All About Sustainable Weddings in India & How to Make it a Reality

It’s time to switch the “Baaratiyon ka swagat XYZ se karenge” to “sustainability se karenge”! Sustainable weddings in India blend tradition with eco-friendly practices, enabling couples to reduce their environmental impact while creating meaningful celebrations. By making intentional choices like using local, organic products and supporting ethical businesses, couples can host beautiful weddings that not only honour their love but also contribute to a positive legacy for the planet. To understand this better from someone who undertook the challenge of a sustainable wedding, Local Samosa talked to Sahar Mansoor, Founder and CEO of Bare Necessities, a zero-waste social enterprise.

How to Make Your Sustainable Wedding a Reality

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Making your wedding sustainable requires intentional choices at every step of the planning process. Start by deciding which aspects of sustainability matter most to you, whether it’s the venue, catering, or decor. Set a budget that allows for a few higher-cost, eco-friendly options and make up for it by cutting back on less sustainable choices, like reducing the guest list or opting for a simpler, more intimate event. Also, involve your wedding vendors in your sustainability goals—many are more than willing to accommodate green practices if asked.

Most people say that it starts with the intent. If one is naturally inclined to ensure the well-being of the planet, then it extends quite naturally to every other aspect of their life, from personal care habits to fashion choices to hosting zero-waste events. When one’s everyday life is designed keeping sustainability in mind, hosting a sustainable wedding is quite honestly a no-brainer. 

Sahar shared, “In my case, I started leading a zero-waste lifestyle long before Instagram was as big as it is today. I’m habituated to living my life sustainably and my partner is naturally inclined to it too. Consequently for the both of us, hosting a sustainable wedding required no thought and it was our normal. Both our families were understanding of this condition and were more than supportive of our decision. 

For us, it was all about taking tasks into our own hands, from the planning to the scale of the celebration. This allowed us to align each and every aspect of it with our values. It takes immense planning, first-hand visits, and of course also asking questions to whoever is involved in the process!”

Having worked in the sustainable space for many years now, she knew the aspects that were to be kept in mind to ensure a zero-waste wedding. From catering to choosing the venue to picking the gifts, everything was completely earth-friendly, thereby diverting little to no waste to the landfills.

Sustainable Weddings in India: Steps to Making it a Reality

Indian weddings are known for their grandeur, but with growing environmental concerns, many couples are turning to sustainable practices to reduce the ecological impact of their big day. A sustainable wedding doesn't mean sacrificing tradition or beauty; it’s about being mindful of resources and making conscious choices. From eco-friendly venues to sustainable attire and ethical catering, here's how you can plan a wedding, that’s not only memorable but also planet-friendly. Planning any wedding is a Herculean Task. It’s stressful, messy, chaotic, but ultimately very meaningful and special. 

Sahar said, “Some thoughtful intentions prior to entering the wedding planning processes can help to create an eco-friendly celebration, all the while making it super memorable. 

• I prioritise intimate gatherings and therefore, I limited the guest list to include those, who have true meaning and value in my life. By inviting a closer group of friends and families, we were able to split the celebrations across smaller events. Additionally, it also helps reduce carbon footprint. 

• For our wedding, we chose to customise our celebrations and chose to go the sustainable route as it spoke most closely to us. In cases such as these, I saw the benefit of setting boundaries. Politely explaining why I’m aiming to do what I am, helped me create a group of people, who were truly supportive and understanding. 

• I say this once again, opt for digital invitations or E-Invites. And even better, call up your guests to invite them personally. It’s special and makes them feel like they are truly a part of your special day. 

• Encourage RSVPs so as to keep track of guests and reduce waste of any kind. 

• Communicate why you are opting to go the sustainable route with your wedding to your family members, friends, wedding planners and vendors. Be transparent about your desire to reduce your impact to ensure everyone is on the same page.”

First, Eco-Friendly Venues

The first step to a sustainable wedding is choosing the right venue. Eco-conscious venues are cropping up across India, with many offering green certifications, solar-powered options, and water conservation measures. Opting for a venue with outdoor spaces can also help reduce the need for excessive lighting and cooling systems. Many venues now provide eco-friendly wedding packages that minimise waste while still offering a luxurious experience. This means that the venue itself creates space and opportunity for you to design a sustainable wedding from the core.

Don't Forget Transport 

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Perhaps one of the lesser-spoken aspects of planning a wedding is the transport! “If most of your loved ones and guests are coming from different cities or counties, there is one unavoidable factor - travel. To tackle this, choosing a venue that is not far from the airport, ensures commute distances are short. Creating a carpooling plan to ferry guests from between the airport and the venue, further reduces carbon footprint. Furthermore, the carbon and environmental footprint of travel is inevitable and to mitigate it, carbon footprint can be offset via companies like Climes. Climes aims to build a global "climate finance highway" to accelerate capital flow into climate projects, using innovative tech products to incentivize stakeholders and address climate change,” explained Sahar.

Catering to Your Food Needs, Sustainably

Indian weddings are notorious for their lavish feasts, often resulting in food wastage. Sustainable catering focuses on minimising food waste by offering locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. It also involves careful portioning and donating any surplus food to local communities or shelters. Choosing biodegradable or reusable plates and cutlery over plastic is another easy way to reduce environmental impact. More and more caterers are also adopting zero-waste principles, ensuring that food preparation and service are as sustainable as possible.

Upcycled Attire AKA Mom's Trousseau

The wedding attire, particularly the bride’s lehenga or saree, is a significant aspect of Indian weddings. To make this part of the celebration more sustainable, many couples are opting for second-hand or vintage outfits. Another option is to purchase garments made from organic, eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton or hemp. Rewearing the wedding attire at later events or donating it after the wedding are also thoughtful ways to ensure it doesn’t end up in a landfill.

Sahar remarked, “I wore my mum’s wedding saree with my grandma’s dupatta (it’s a family heirloom and both my sisters wore her dupatta too!). I was the fourth generation to wear the red Khombi or Bandhani dupatta for my wedding celebrations. Bandhini is one of the oldest forms of embellishments done on textiles and a handy craft work of the natives of Kutch. This meticulous tie and dye dates back to the 12th century. My family moved from Kutch to Karnataka about 6 generations ago. This gorgeous red Khombi dupatta was my great grandmother's; and was worn by my grandmother, my aunts, my sisters and now I had the honour of re-wearing it. The fourth generation to wear it! Additionally, I wore my mum's wedding black and red Khombi saree! I am a sucker for history, family traditions big and small and I knew I wanted to incorporate my heritage as part of my wedding celebration!”

Demure Decor and Floral Arrangements

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Traditional wedding decor often involves significant waste, especially with floral arrangements. However, sustainable weddings focus on using locally sourced, seasonal flowers to create arrangements that are both beautiful and less resource-intensive. Couples can also consider using potted plants, which can later be gifted to guests or reused in other events. Additionally, opting for reusable or upcycled decorations, such as fabric drapes or lanterns, reduces the reliance on single-use items. Sahar shared her experience, “We used minimal reusable decor, dried flowers, reusable plates, cutlery and also leaves as a substitute to confetti to toss up to celebrate with us and as table mats!”

Favour Eco-Friendly Wedding Favours

While wedding favours are a token of appreciation, they can also contribute to waste if not chosen wisely. Sustainable alternatives include gifting potted plants, organic beauty products, or edible treats like homemade jams or chutneys. Sahar asks couples to consider gifting thoughtful, practical items for their wedding guests. “These can be items that they can easily use in their daily lives. Opting for local, handmade gifts such as snacks, artisanal handicrafts or potted plants can completely avoid plastic and support small businesses and local artisans. Instead of plastic wrappers, wrap gifts in reusable materials such as cloth, twine or even upcycled newspapers. You can personalise the gift by adding a note,” mentions Sahar.

Couples can also consider making a donation to a charitable cause on behalf of their guests, which not only reduces waste but also contributes to social good. And it can go both ways. “We asked for no gifts, and should anyone really want to give us - we asked for donations to Maruvan and Harisu Dala and created a small list of experiences such as an outdoor experience for two among few other options,” affirmed Sahar. “We chose to gift essential, everyday use items, which our guests could use in their lives, thereby ensuring gift items that wouldn’t go to waste. We added local snacks, tom yum rice crackers and coconut chips. Additionally, we added a personalised note printed on recycled paper. Plastic gift wrappers were replaced by more sustainable gift wrapping options such as jute bags, seed paper bags.”

Green Practices 

A crucial aspect of sustainable weddings is reducing plastic use. This means opting for paper or bamboo-based products instead of plastic cups, plates, and straws. Couples can also encourage their guests to carpool to the wedding venue to reduce transportation emissions. Many Indian wedding planners are now incorporating green practices by offering low-impact options, such as digital invitations instead of printed ones, to eliminate unnecessary waste.

Sahar stated, “Our Bare Necessities goodies were also included in the little gift bag as wedding return favours; in our opinion it not only makes for great gifts but in general gifting from small businesses is a great way to support local and small suppliers and vendors along with creating stable green jobs such as our women run manufacturing team.”

Ethical Wedding Jewellery

Wedding rings made from recycled metals or conflict-free diamonds are an important part of an ethical wedding. There is a growing trend in India to buy jewellery from brands that follow responsible sourcing practices, ensuring that the materials used are ethically sourced and produced. Sahar also highlighted that ethical lab grown diamonds for engagement rings is a solid option.

The Debate: Is Sustainability a Compromise with Style?

Sahar exclaimed, “It’s not true at all! It’s about doing the right thing in a balance that equally benefits society, the environment and is economically prudent as well. And that’s forever going to be in style. Oftentimes, sustainability is looked at through a very myopic lens, making it seem as though one needs to deprive themselves of joy simply because they’re trying to do better. The reality of the matter is that there is an innate beauty and style that lies in sustainability, and nothing really comes close to it either.”

Many couples have actively chosen to focus on sustainable weddings, focusing on minimising waste, using local materials and opting for timeless designs that in no way skip on elegance. From gorgeous second-hand dresses to zero-waste decor and locally sourced catering, couples are truly finding creative ways to create memorable events that are innately sustainable. Weddings are at the end of the day a reflection of who you both are as a couple, and about making thoughtful choices that align with your personal values. Trends may be transient, but you never are, you’re forever stylish! 

The Challenges of Sustainable Weddings

While the benefits of sustainable weddings are clear, they come with their own set of challenges. Cost is one of the primary concerns, as sustainable options such as eco-friendly venues, organic food, or sustainable attire can sometimes be more expensive than conventional alternatives. Another challenge is the lack of awareness or transparency among wedding vendors who may claim to be eco-friendly without truly following sustainable practices. It’s crucial to thoroughly research and choose suppliers who genuinely align with your sustainability values.

But Sahar shared how a sustainable wedding can easily be a reality, even with small changes, “We organised a beach clean up the morning after the wedding, did live stations and set menus to avoid food wastage, ensured water and juice were served in reusable jugs rather than plastic bottles and didn’t print out any invites.”