How choosing a restored historic venue can make your wedding greener

When you picture an eco-friendly wedding, you’re probably imagining one of two things: a purpose-built eco venue with solar panels and every green credential going, or an outdoor celebration in a field with recyclable, well, everything… But what if we told you that there is a third option?

Getting married in a historic wedding venue is actually one of the greenest choices you could make. Here’s what makes a historic venue more sustainable, with examples from our own 900-year-old estate at Solton Manor.

They’re already built

Every new-build constructed carries a carbon cost. Building, transporting, and assembling materials all release harmful greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the heavy energy use and waste from construction. 

Historic wedding venues avoid this carbon cost because no new building is needed. You can tie the knot in a beautiful historic building, without fear of contributing to the rising greenhouse gas levels. 

They’re repaired and repurposed

Research from Historic England suggests that to meet the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050, we must recycle, reuse, repurpose, and responsibly adapt our existing historic buildings. 

Many historic estates, including Solton Manor, survive because they do exactly this. Generations adapt and restore them over time rather than knocking them down and starting all over again. A great example of this was our recent renovation project of the Old Stables. Instead of building a new ceremony room, we brought the original stables back to life with the help of a local builder and interior designer, keeping the character and craftsmanship that made them so special.

Their grounds have had time to mature

Sustainability isn’t just about buildings. The mature gardens, old hedgerows, and ancient trees found in many historic estates can take decades to establish and support wildlife. A freshly landscaped site simply can’t do this.

As custodians of Solton Manor, our aim is to hand the estate on in better condition than we found it. We achieve this through wildlife-friendly gardening and careful landscape management across the grounds. This year, we were proud to receive a Bronze Award at the Wilder Kent Awards for our efforts to support biodiversity.

1) Let the building do the decorating

Hiring lots of décor can be harmful to the environment and your budget. Delivery vehicles release harmful emissions, and many décor items use single-use plastic that ends up in landfill. But you don’t need any of that with a historic wedding venue because the atmosphere is already there. Just add some locally-grown, seasonal flowers and a few personal touches (made from sustainable materials) to make the space your own. 

2) Keep your suppliers close to home

Choosing local suppliers is one of the easiest ways to make your wedding greener. Local suppliers can get to your venue much quicker, which cuts down on travel emissions, and your money also invests in the local community. At Solton Manor, we partner with some fantastic local suppliers, like Touchays (catering), Dover Media Group (photographers), Bridal Boutique of Jules, and Kingsdown Rings, to help reduce your celebration’s carbon footprint.

3) Invite your guests to stay on site

Guest travel is one of the biggest parts of a wedding’s footprint. The environmental cost of travelling between locations for the ceremony, reception, and overnight accommodation all adds up. To keep your footprint a little lighter, look for an all-in-one venue with on-site accommodation, like Solton Manor. Your entire celebrations can take place in one location, with two luxurious accommodation options for your closest family and friends to choose from.

4) Consider a midweek wedding

Off-peak, midweek weddings are generally less demanding on the environment than weekends or peak holiday seasons. Your guests will spend less time travelling in peak holiday traffic, and you’ll find it easier to book the local suppliers you want without having to look too far afield. And what’s more, your budget will usually stretch further on a midweek wedding, as many venues offer better value packages (like our midweek multi-day wedding package).

5) It’s all in the detail

The small details can quickly add up when it comes to sustainability. Here are a few simple changes you can make to keep the planet happy:

• Choose seasonal flowers that are grown closer to home 
• Reuse your ceremony flowers on your wedding breakfast tables 
• Use real or dried petal confetti instead of paper or plastic
• If you want alternative glassware or linens than your caterers provide, hire them in from somewhere like Black Saucers rather than buying single-use
• Arrange a shared minibus for any guests who aren’t staying on site

Are historic wedding venues more sustainable than modern ones?

Historic wedding venues can offer environmental advantages. They give existing buildings a new purpose rather than constructing something new, which helps to preserve the venue for future generations. At Solton Manor, our Grade II-listed Manor House and historic barns provide characterful settings that often need very little additional decoration. With accommodation available on the estate, your guests can also stay overnight without travelling to a separate hotel – further reducing the carbon footprint of your wedding.

Is a zero carbon footprint wedding possible?

It’s very difficult to have a completely zero carbon footprint wedding. Guest travel, food, and energy all have some impact on the environment. However, you can reduce your footprint by choosing a historic wedding venue, keeping your suppliers local, and offering on-site accommodation to your guests.

What should I ask when comparing eco-friendly wedding venues? 

When comparing eco-friendly wedding venues, ask how the buildings have been restored or adapted over time, how the grounds are managed for wildlife, which local suppliers they work with, and whether guests can stay on site to cut down on travel emissions.

What are the easiest green wedding ideas?

Some easy ways to make your wedding greener include using seasonal, locally grown flowers, reusing your ceremony flowers at the reception, opting for real petal confetti, hiring rather than buying single-use items, and working with suppliers that are located near your venue.