Open Kitchen's Top 10 Tips for a More Sustainable & Ethical Wedding
- Corin Bell
- May 23
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Your wedding day should be something you look back on with joy, not climate guilt. Yes, it's your big day—but it doesn’t have to come with a big carbon footprint. From food to flowers, every element of your wedding can be a reflection of your values, without sacrificing celebration. So here are our ten practical, beautiful ways to have a sustainable and ethical wedding—and still have an unforgettable day.
1. The Food (obviously the bit we think is the most important ☺️)
Choose locally sourced, organic, and sustainably produced food. Work with wedding caterers (like Open Kitchen, obviously) who support small independent growers and suppliers. Your wedding day can champion food that protects soil health and biodiversity, and helps build a fairer, stronger local economy by supporting independent farmers and producers.
2. The Food Again (told you it was important)
A shift toward a plant-based wedding menu can drastically cut emissions. Even choosing just 30% more vegan or vegetarian options can shrink your carbon footprint. (Fun fact: a vegan meal can produce up to 75% fewer emissions than a meat-based one.)
3. Sustainable Sips
Drinks matter. Liquids and glass are heavy, so transport miles matter. Choose wines from France, Italy, or Spain—or go local with incredible UK wines. We work with Sustainable Wine Solutions to serve organic and natural wines in reusable bottles and 25-litre kegs. This slashed the carbon footprint of our wine list by 67%. Add in our locally sourced indie craft beers, and suddenly your wedding bar is saving the planet.
4. Venue Vibes Matter
Look for eco wedding venues that use renewable energy and prioritise waste reduction. In the North West, stunning semi-outdoor venues on working farms offer fields, gazebos, and even posh loos, all with an amazing festival wedding vibe — plus the warm glow of supporting local agriculture.
5. Rethink the Ride
Guest travel is a big emissions culprit. Choose a central venue near public transport if you can. Greater Manchester’s electric buses and trams are your friends. If you’re going rural, organise ride-shares, minibuses, or guest group taxis. Fewer cars = fewer emissions.
6. Flower Power (Responsibly)
Perfect blooms can come with serious pesticide baggage, which is bad news for our bees and pollinators. Instead, go local or seasonal. Ask florists about sustainably grown UK blooms, or have a green-thumbed friend grow your bouquet. Bonus options: there are great companies out there now that offer rental of dried or faux florals that can be reused again and again.
7. Waste Not
Weddings generate a lot of waste. Be intentional: don’t over-order food, skip the packaging-laden favours, and rethink what guests really need. Want to give something meaningful? Seed bombs for guerrilla gardening are fun, affordable, and totally on-brand for a natural wedding.
8. Pre-Loved Perfection
Who says everything has to be new? Check out "pre-loved wedding boot fayres" for dresses, shoes, suits, and decor. Reusing items not only saves money, but drastically cuts the environmental impact of your big day. Low waste weddings are the new black.
9. The Ring Cycle
Mining for metals and gems can come with huge ethical and environmental issues. Choose wedding rings made with recycled metals, lab-grown diamonds, or Fair Trade gems. Your marriage, and your rings, should be lovingly conflict-free.
10. Confetti: the Dirty Truth
Biodegradable? Not really good enough. Biodegradable basically just means it breaks down eventually—but depending on the material, that can take decades or even longer. "Plant-based plastic" confetti can linger in ecosystems, especially if tossed outdoors. Choose 100% compostable confetti made from paper or petals. Better yet, skip it and have your photographer add digital confetti later. Yes, that’s a thing.
One Final Thought (and a Shameless Plug)
At Open Kitchen, we’re here to make sure your big day is lush and low-impact. Check out our wedding catering menus for the North West of England—we specialise in ethical, low waste, and sustainable weddings that taste amazing and do good.
