Based in:
It’s no secret that the earth needs us to care more for it. Global warming deeply saddens and scares me. But, the many efforts I see people and companies taking around the world to do better makes me very hopeful (and fired up!). And as an elopement photographer I encourage my clients to have a Sustainable Elopement!
If you want to check out some sustainability focused things I do everyday to make my impact less and make my surroundings just a little better… Click here for a blog I wrote on the subject!
There are many reasons why I favor a Sustainable Elopement. So let’s dig in!
But, WAIT! I am not shaming big weddings for being bad for the environment or generating a lot of waste… I am simply trying to show that there are more sustainable options and for those who do opt for a more traditional wedding to think about how they can make better choices for the planet.
1. Less Stuff.
It’s a given for eloping… when you choose to elope you are also choosing not to have a big wedding and all the stuff that comes with a big wedding.
Just think, if you have 100 guests that’s 100 dinners, appetizers, snacks and drinks that you are serving… which means 100 people’s worth of food packages to make those dinner, appetizers and desserts, 100 people’s worth of plates, utensils and napkin (or washing of those items), 100 people’s worth of beer or wine bottles and cups and straws for mixed drinks.
Then there are party favors and activities to entertain your guests, and the decorations (tables and chairs, doorways and the aisle and the alter), and all the flowers, gifts (and clothes that they likely won’t wear again) for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the invitations, save the dates… you get the picture, there is a lot of STUFF to throw a “good” party!
And yes, some of these things you may still choose to have as a part of your elopement!
Especially if you are having some guests, but all in all elopements are an intentional choice to have a more intimate celebration and thus an intentional choice to consume less.
2. Less Travel.
Naturally, having less people attend your elopement means less travel (unless everyone you invite to your wedding are your neighbors and you are having it in your backyard!).
For example, we were living in Georgia when we got married. Most of my family lives in New Jersey and New York and many of my college friends are in Virginia, Connecticut and elsewhere. So besides my friends in GA, everyone else would have had to travel a good distance (almost all would have had to fly) to get there.
But, we chose to get married in MT and only invite our closest family and friends, which yes forced everyone to fly, but there were 25people flying instead of 75 people flying. To me that’s a great reduction in the travel impact.
3. Supporting Parks.
The great thing about eloping, is it can be almost anywhere.
And if you choose a National or other park that has an entrance fee, you are choosing to support their cause to maintain it. How nice is that! I pay for a yearly U.S. Park Pass which saves me money, but I also know I am helping the parks to manage the lands, and keep the public facilities and trails maintained for the public to keep visiting safely.
Plus if you use the pass 3 times it already pays for itself and more. So it is a good idea to get one if you are planning to spend at least 3 days or more in a park a year.
4. Also, more “sustainable” for your relationship.
This might be a stretch to you, but I 100% think it is true. Couples that elope are most often doing so because they want to focus on them. This is not a selfish choice, it’s an intentional choice.
From what I have seen this means a couple things. First the couple wants to give their reunion ceremony the honor that it deserves and not let it become a show or production in front of lots of people that they may or may not know. This puts the focus on the relationship they are building together making it more sustainable.
Second, the couple makes decisions for the day together instead of making decisions what are influenced *too much* by family or friends. Planning a wedding is a lot of work, planning an elopement still takes work… couples working and making decisions together builds and bonds and is a taste of how you as a couple will function as a married unit; fostering more sustainability in your relationship.
Lastly, you actually get to spend time with each other. Isn’t this what the day is all about anyway?!?!
I don’t understand how it is okay during more traditional weddings that couples don’t spend much time together being themselves.
Between getting ready, to all the family photos, to the ceremony to saying hello and chatting with every guest, to other fun wedding activities, and dinner and dancing with everyone… When do the couple get to enjoy each other and the beginning of their new journey together?
Just a thought… but a marriage is the union of two people, how come weddings seem to have become more about entertaining your guests? It seems backwards (and unsustainable).
I hope my posts inspire you to adventure or help you in making your adventure that much EPIC-er! (Yes, good english… I know).
