.
6. Decor wisely: Avoid plastics; instead use local fresh flowers and a support a small entrepreneur. The flower waste can be given to NGOs who upcycle them and make products from fresh flower waste. Also, make sure to use foam free floral installations. Use live plants as centerpieces you can even give them away to your guests as favors. Use scrap cloth for decor or reusable props. Avoid electric lights, instead use solar lanterns. At a typical Indian wedding, more than Rs.2 lakh is spent on lighting alone. Hire a wedding curator who specializes in sustainable weddings. Use minimum construction.
7. Keep a check on Food waste: It’s startling to note that between 10-20 per cent of the food goes to waste at an average Indian wedding. To avoid food waste, opt for plated dinners, and have a plan about saving left over’s if you are doing a buffet for e.g. tying up with a cloud kitchen or food service that can take up the extra food and provide to those who need it. What’s better than to donate food to a food bank at your wedding? Support local farmers by choosing locally-sourced food; opt for seasonal food and more vegetarian dishes than non-vegetarian.
Replace plastic water bottles with water stations with flavored filtered water. Opt for re-usable water bottles and jugs in the guest rooms. Replace paper napkins with cloth napkins. For cutlery, use ceramic, steel or bamboo. Segregate dry and wet waste so that composting is easier after the celebrations are over.
8. Wedding Outfits: Buy from sustainable brands, upcycle your wedding dress or borrow from your mother or father’s wardrobe, its nostalgic to wear what your parents wore on their D-day. You can even rent your wedding attire.
9. Wedding Gifts: You can opt for gift registry services or e-gift cards which can reduce waste generated by gifts alone by almost 50%. However, if you are not in need of any gifts, you can request guests to support charity as gifts. Donating gifts to those in need is a conscientious way to begin your life together.
10. Wedding favors: While you can’t always control what guests gift you, you can be sustainable with return gifts. So, opt for zero-waste themed wedding favors.
Don’t use plastic gift wraps; instead use reusable containers, jute bags or cloth purses.
‘The one season that never really changes in India, is the ‘wedding season!’ weddings are considered one of the biggest events in one’s life, and the traditions in our culture make a grand celebration of it. If you are one of them or simply collecting information for future reference, here is a detailed 10-step guide on how you can plan a zero-waste wedding without over-shooting your budget’