How to minimize the environmental footprint of your destination wedding

Jun 28

Any wedding day – near or far, large or small – will be one of the most magical occasions of your life. But if you’re looking to go that extra mile (literally), you might be considering organizing a grand destination wedding. Transporting your nearest and dearest to sunnier shores is a great way to almost guarantee good weather, while also taking advantage of a beautiful setting that adds some extra sparkle to your big day.

However, for eco-conscious couples, this poses something of a dilemma: big celebrations in a far-flung corner of the globe can quickly become huge carbon offenders. On top of the typical harmful features of a wedding – like food waste, plastic use, and energy consumption – you’ll also have to take into account the impact of transporting yourselves and your guests to your chosen destination. But, this type of wedding isn’t inherently detrimental to the planet; with a bit of careful planning, you can pull off the day of your dreams without it costing the Earth. Here are three ways to minimize the environmental footprint of your destination wedding.

Offset your travel emissions

One of the biggest carbon culprits when it comes to any type of travel is the transportation – especially if you’re flying to your destination. Remember, it’s not just the impact of your two seats; you’ll also need to account for every one of your guests who will be making the same return journey if you’re fully committing to a greener celebration.

Fortunately, it’s easier than ever for flyers to offset their carbon emissions. Lots of airlines now offer you the chance to do so when booking your flights, and some sites even show you the estimated emissions for each flight, giving you the opportunity to book onto the greenest one. You also have the option to choose your own carbon offsetting project to buy into. However, whenever you look to offset emissions, it’s important not to be misled by fraudulent schemes that don’t actually fund eco initiatives at all. Be sure to use trusted, reliable services to ensure your money is going to the right place.

Carefully research your venue and accommodation

When looking to throw an eco-friendly wedding, it’s impossible to do it entirely on your own – you’ll need a little help from your accommodation provider and venue. If these places don’t have the necessary green policies in place, it’ll feel like you’re swimming against the tide to keep your emissions to a minimum. Eco-friendly venues and accommodation will often advertise their green credentials on their website. Look out for things like recycling policies and the energy sources they use – eco accreditations can also put your mind at ease when looking for a sustainable host.

Lean on local

Just as you would with a sustainable wedding at home, it’s always good to lean on local items and produce to kit out your wedding. Decorations, food, favors, flowers, and just about everything else in between can likely be sourced close to your venue. This means that the items will have less distance to travel, reducing carbon emissions, while also ensuring you’re supporting local farmers and suppliers. As an added bonus, leaning on local goods can make for a more authentic celebration that’s true to your destination’s values, putting a unique twist on your special day.

Sea Going Green is a sustainable tourism consultancy that works side by side with accommodations and tourism operators to support their eco-friendly journey, enabling them to provide sustainable experiences to visitors and guests. Interested in knowing more? Get in touch.