10 Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas - for The Earth Conscious Bride
Co-written by two boss babes + fair fashion enthusiasts
Friends MADI founder Hayley and mindfully sourced fashion company NOVAA co-founder Bridget each give tips for how to have the beautiful wedding of your dreams while staying true to your eco-conscious ethics!
HAYLEY'S TIPS
1. Ask for Eco-Friendly Intimates...ahem :)
You knew we had to lead with this...right? :) BRIDES magazine featured MADI Apparel in their 8 Ways to Have an Eco-Friendly Wedding Shower. "Being showered with sexy new lingerie is a fun part of many bridal celebrations. If intimates are in the cards for you, ask gift givers to look to MADI Apparel (Make a Difference Intimate Apparel), a gorgeous line of ecofriendly underwear, sleep tops, robes, and bralettes." Our products are made of only the most luxuriously long-lasting, sustainable fabrics we could find. If I could live forever in one item it would be our dreamy bamboo sleep top pictured in the pj set below!
For day-of under-dress attire, we recommend: The Diana Ivory Lace Thong
This wide stretchy lace lays perfectly over the natural curve of your body and will enhance your figure without getting in the way on your wedding day!
Fabric: Stretch Knit Viscose from Bamboo: 95% Bamboo 5 % Rayon + 5" Floral Lace Boyshort Fit Band / Organically sustainable, odor resistant and dries super fast!
For day-of getting ready, we recommend: The Karen Bamboo Robe
Pictured above is my girl Bridget on her wedding day wearing The Karen bamboo robe. We both wore this super soft and cloud-like robe while we were getting ready the day-of!
The Karen Restful Robe is super silky and comfy - you'll wanna wear it when you wake up, after you shower, putting on your makeup, reading a book, etc...AND YOU CAN! :). Perfect for brides and bridal parties for "day-of" getting ready!
For honeymoon attire, we recommend: Bamboo PJ Set
2. Opt for a colorful gemstone instead of a diamond for your engagement ring.
Colorful stones are unique - seriously, chances are no one will have the combination of stones you do - and true to YOUR style. "An Earth-friendly and conflict-free gemstone is less expensive and more durable than the traditional diamond," says The Knot in Green Weddings - Are Your Rings Earth-Friendly and Conflict Free?.
My husband and I went to custom design my engagement ring before we got married. It was the coolest shop ever and they brought out a big tray filled of hundreds of colorful gemstones in little dishes. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. We chose Rose Quartz and lime green Peridot for my ring!
^My husband and I went to design my engagement ring at a custom design shop in Charlotte, NC.
3. Create a wooden logo stamp!
This is an amazing little tool that you'll hold on to AND USE forever - even after the wedding! Instead of paying ridiculous printing costs for everything, use one ink stamp (swap out different colors for fun.)
Step 1. Create a timeless wedding monogram with you and your spouse's initials.
Step 2. Use the wedding monogram stamp on EVERYTHING! :)
Examples for what to use stamp for:
Thank you cards: Use recycled card stock or use a paper cutter to slice up large pieces of any thick white paper you have lying around into 4x6 size and stamp one side of the card.
Wedding Guest Gifts: Grab some eco-friendly bleach free dye free muslin bags (like we use for our product packaging) and stamp your wedding logo on them! (See gift idea below)
4. Gift plants or seeds to your wedding guests or bridal party
- GIFTING SEEDS: Buy wildflower or herb seeds (for super cheap) in bulk. Grab some eco-friendly bleach free dye free muslin bags (like we mention above) and stamp your wedding logo on them! (See stamp idea above) Then, pour seeds in each! Your guests will think of you when they plant their seeds. You'll create something "forever" in their hearts and garden :).
- GIFTING PLANTS: Another idea for small wedding guest list or bridal party...start by buying one or two succulents for your home or office right after you become engaged :). Whenever a leave falls from the succulent, re-plant in a new pot. You'll then grow a new succulent! Keep doing this until you have created a little collection.
5. Re-make family member's wedding dress or veil into your own special, timeless renovation
^Emilee Brown Photo
My sweet mama offered up her wedding dress for me to use however I wanted. I gratefully took her up on this and considered it good luck as she's been happily married for 35 years to my dad! So, I took the scalloped lace from her wedding dress and used it for the end of my very very long veil train. Her dress was off the shoulder, and I took this off-the-shoulder section and re-made that piece for my rehearsal dinner dress!
^Veil created by Munisa, designer of Munelle de Vie
6. Choose flower and plant decor that you can dry or keep alive for years
^Photos: Sarabeth Miller
^Hayley chose to repurpose the pampas grass and hand-strung flowers from her wedding in her home and in our shop!
BRIDGET'S TIPS
7. Choose a color palate and ask bridesmaids to repurpose a dress in their closet or rent one! (Applies for groomsmen too!)
8. THRIFT WHAT YOU CAN'T RENT
Go antiquing for vintage plates and glassware. There are a ton of awesome vintage finds that you can decorate you tables and spaces with - mix and match candelabras, frames, vases, you name it!! Get created and keep those gems out of landfills. If you're a wild one and not into traditional china, keep the vintage plates and glassware in your home and register for other fun stuff that you prefer instead of china!
9. ECO FRIENDLY BRIDESMAIDS GIFTS
I gifted all of my maids Mata Traders Necklaces. These gorgeous jewels were handcrafted at a fair trade artisan cooperative in India using earth friendly materals. More info here:
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By supporting these artisans you are helping women to progress in a stratified society by empowering them with meaningful work and economical independence.
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The designs and techniques used help preserve an art form by keeping alive craft traditions that date back centuries.
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Each purchase helps combat child labor by providing opportunities for women, so they can send their children to school. Found at
Can be found here:
https://www.shopnovaa.com/
10. Dry or donate your wedding flowers
^Example of hanging flower wall at MADI Apparel
DONATE: When it's all said and done after your special day, if you aren't sure what to do with your flowers and you don't want to keep them, this org donates wedding flowers to healthcare, hospice, senior resident and social service communities throughout Kansas city.
https://unexpectedblooms.org
We hope you find these tips helpful for throwing the eco-friendly wedding of your dreams!!
XOXO,
Hayley and Bridget