Let’s face it, environmental sustainability is everyone’s responsibility. While it might seem a bit overwhelming at first, choosing even a few elements to make your wedding a little “greener” will go a long way towards helping the environment. Especially when a destination wedding is in your future. These are our top 10 tips for planning the perfect, environmentally friendly wedding in 2024.
1. Go green from the beginning
Over the last ten years, there has been an incredible amount of new information available (and backlash against) the traditional diamond market. From forced labor to so-called “blood or conflict diamonds”, many couples are opting for jewelry that is a bit more ecologically sensitive. We have already seen a trend towards more reputable jewelry and expect this trend to continue into 2024 and beyond. Looking for ideas on how to select jewelry that is right for you? Try these.
- Fair Trade Diamonds – where workers are treated in a safe and fair labor conditions
- Conflict-Free Diamonds – often rough diamonds are used by unscrupulous governments to fund wars. For more information, look for the “Kimberly Process” certification system
- Other Gemstones – Nature offers beautiful precious and semi-precious stones in every color under the rainbow. Consider something other than a diamond for your wedding jewelry
- Synthetic Diamonds – these offer the best of both worlds; the look, strength, and durability of a diamond, created in a laboratory, safe from political upheaval and at a fraction of the cost
- Estate Jewelry – many couples are opting for family heirlooms or estate jewelry rather than relying on newly-mined and questionable stones. Plus, it is a great way to continue family traditions
2. Stationary
One of the easiest ways to “go green” is when it comes to stationary. I am personally a “paper” person. I still love the feel of the paper and the smell of a book, so good quality stationary is very important for me. Why not opt for a beautiful recycled or handmade paper? You can even find them with tiny seed inclusions that you can ask your guests to plant afterwards and grow a garden in your honor!
Another trend for 2024 will be going completely electronic and skipping the paper altogether. I think the overall trend of going paperless will catch up to the wedding market fairly soon, so why not be on the forefront? Of course, there is always the option of a mix of recycled paper and electronic stationary for the ultimate in going green.
3. Get married in the great outdoors
A great way to celebrate your nuptials is to say you “I DO’s” in the splendor of the great outdoors. Meaningful spots with breathtaking vistas, in lush landscapes are the current trend and we see no chance this trend will go away anytime soon. Here in Tuscany, we have so many options for stunning locations. Why not have your ceremony, aperitivo, dinner and dancing in four different locales, all under the starts, in the majesty of nature?
4. Choose a Caterer to Match Your Values
They call it “your special day” for a reason… it is all about you and your partner! When choosing your wedding vendors, make sure that their environmental mission aligns with yours. You have the power (and the right) to decline plasticware, paper napkins or “specialty” foods ordered from the other side of the world.
The wedding and catering trends for 2024 are sure to promote local, sustainably raised foods for your guests. From artisanal cheeses made just down the road to vegetables picked at the height of freshness to sustainably raised meats and fish – you can request any and all of the above. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, the quality and taste will be beyond compare.
5. Florals and greenery
Another really popular trend for 2024 will be finding a florist that sources local, sustainably grown flowers and greenery. A good florist will be able to help make flower suggestions and possible substitutions If you have your heard set on something specific. Also trending for 2024 will be using lots of local greenery. We are blessed here in Tuscany to have an endless supply of olive trees, beautiful oaks, stately cypress, and millions of grape vines, so local and sustainable greenery abounds.
6. Compostable “Confetti”
Many years ago, it used to be all the rage to shower the new couple in rice. (Yes, plain, old white cooking rice – which quickly became an ecological nightmare for wildlife but also impossible to clean up). Later, the trend was to throw bird seed, but then the birds (well… rather their poop!) became problematic, as you might guess. Who thought that was a good idea?
The trend here in Italy is going green – literally. Many couples are opting for environmentally friendly flower petals or even olive leaves, but we predict the trend in 2024 to be luxurious “confetti bars”. These fanciful bars allow guests to fill paper cones with a mix of lavender, dried flower petals to eucalyptus and olive leaves, to shower the new couple. And it is 100% compostable and biodegradable.
7. Wedding Dresses
The top wedding attire trends for 2024 are a wonderful step in the right direction for sustainability as well as for comfort. We expect 2024 to showcase a lot of natural fabrics – think cotton, linen, silk and even flax. These lightweight fabrics are a departure from all of the satin and spandex we have seen in the previous years. Not only will these natural fabrics be bright, beautiful, flowing and fancy, they will help you stay cool even in the hottest temperatures (and under the utmost pressure). And let’s face it, not being a sweaty mess on your wedding day is something I think we can all aspire to! haha
8. Bridal Party Attire
The top wedding trends for 2024 for the wedding party are pretty exciting, too! Ladies, we predict that the mix-n-match different dresses in the same color will evolve a bit. We all have that bridesmaid’s dress lurking in the back of our closet that we paid too much for and will never wear again. Am I right? Well, the trends of 2024, will be different dresses in different hues. Think in seasonal palettes, for example.
- Spring: Pastels like sweet pinks, mauves, soft peaches to light sands and subtle yellows
- Summer: Think bolder choices like watermelon and poppy reds, marigolds to rich greens, blues and aquas and bold violets
- Autumn: Palettes of rich, rusty oranges and reds, golds, chestnut, and light browns reign supreme
- Winter: We predict rich, ruby reds and maroons, icy and dusky blues, silky purples, and silver-greys will be the hot new colors of 2024
9. Group Transportation
We predict a top wedding trend for 2024, will be taking all the guesswork out of transportation for your guests. When you are planning a destination wedding, your guest’s comfort should always be at the forefront of your mind. Not everyone will be able to or want to rent a car, or even be able to stay at one location. Therefore, transportation is crucial to make sure everyone is where they need to be at the right times. Organizing group transfers will please your guests (they won’t have to worry with logistics), please you (since you know everyone will be on time and at the correct location), and please your ecological bottom line, by reducing the amount of carbon emissions by only having everyone’s travel preplanned.
10. Eco-friendly Welcome Bags and Thank You Gifts
Offering your guests a welcome bag or a thank you gift is very popular and we expect this wedding trend to continue into 2024. After all, your guests have likely travelled a long way to help you celebrate your wedding, so why not make them a small token of your appreciation. Trends for 2024 will include ‘local’ – so think locally produced honey, olive oil or spirits. Perhaps a locally produced sweet or savory snack, a specially made spice mixture or even an artisanal candle or soaps.
While we look ahead to the top wedding trends and ideas of 2024, know that there are lots of sustainable and ecological friendly things you can do today. It is up to each of us to do our part to make sure the environment of today and that of the future is as sound as it can be. We all have a part to play. No matter how small or insignificant you may think your decision is, it will have a lot of impact down the road. So start planning and implementing now and make sustainability part of your everyday world.
Are you starting to plan your wedding for 2024 and need some help? Let us help you make your wedding the stuff of fairy tales! We are here to help and would love to set up a call to discuss how we can assist you in the planning process. So how did we do? Did we miss a top wedding trend for 2024? What do you think the top trends of 2024 will look like? Leave a comment below!
