For the environmentally-minded couple, a wedding is the perfect place to show off your eco credentials, while encouraging your friends and family to play their part, too. If the planet is a priority for you and your partner, then budget and sustainability are two words you might hear a lot during the wedding planning process.

Protecting the planet can be an expensive undertaking. From investing in electric vehicles to installing solar panels at home, many lifestyle changes are more difficult to be made when operating on a tight budget. But when it comes to your wedding, there are plenty of opportunities to make sustainability the order of the day without breaking into the honeymoon savings.

Here are three ways you can make your special day more environmentally-friendly on a budget.

Rent a dress

Efforts to make your wedding as sustainable as possible should start long before the big day arrives. Dress shopping is one of the most important milestones in the pre-wedding hysteria, but it is also a great opportunity to flex your eco credentials. Not only can buying a dress outright be the more expensive option, but it is more sustainable to recycle and rent a wedding gown, as most brides only wear their wedding dress once.

It is worth considering whether sentimentality is an important factor for you, since this approach removes the opportunity to cling onto your dress after the day is done. But, with experts suggesting 15% of your budget will go towards your attire, you could save a big chunk of the budget by renting, while also saving on materials.

Confetti

Confetti can be one of the biggest sustainability offenders on a wedding day. Covering the bride and groom in confetti has long been customary at weddings around the world, but the plastic which is traditionally used can cause harm to the surrounding environment.

When it comes to using environmentally friendly confetti, the options are literally endless. Many vendors will offer biodegradable alternatives to plastic confetti, or you can go one step further and do it yourself. Make up your own personalized confetti bags and fill them with a more eco-friendly product like petals, lavender or bird seeds. While this will add a little more to your pre-wedding workload, guests will certainly appreciate this personalized touch which is also doing good for the environment.

Streamline the guest list

For some couples, the best way to celebrate their special day is to have a grand affair, inviting as many friends and family as possible. While this would create a buzzing festive atmosphere, it may not be the most sustainable approach, both economically and environmentally.

When it comes to the considerations of budget and sustainability, looking at your guest list is a great place to start. Increasing your invite list means that not only do you have to consider the environmental costs of additional journeys made by guests, but also the extra food, furniture and anything else that will be needed to cater for them on the day. Carefully talk through the list with your partner and make sure you are both completely comfortable with the final number – remember this is your decision so don’t be influenced by other voices.

Summary

This guest blog article offers three great suggestions for how to make more sustainable choices around your wedding day without having to make special allocations in your budget. All of the suggestions can be considered during the planning process, giving you time to implement them and find which will or won’t work for you and your partner.

Happy Frugal Friday! Although most weddings happen in the summer, weddings happen all year long.

If you've been honored to be part of a bridal party, it is customary to throw the bride-to-be a bridal shower. 

You and the rest of the bridesmaids don't have to spend a lot of money to have a fun and memorable party.


Here are 5 money saving tips when throwing a frugal bridal shower party:

1. INVITATIONS - Save money and the environment by not sending paper invitations. Instead, send digital invitations from sites such as Canva, Evite, Paperless Post, etc.. for free!

2. HOUSE PARTY - Instead of going to an expensive restaurant, host the party at one of the bridesmaid's or a good friend's house. Hosting it at someone's house is more intimate and casual. Another option is a shower at the park - picnic style! For frugal picnic ideas, click here.

3. DECOR - You can incorporate colors from the bride's wedding colors in the shower decor. Shop stores such as Dollar Tree or Dollar General for basic party goods. For centerpieces or even as favors, consider potted plants such as succulents and use her colors for accents.

4. FOOD & DRINKS - By making most of the food, this can save a substantial amount of money alone. You can also ask select friends to help out by making it a potluck soiree. Be on the lookout for drinks (water, soda, wine, etc) that are on sale at your local warehouse or grocery stores.

5. PARTY FAVORS - You can get creative and spend very little money with DIY favors. They could be homemade bath scrub, candle in a small tin can, cookies in a pouch, succulent in a small pot, etc..

Weddings don't have to be costly! Have a memorable yet frugal wedding, here's tips for every bride-to-be.

1. Determine a realistic budget that you can stick with. Keep all receipts so you know how much you've spent so far. Create a spreadsheet to keep tabs on all expenses.
2. Create a wedding planner binder. Keep it organized with tabs and pockets for things such as venue options, magazine tear outs, business cards from wedding vendors, honeymoon ideas, etc..
   
3. Pick a venue location that already has the ambiance you like so that you don't have to spend too much on additional decorations. Combine the ceremony and reception in the same location to save money.
   
4. Choose a date that's not as popular, such as a weekday or Sunday and daytime for a lower booking fee.
   
5. Save money when ordering wedding invitations, get great deals online at VistaPrint.
   
6. Choose in-season flowers, they are cheaper. Use your bridesmaids bouquets as table centerpieces. 
   
7. Opt for buffet at the reception vs. sit down meal. Or hire a friend to cater the party at a discount.
8. Encourage friends to be frugal when planning your bachelorette party. Have the party in town vs. an out of town road trip. Have the party at a house with potluck food, booze, music and fun activities.
   
9. Shop online stores such as eBay, Amazon, etsy, and The Knot for items such as party favors, etc..
10. Save money on honeymoon travel by comparing prices at BookingBuddy.com.

An eBook resource on how you can Save Thousands On Your Wedding.