Many people aspire to live a more ethical life, which can involve being kind to people, animals, and the environment, helping those in need, and being honest, fair, and conscientious.
You might live your entire life being as ethical as possible, but planning a wedding can often be when you feel like you’ve reached your moral limits. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. You can plan an ethical wedding in some of the following ways:
Purchasing Ethical Jewellery
Whether you’re purchasing a wedding ring, engagement ring, or other jewellery to suit your wedding dress, pay close attention to their origins. Jewellery businesses like Diamondport in Australia source their diamonds ethically and produce high-quality pieces once they reach Australian shores. While it can be tempting to bargain hunt for jewellery on the internet, there are never any guarantees that overseas or unknown sellers put ethics before profit.
Renting or Upcycling Your Wedding Dress
You might find your dream dress in your local wedding boutique store, but there’s no reason you can’t also find it at your local second-hand shop, in a friend’s wardrobe, or for sale on social media. If you buy a pre-loved wedding dress, you can keep the environmental costs low while also saving money in the process. Most wedding gowns are only worn once, which means your chances of finding a pristine, beautiful dress are high.
Choosing an Ethical Venue
Choosing an ethical venue might seem challenging, but there are easy ways to tell whether your preferred venue prioritises ethics and sustainability. Ask about eco-friendly catering options like local and seasonal produce and vegetarian and vegan options, and don’t be afraid to query their plastic and waste policies. For example, some venues might serve food on single-use plastic platters, while others use reusable plates that they wash and use for multiple events.
Going Digital
Professional paper invitations and RSVP cards can look elegant and sophisticated, but they won’t be necessary for all guests. Alongside using recycled paper, you might also like to restrict your resource use further by sending digital wedding invitations to digitally-savvy guests. Many businesses also offer temporary wedding websites, enabling you to accept RSVPs online rather than by post.
Asking for Donations
Many couples can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of wedding gifts they receive from their loved ones. While it can be easy to combat that problem by setting up a wishing well to get what you want and need, bypassing gifts altogether can be even better. If your guests insist on contributing to your wedding in some way, ask them to donate to a cause or charity close to your heart, such as the Australian Conservation Foundation or the World Wildlife Fund for Nature.
Purchasing Used Decorations
Wedding decorations are typically only used for one day before being discarded or stored away. Rather than purchasing single-use products to decorate your wedding venue, look for items that other people have used for their wedding and no longer have a use for. You can give other people’s decorations a new lease on life before selling or donating them for someone else to use in the future.
Planning an ethical wedding might be challenging, but it’s not possible. Take some of the actions above, and you can be proud of your choices leading up to your special day.
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