A Directory of Eco-conscious Weddings & Celebrations Vendors
A directory of venues and vendors in Western New York and Northwestern PA who offer eco-conscious options for planning weddings and celebrations.
Ingredients for a Sustainable Wedding
Tips for Eco-conscious Couples
While incredibly special, wedding days can create excessive waste. In fact, they usually do. According to The Green Bride Guide, by Kate Harrison, the average wedding produces 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of CO2. With an estimated 2 million weddings per year, that equates to nearly 1 billion pounds of trash. With a post-pandemic boom predicted for 2022 (an estimated 2.6 million weddings according to The Knot) those numbers may already be on the rise, but there are ways couples can make their day memorable while being considerate of the environment.
Plan Thoughtfully
Hiring a team of likeminded vendors, like a planner, is one of the best ways to prioritize sustainable values on your wedding day. “Ask them, ‘What does sustainability mean to you?’” suggests Syrie Roman, founder and lead planner of Social Maven, an event planning service that helps Western NY couples create more sustainable occasions.
“You will get a real perspective on whether their sense of sustainability aligns with your values,” she adds. “From there, you can ask if they have any vendor partners who can help execute your vision, and for examples of what they would do to reduce the carbon footprint of your event or make it more sustainable.”
Find a Like-minded Venue
Another great way to shrink your celebration’s carbon footprint? The venue. Search for event spaces that aren’t new builds, or that are made from sustainable materials, use low-energy heating or are powered by green energy.
Keep the Guest List Small
Consider limiting the number of guests to cut back on waste—ranging from an elopement to a micro-wedding, typically with no more than 50 guests.
“In our nine years we've probably done 26 elopements,” says Mark Dowhy, co-owner of The Great Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast.
The historic 1860s farm in Mayville, NY, run by Dowhy and his wife, Sheila, offers up perhaps one of the most eco-conscious local settings, where couples can marry in classic elopement style. Naturally raised free-range chickens, ducks, goats and horses abound on the property as the couple says “I do.”
“We collect rainwater off the backside of the barn for the animals to drink and never throw away food waste, we give it all back to the animals,” explains Dowhy. Additionally, the B & B’s meals (prepared by him) use only locally sourced ingredients either from their property or from neighboring farms.
Get Creative with Florals
The beautiful fragrance of fresh flowers can’t be beat. Unfortunately, most weddings use imported flowers treated with pesticides or fungicides that are bad for the environment.
“People think ‘Flowers! They’re natural, they grow in the ground, they must be an eco-friendly choice,’” says Janna Willoughby-Lohr, owner and artist of Papercraft Miracles in Buffalo, NY. “But the fresh flower industry can be really terrible for the environment.”
Her solar-powered studio makes handmade paper products from recycled materials, flower petals and seeds, turning them into floral arrangements for weddings that can be replanted or saved long after the special day is over.
“For my wedding, I made seeded paper,” Willoughby-Lohr recalls. “Our wedding colors were teal and orange and I wanted to have the paper grow flowers in those colors. I used marigolds and forget-me-nots so blue and orange flowers would grow when we (re)planted them.”
If your heart is set on fresh flowers, finding a florist who grows locally is the best option. Or better yet, let a naturally beautiful setting do the floral work for you.
“No amount of flowers can compare with the backdrop of beautiful scenery,” says Roman. “Look for built-in decor, like a garden setting, to eliminate floral waste and save money in the process,” she adds. “Dried florals are a huge trend this year and they definitely are a very sustainable and budget-friendly way to transform a space.”
Opt for a Sustainable Menu
Food and drink are highly debated topics in today’s eco-friendly wedding trends. Look for caterers or chefs who specialize in local and sustainable cuisine. Ask about the farmers they work with, how their protein is sourced, or if they can even go meatless. The more regionally based your food choices, the lower your carbon footprint. That goes for alcohol, too. Opt for natural or organic whenever possible and support local, earth-friendly producers.
Having a green wedding doesn’t have to be more difficult or less stylish. Strive for sustainability—not perfection—and remember to key in on what impacts are the most important to you.
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