6 Tips For Planning A Socially Responsible Wedding
“Socially responsible weddings” might sound like an oxymoron to some, but if you’re anything like me, you are always trying to make conscious consumer choices, and your wedding is no exception.
By Hank Paul
Photo By Henry Paul
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Couples getting married in the 2020s are desperately seeking ways to ensure their actions and purchases are having the most positive impact on the planet and the community around them. Historically, wedding planning has often been associated with high consumption and little regard for social responsibility.
Here are 6 tips for people wanting to plan a more ethical, inclusive and socially responsible wedding:
Carbon offset
Offsetting your wedding is a straightforward, and effective way of ensuring that your wedding carbon footprint is minimised. Offsetting works by partnering with organisations that invest in “green” projects around the world like planting trees, seaweed farming and wind farming to compensate for your wedding’s carbon emissions.
You can check out the Wedding Footprint Calculator by Less Stuff More Meaning to determine your wedding’s carbon footprint.
Sustainable consumer choices
Choosing to spend your money on sustainable business can be another effective way to improve your wedding’s environmental impact. Ethical makeup, pre-loved clothing and plant-based catering are all simple choices you can make.
Making donations on behalf of guests
This is something I’ve seen take off in the last few years. Instead of giving out handmade jams to each of your guests as a “thank you” consider making a larger donation to a charity of your choice on your guests’ behalf. You can even invite your guests to donate further to the cause during your speech at the reception.
Donate leftover food and flowers
Depending on where you live, there may be local organisations you can partner with to donate leftover food and flowers from the wedding. Ask your florist if they have a relationship with any retirement homes who may benefit from your flowers, which will still be in bloom a few days after your wedding. Similarly, ask your caterer if they work with any charities that accept any leftovers to feed vulnerable people.
Acknowledgement of Country
As long as systemic racism exists, the work of anti-racism is needed to address the oppressive structures of white supremacy. One respectful thing you can do here in Australia is to ask your celebrant to conduct an Acknowledgement of Country prior to the start of any formalities.
An Acknowledgment of Country is an opportunity to pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the land - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. An Acknowledgment of Country also serves as a way of inviting your guests to be included in the story of reconciliation between First Nations people and settlers.
Common Ground, an Aboriginal-led organisation, recommends using the following wording:
"We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging."
Donate your wedding attire
If the clothes you wore are a once-off, then you can have a major impact on someone else’s wedding by donating your attire. It will also extend the life of your clothes, and halve the carbon footprint each time they’re worn.
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Planning a party to celebrate your marriage shouldn’t come at a cost to the planet or your community. Challenge yourself to take on board 2 or 3 of these recommendations and enjoy knowing that your wedding is contributing to a more just, sustainable and ethical world.
Hank Paul is a Sydney Wedding Photographer who specialises in sustainable and inclusive weddings.
For more information, or to read more of his writing, head to his website www.henrypaul.com.au.
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