Eight Ways to Make Your Wedding More Sustainable—Without Compromising on Style

With venues that honor the land, access to farm-grown flowers, and a deep reverence for heirlooms, Southerners have long put their own signature spin on sustainable weddings. Now more brides and grooms are catching up: Recent data indicates that last year, a quarter of couples planning weddings prioritized sustainability, a 10 percent jump from 2020. It was certainly top of mind when my husband, Max, and I got married a few years ago. Here are just a few smart—and perhaps surprising—ways you too can make the event a little easier on the earth’s resources, without sacrificing style or Southern flair.

Southerners are a sentimental bunch: We love antiques and pass heirlooms down through the generations. Engagement rings and wedding bands are no exception. Couples who want to keep a special antique piece of jewelry in the family might rework it to be a bit more modern. Custom jewelers, including AL&EM and Jane Pope in Charleston, South Carolina, and Mary Frances Maker in Atlanta, do this beautifully, working with clients across the South to redesign family rings or fashion new pieces from special stones. 

Many traditional Southern jewelry stores also specialize in estate pieces, older jewels that reduce the need for new production and mining. In Charleston, for example, Croghan’s Jewel Box is worth a stroll (or an online scroll) to see some truly stunning examples, like European-cut diamonds in Victorian and Edwardian settings. The full-service shop lightly repaired, resized, and polished my own engagement ring—a treasured piece from my husband’s family tree—with both speed and care.

For larger events with multiple venues, some planners coordinate group transportation such as shuttles and buses to cut down on car traffic—and this can be a big part of the fun too. In New Orleans, couples can even charter a streetcar between sites for a clang-clanging and charmingly authentic NOLA experience. And if your ceremony and reception venues are close, inviting guests who are able to walk turns logistical portage into a grand parade.

“Many couples are choosing flowers that are in season and grown locally,” says Takaya Sato, a floral designer who grew up in Japan, where his dad owned a flower and events shop. Now based in Charleston and New York City, Sato has designed florals for weddings all over the world. “It’s a meaningful gesture—one that supports nearby growers and reflects the time of year.”

But because the quality and available quantity of local flowers can be unpredictable, this route often involves compromise. Love peonies (which are often imported and have a short springtime growing window)? Try garden roses or dinner-plate dahlias instead, which thrive on flower farms in the Georgia and North Carolina mountains and have longer growing seasons. Slow Flowers is a helpful resource for finding flower farms around the country.

A literally green trend: decorating with living plants instead of single-use cut florals. “Renting plants and trees from greenhouses is a lovely option,” Sato says. “After the celebration, they’re returned to their home soil—no storage, no waste, no extra care needed.”

Abby Barber of Tiny Nest Botanicals in New Orleans works with couples and wedding planners to coordinate plant rentals. “We did a big potted blooming jasmine in an arbor recently, which was sturdy and beautiful,” she says. “In New Orleans, we get a lot of requests for tropicals, so we’ll create a lush look with palms and philodendrons, all in containers that match the wedding style.”