How To Send Eco Friendly And Zero Waste Wedding Invitations

Wedding stationery that produces zero waste. What is it, and is it even achievable? The phrase 'zero-waste' is becoming more and more popular among people leading more sustainable lives, and it basically means that you should try not to send anything to landfill. But is that feasible, and will it ever happen? Most likely not, because weddings are famously quite wasteful - all that money and extra stuff for just one day. But how about we consider 'going zero waste' as a goal rather than a final destination? It's fair to say that we can all do our bit, and by making some little changes and improvements to reduce or eliminate waste as often as we can (especially when planning a wedding), we can all make a difference. All these little changes, made by many people around the globe, add up to big impacts!

Ready for your wedding to get its green credentials and embody an eco-friendly ethos for your big day? Let's dive in...

How can you apply eco-friendly or zero-waste to wedding stationery?

It's doubtful there will ever be a completely zero-waste solution for wedding stationery because it is, by definition, a one-time-use item (except for simply not having any). On the other hand, you can do a few things to significantly cut down on waste when it comes to wedding stationery. Here are some recommendations for approaching zero-waste or having more sustainable wedding invitations...

Choose to go digital for the perfect zero-waste option

You can significantly cut down on the quantity of paper you need for your invites by creating a wedding website, setting up guest information, and receiving RSVPs digitally, all in one place. In fact, this way, you don't have to use any physical paper items at all, and we promise that you'll be surprised and delighted by the gorgeous templates available online. To dip your toe and sample what's available, go ahead and have a browse on Say I do; you're guaranteed to find one that will fit your wedding theme.

You may be thinking that sending invitations exclusively digitally might not be your style, however many couples choose to do a bit of both. How about sending out a digital save-the-date card and e-vites through your wedding website and then a paper thank you card to follow post-wedding? Remember that it all comes down to many of us making small adjustments, so just choose what feels right for you.

The pluses of creating online invitations

• More affordable. If you choose to send digital invitations, you will undoubtedly save money. If you're not careful, the price of paper invitations, envelopes, and stamps may mount up rapidly. A simple and effective way to save on wedding expenses is to send out invitations online.

• Instant RSVP. All your guests have to do to RSVP to a digital wedding invitation is click on a link. This will enable you to promptly and effectively keep track of who will be present without receiving hundreds of RSVP cards through the letterbox for you to trawl through!

• It is practical. You and your guests can save time and hassle by sending out your wedding invitations online. Your visitors won't have to worry about losing their invitations or planning a trip, and you won't have to bother about addressing and stamping envelopes or taking trips to the post office.

• Doing your bit to create a green wedding. You may feel like it's a huge task to create a more sustainable event, but if you choose to go digital with your wedding invitations, you're on your way to creating a greener wedding.

• Streamline wedding planning. Often, digital wedding invitations will be found on a wedding website or lead you to one. Wedding websites can really help when it comes to keeping you on track with wedding planning. They will act as the central hub for your guests to find out all the information ahead of your big day and enable you to put in as much detail as needed---no risk of running out of space online!

But if you are choosing to send out paper invitations, here are a few tips to keep your carbon footprint in check!

Don't over-order

Even though it can be tempting to "round up to the nearest 10 to have a few spares", it's very simple to accumulate a mountain of wasted stationery items following the wedding. Calculate your numbers carefully; just order what you need, and select a stationery supplier that can produce a quantity that is as close to your exact requirement as feasibly possible.

Keep the amount of wedding stationery to a minimum

Here are some suggestions for maximising the use of reusable wedding stationery items:

• Putting each guest's name on the menu rather than on place cards and individual menus

• Have your order of the day and welcome message all on one sign instead of having to create two

• Rather than providing your guests with customary wedding favours, consider making a donation to your preferred charity

Avoid glitter and other non-recyclable accessories

Many ribbons, glitters, and embellishments are not recyclable. If you don't use these on your stationery and wedding invites, gradually, less waste will wind up in landfills. There are lots of beautiful wedding invitations out there that are sustainable and made out of recycled paper, all contributing to waste reduction. If you're feeling creative and have time on your side, handmade paper invitations are always a lovely touch and a pleasure for wedding guests to receive.

Choose materials that can be composted or even planted

Uncoated, simply printed paper and card can be easily recycled or composted. Or, for almost completely zero-waste wedding stationery, how about choosing plantable wedding invitations? Embedded with wildflower seeds, your printed invitations and stationery can be planted afterwards, giving your guests a beautiful, bee-friendly, blooming reminder of your big day!

Work with small eco-conscious companies that care

Do your research when it comes to finding your wedding suppliers, and make sure you are content that they play their part in being a sustainable, eco-conscious business. Support a small local business so you can help support your local community in the process. Try to find out where suppliers source their materials from, what sort of packaging they use, and if they have any sustainability reports on their website.

So is it actually possible to create eco-friendly wedding

invitations?

Understandably, none of these suggestions will produce wedding stationery that produces exactly zero waste. But, as mentioned at the beginning, the zero-waste ethos is about taking small steps in the right direction and about making progress over achieving perfection. Deciding to send your wedding invitations online will significantly reduce your carbon footprint and can save you time and money in the process. However, reducing waste can be achieved by being mindful of the materials used to make your stationery, planning for its post-wedding disposal, and ordering in moderation.