This upcoming wedding season we’ll see trends from intimate micro weddings with less than 50 guests, to larger celebrations where everything from the outfits to floral designs will be oversized and extravagant. These two trends are a result of couples who either want to downsize and focus on their closest loved ones, and those who will have such a passion to celebrate with everyone they care for that they will go BIG.

Regardless of your wedding size preference, one of the trends we are most excited for this coming year is sustainability. Your wedding is meant to be the happiest day of your life, but it can also be one of the most wasteful. The average wedding produces 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of carbon dioxide. While these numbers might seem overwhelming, there are simple steps you can take to make your wedding more sustainable.

Below are three ways you and your loved one can make an impact on your special day!

Say YES to donating

Photo credit: Jamie Mercurio Photography

If you’re thinking about going BIG for your big day, you should also think about donating, not trashing. There are countless ways you can reuse, recycle, or donate goods from your wedding. A great example of this is your wedding dress. Let’s face it, wedding dresses are unsustainable, and you will most likely only wear yours once. A great way to give back is to donate it to The Bride Project, a non-profit that promotes the reuse and upcycling of bridal garments to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry.

Go green with your menu

When you start thinking about your wedding menu, think local. If you’re planning a non traditional wedding, chances are there are tons of local farmers and family owned businesses you can support nearby. Picking vegetables, fruits, and foods that are appropriate for your wedding season not only makes them taste better, but it’s also good for the environment.

Choose a venue that gives back

Photo credit: Jamie Mercurio Photography

Choosing an eco-friendly venue is one of the easiest ways to stay sustainable. With non traditional venues there's no shortage of venue hosts who not only care about making this day special for you and your loved ones, but also care about preserving their lands. At Weven, we have a number of wedding venues that use all proceeds to help maintain their lands and give back to their communities.

A few venues that make doing your part easy:

● Tuckaway Tree Farm - all proceeds help maintain this tree farm for generations to come
● The Barn on the Hill - this farm has certified organic meats, vegetables and herbs that can be purchased for your custom farm to table menu
● Wells Reserve at Laudholm - all proceeds help support climate research, education, and conservation for the coast of Southern Maine.