Top tips for planning an eco friendly wedding

Opt for an all-inclusive venue

Reduce the time spent in the car by choosing an all-in-one venue with the ceremony, reception, catering and accommodation included. That way, you don’t need to transport 100+ guests to and from separate locations, which can stack up those harmful CO2 emissions. Plus, guests can’t get lost or stuck in traffic, either!

Our eco friendly wedding venue in Kent provides the perfect blank canvas to host a beautifully romantic yet eco conscious wedding. Get ready in The Pamper Room at Dovecote Cottage, before saying “I do” with nature as your backdrop in the idyllic Godric’s Garden. Head inside our converted Dutch Barn for dining and dancing, before finally retreating to the Solton Manor House for some much-needed sleep.

Serve up seasonal food & drink

One easy way to make your wedding more eco friendly is by eating locally-sourced, seasonal cuisine. This should also extend to beverage choices, with alcohol being sourced from local vineyards, distilleries and breweries. Opt for winter warmer vegetables and slow cooked local cuts of meat in the colder months, with a focus on summer salads and outdoor BBQs in the warmer seasons. 

Solton Manor works closely with many local Kent suppliers to bring you a never-ending list of exciting food and drinks options. Invicta Food Design are our caterers of choice, showcasing local produce through their creative menu choices. Reception guests can sip on locally-made wine from the nearby Chapel Down vineyard, with late-night tipples from Maidstone Distillery and Whitstable Bay.

Use locally-grown flowers

From fresh blooming bouquets to dried floral buttonholes, flowers are a significant part of any wedding day. Choosing flowers that are in-season and grown locally will help dramatically reduce carbon emissions and complement your eco friendly aesthetic. Avoid blooms that are imported from abroad, whilst opting for naturally created displays without the use of floral foam.

If you don’t want to jump on the “single use” bandwagon, you could swap fresh floral arrangements for dried alternatives. As well as being environmentally friendly, dried flowers are far more cost-effective than their counterparts, as they can be reused for other occasions. Styled to Remember offers a fantastic range of both fresh and silk flowers to help bring your dream wedding to life.

Make potted plant centrepieces

Why not use potted plants to decorate your tables? Succulents, orchids, spray roses, herbs and even miniature trees can transform your venue into a botanical paradise, which can then be planted in your own garden. Or, you can let your green-fingered guests take home their own eco friendly wedding favour.

If you want to lean into your DIY side, you could even try your hand at making your own potted floral centrepieces! Snowdrops, daffodils, tulips and bluebells could be planted in colourful pots during the winter, offering the ideal opportunity for ready-made wedding table centrepieces.

Choose a sustainable dress

As we all know, one of the biggest expenses to both your wallet and the environment is the bride’s dress. Wedding dresses are typically only worn for one day, making their carbon footprint (and pricetag!) fairly extortionate. However, there are plenty of eco choices you can make when it comes to wedding attire. 

If you do opt for a new outfit, ensure that the dress is made locally from sustainable fabrics. Some of our recommended local suppliers include Bijou Bridal Studio and Beautiful in Curves. Alternatively, you could consider purchasing a secondhand dress from sites such as Bride2Bride or Stillwhite. Or, if you don’t like the idea of a dress sitting in your wardrobe gathering dust, you could rent a wedding outfit from My Wardrobe HQ or Something Borrowed.

Image credits

Dover Media Group

James Grist Photography

Creation Bureau