Shabby Chic Boho The wedding world has become majorly eco-conscious over the last few years. Venues boast “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” ratings left and right, yet this phenomenon has its own spectrum. There are places that are doing incredible work to make their footprints smaller and others that just have recycling bins and call it a day.
For couples who truly want to be green, this becomes a problem. How do you know if a place is really practicing what it’s preaching or just doing so for the label? Sometimes, it’s not easy to tell, and it makes more of a difference than you think.
What’s on the Outside of the Building
Before you even get to operations and running a venue, the building itself says a lot about how eco-conscious it is. Intention goes a long way. Places made from low embodied energy materials (the amount of energy used to create them) or historic buildings that have been refurbished to maintain character show that effort; places built to be pretty show new construction that’s larger than needed without an eco-intent or historical insight.
Natural light is helpful, does the space have lots of windows, skylights or outdoor alternatives for day events when people would otherwise need electricity? Natural ventilation is another huge asset, can the space hold a temperature where people aren’t sweating without turning up the A/C every five minutes?
Materials tell a story, too. Reclaimed wood, local stone, and natural stains don’t carry the embodied energy costs as synthetic products brought in from thousands of miles away. Some places even go so far as to include solar panels, rain-collecting gutters, or even green roofs, all expensive options that trump greenwashing since it would be cost effective to not have them in the first place.
Where Energy and Resources Are Concerned
Now we’re getting into the nitty-gritty. A sustainable venue is as conscientious as possible about what they’ve created, but they’re also as conscientious as possible about how they operate it on a daily basis.
Energy consumption is big here, utility bills should be made available should you inquire. Do they maintain alternative energy sources? Have they done energy audits? Many venues will not volunteer this information, but it’s fair to ask. Places like a Eco Conscious Wedding Venue made this their mission so it’s not an afterthought; they’re excited to share what they do and their numbers.
Water usage is huge as well, but often overlooked. Low-flow fixtures are standard in many places these days, but what about irrigation for grounds? Are they using greywater systems or collecting rainwater? Do they have native planting which takes less water upkeep? These things, while minute over time, add up.
Waste disposal is beyond those recycling bins earlier mentioned. Percent diverted from landfills is crucial, along with composting programs for leftovers, any food going to local farms/food banks for redistribution and reusable vs compostable vs disposable serving ware, the latter one carrying little weight for sustainability efforts.
The Food and Beverage Factor
A huge part of sustainability comes from the food and beverage aspect, there’s a lot going on here and it’s complicated. The best sustainable venues will either cater everything themselves (which requires no other aesthetic considerations) or they’ll maintain strict partnerships with outside vendors to maintain similar standards.
Seasonal and local sourcing isn’t just nice, it’s low-carbon footprint conscious. If a venue employs relationships with nearby farms and can pivot menu choices based on what’s actually available during certain times of year, they’re making an environmentally sustainable choice. It usually tastes better too, which is a plus.
Plant-forward menus aren’t necessarily forced upon couples via venues, but they are definitely championed since they understand the substantial environmental cost of producing meat versus vegetables. Instead of putting meat at the forefront as an expectation with vegetarian options on the side, venues that understand the vegetable approach are being savvy without pure intention of promoting veganism.
Transportation Accessibility
This is something that isn’t discussed enough, where the venue actually is located and how people are getting there in the first place. A venue that’s off the beaten path requiring everyone to drive creates a much larger carbon footprint than one that’s near public transportation where people can carpool easily.
Some venues promote this by having a shuttle from main access points; others partner with nearby hotels so people can walk or have electric vehicle charging stations. These aren’t necessarily conveniences, they are environmentally sustainable decisions.
The Vendor Game
Vendors are those who can help you regardless of how much help you’d like from the venue. Does the venue say you have to stick with their preferred caterer who drives everything in from two hours away? Or do they recommend local vendors who support sustainable practices? Even better, do they allow you to bring in vendors you’ve vetted yourself?
Most sustainable venues flourish through collaboration rather than control. They understand that couples might have particular florists who use local flowers, rental companies who employ reusable décor, or even photographers who’ve taken digital print options into account, and if the venue makes such choices difficult to achieve, sustainability isn’t baked into the ideology from the start.
The Subtler Choices
Cleaning solutions matter beyond what meets the eye! Harsh chemicals might make something shine, but they’re not good for the environment nor are they good for people with sensitivities. Venues that prioritize green cleaning efforts and pest control show little signs that someone is truly looking out for the healthier choice.
Landscaping matters as well, are they using pesticides and chemical fertilizers? Have they used organic strategies? Do they have plots for pollinators or are all plants manicured within an inch of their lives?
Even something as simple as linens matters. Commercial laundries might allow cost efficiency per scale, but do they offer bamboo or organic options? Have they assessed whether washing white tablecloths constantly for unified purposes isn’t worth the water/energy costs in comparison to accepting a little dirtiness?
Making Decisions That Work for You
Not every couple needs to seek out the most sustainably conscientious venue out there – but understanding what makes a venue eco-conscious helps create informed decisions that align with personal values.
The important choice doesn’t come down to marketing efforts; it comes down to understanding what’s actually happening behind-the-scenes. The venues that do it correctly are never the ones shouting about it, they’re the ones who can show you their specific practices (composting system), explain their energy monitoring and tell you what they’ve given up since doing it sustainably because they know sustainability isn’t perfect – but continually attempted improvements show they’ve made strides instead of saying they’ve done everything completely right from the beginning.
Once you find a space that can effectively be green without compromising your celebratory needs, things get much easier throughout the process since now you’re building upon the foundation of your plans that’ll actually align with what matters most to you from now on.
