How to have an Eco-conscious Wedding
In our last blog, we spoke about some of the wedding trends we expect to see become popular in 2019. One of these was eco-friendly weddings, with couples growing increasingly concerned with the carbon footprint of their celebrations and wishing to reduce to reduce the environmental impact of their day. If you'd like to be more eco-conscious with your wedding planning, read on for some tips...
As we all become more aware of our carbon footprint and the impact we have on our environment, couples are also choosing to be more eco-conscious when planning their nuptials. From opting for local suppliers and using seasonal ingredients, to buying ethically manufactured clothing, there are numerous ways to make your celebrations that bit friendlier to the environment!
Start Small
Colourful confetti looks great in photographs but can be a nightmare to clean up - not so great for the environment! Many venues are now conscious of the this and require any confetti used by guests to be biodegradable. Depending on the weather, biodegradable confetti will break down in around a week, causing minimal long-term impact.
Shop Local
Think about how far your suppliers would have to travel to work at your wedding - the further they need to go, the worse the impact on the environment! Opting for a collective of well reputed local suppliers may also increase the likelihood for them having worked together before, helping your day go off without a hitch, as well as reducing its carbon footprint!
Pick (your flowers) Carefully
Floristry has a particularly bad reputation for being environmentally unfriendly: not only can flowers be flown long distances for just one day, the foam used to keep stems hydrated and held in place doesn’t break down in landfill. This has lead many couples to opt for foam-free displays in recent years and pick non-plastic wrappings for their bouquets. It's one easy way you can be more eco-conscious in planning your own day.
Food Miles
If you want to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding day, it's worth thinking carefully about the food miles behind your wedding breakfast. Luckily for us, Scotland is home to some of the best food in the world, and we pride ourselves on serving seasonal local produce, a selection of craft-brewed Scottish beers and cider and bespoke gins from all over the country. Minimal food miles and perfect for a great celebration!
Dress Smart
Often one of the more extravagant expenses when planning a wedding is the outfits that you and your bridal party will wear, particularly when you consider that you may only end up wearing them once. This isn't good for the environment either! While opting for a vintage dress is perhaps the most eco-friendly option, it's understandable if you'd rather your dress only be yours. If so, you could opt for a dress made from fabric from factories where workers are provided with a living wage and safe working conditions. or a local dress-maker who uses non-toxic dyes and sources fabrics close to their production site, to help ensure you minimise the carbon footprint of your wedding clothes.
Give Back
Another way couples are taking responsibility for the impact their wedding day has is to give something back through the purchases they make. Many charitable organisations and social enterprises provide wedding services, and will use their profits to support community projects, from caterers that provide meals to the homeless and wedding photographers that teach disadvantaged youth. The National Piping Centre is a charity that promotes the study and history of the Highland Bagpipe: through teaching students of all ages and abilities, running amateur piping competitions, hosting recitals and the internationally acclaimed Piping Live! Festival. When you book your wedding with us, you're also helping to support the work we do!
If you'd like to find out more about getting married at The National Piping Centre, contact us on 0141 353 5551 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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