How to Elope Sustainably

Did you know that the typical United States wedding produces 400-600 pounds of waste and 60 tons of carbon dioxide? With an estimated 2.5 million weddings per year, that is about 1 billion pounds of trash and as many emissions in one day as approximately four people would produce in an entire year (according to the Green Bride Guide).

Now, if just one-tenth of those getting married chose to forego tradition, elope, and celebrate in a way that speaks to them, it would eliminate 125 million pounds of waste – in the United States alone.

While being sustainable isn’t the only benefit to eloping, it’s certainly a perk. Below are a few tips to ensure you’re eloping in a way that is true to yourselves and still eco-friendly.

Permits

The first and easiest way to act sustainably while eloping is to secure permits. Many places require special use permits to marry on their land or, at the very least, a parking pass. Honor these rules and pay for permits as needed as they help fund our parks!

Local flowers

Most of my couples choose to elope in gorgeous areas – often in national parks with fragile environments. Little do many know, but flowers brought into these landscapes in bouquets and other forms of decor can have a large impact on the environment, especially if they’re an invasive non-native species.

If flowers are allowed in the area you’re eloping, buy flowers from a local organic grower, make sure your flowers aren’t depositing seeds, pollen, or insects during your event by drying and encapsulating non-native species and dispose of your bouquet properly.

If live, cut, or dried flowers are not allowed you can still have a beautiful silk arrangement. Check out these Etsy shops for inspiration.

Clean boots

If you’re hiking to your elopement location, practice the leave no trace principles and clean off your boots before arriving. This simple act helps stop the spread of invasive species of plants.

Wedding attire

Consider looking for wedding attire at vintage or secondhand shops, buying from sustainable brands, or even renting your outfit. I recommend taking a look at Rent the Runway online or in person at Scorpio Rising, a vintage clothing store in Tacoma, Washington where one of my clients found this gorgeous gown below.

For tips on what to look for in an adventure wedding dress, check out this blog and this blog for advice on suits.

Transportation

If you search the internet on how to lead a sustainable life, flying or driving long distances is often shamed and looked down upon. However, if you compare hosting a wedding (400-600 pounds of waste and all) and transporting many guests into one place vs eloping, you’ll notice that flying a couple and a photographer to one location is a hundred times more sustainable.

Browse the archive or search for specific topics (try “Olympic National Park”, “forest” or “destination”).