Top Tips for a Sustainable Wedding in Scotland

         Each year, thousands of soon-to-be-weds flock to Scotland to marry. For many, it’s the country’s wild and rugged natural landscape that calls to the heart – while others dream of tying the knot surrounded by the historic architecture of some of Scotland’s most stunning cities. 

      For both native Scots and those travelling from a little further afield, taking care of this beautiful country is imperative, and is best achieved through following ethical social, economic and environmental practices. In this guide, we round up some of our top tips for planning a sustainable wedding in Scotland.

Shop local

      Not only is it a wonderful way of giving back to local suppliers and artisans, but purchasing your wedding necessities locally means that you’ll be supporting the use of more sustainably sourced products. Ultimately, products made locally are kinder to the environment because they don’t rack up as many automobile miles in transportation, resulting in less environmentally harmful emissions being released into nature.

       Usually, your venue will be able to point you in the direction of some great local vendors – but don’t forget, it’s always important to ask about each supplier’s sustainability practices before committing to a service, so that you know what you’re paying for. Just because a product is local, doesn’t mean they aren’t partaking in other non-sustainable processes – like producing a lot of waste, or using non-biodegradable materials in their products. Overall, it’s best to really shop around and do so mindfully when looking for a local vendor.

Reduce waste

       For your wedding to be sustainable, you want to aim to invest in items that can be reused or recycled. Try to avoid cutting corners by buying in bulk, and instead invest only in the products that you’re really going to need to have a wonderful day. Often, we buy lots of little trinkets for our place settings and centrepieces, only for our guests to take a brief look at them – a great rule of thumb is to remember that if there’s a chance nobody will notice an item, it’s probably not worth buying.

       It’s good to be conscious of the amount of food waste you’ll be producing, too. Try not to over-cater, and arrange only for meals confirmed through guest RSVPs. Similarly, instead of opting for an open bar where drinks purchases may get out of hand, you can choose to offer a more limited number of free drinks, or a cash bar – this way, you’ll be cutting down on waste from bottles, cans and plastic straws.

Give back

       Most people are unaware that even the smallest of towns will often have a local charity or movement that could do with some support from the public. Even some of the more widely recognised, global charities can suffer from lack of funds in more rural areas if they don’t receive the access to government grants that some of their larger branches do.

       If you’re not local to your Scottish wedding destination, you can ask around for advice on the best ways to support sustainability efforts in the area, as well as any local charities. You could also consider donating your wedding dress and other items to a local charity store that raises money in support of green practices, or simply donate to another bride.

Make ethical choices

       We tend to act in the best interests of our planet when we simply do what feels right. It can be as simple as researching a supplier before we do business with them, or on an even smaller scale, making sure that we don’t leave litter behind after our wedding day. By making these small but mindful choices, it then becomes a whole lot easier to start making a bigger impact towards our efforts for a more sustainable future – on our wedding day, and every day.