Sustainable Style: 10 ways to save money and plan a sustainable wedding celebration!

With the average cost of UK weddings estimated to be around £25,000, finding ways to stretch your budget are key!

If you’re newly engaged and dreaming of ways to make your big day special without blowing the budget, you’re in the right place! By embracing creativity, community and your local charity shops, you can plan a sustainable, eco-friendly wedding that doesn’t cost the earth. Here are 10 budget-friendly tips for your wedding that can get you started:

1. Choose a pre-loved wedding dress or suit

Whether it’s a vintage suit, a stunning pre-loved bridal gown, or coordinated outfits for the bridal party, you’d be surprised by how many sustainable options you can find second hand that look perfect or are as-new, AND help you achieve a budget-friendly wedding.

Spotted in our shops:

• Brand new bridalwear
• Vintage and contemporary wedding gowns
• Suits and formal jackets
• Bridesmaid and flower girl dresses
• Two-piece dress and jacket sets.

2. Accessorise your wedding look with second-hand finds

From your head to your feet, you can find incredible accessories to compliment any sustainable wedding outfit when you shop second-hand. Charity shops are the ideal destination to discover perfect accessories for a budget-friendly wedding.

Spotted in our shops:

• Veils, tiaras and other bridal headwear
• High heels or smart leather brogues,
• Necklaces, cufflinks and other jewellery
• Hats and fascinators for wedding guests

3. Use eco-friendly wedding decorations from charity shops

Whatever your theme or style, you can be sure to find amazingly affordable decorative pieces second-hand. From glam and vintage to bold and modern, when shopping for décor, charity shops or eBay shops are a must for eco-conscious couples planning a sustainable wedding.  

Spotted in our shops:

• China plates and dishes that would be ideal for serving food
• Glass vases and jars for flower arrangements
• Teapots, planters or frames to use as centre pieces
• Vintage suitcases to add height to displays or for receiving cards
• Old mirrors, frames or chalkboards for writing messages or displaying seating charts

4. Sustainable wedding guest book ideas

Whether it’s a notebook sourced second-hand or something more creative, charity shops offer unique inspiration for a budget-friendly wedding guest book – look for unique ways for guests to leave messages or tie it in with something special to you. If you love board games and puzzles, look for a puzzle or game with pieces the guests could sign, or if you love art, use pre-loved craft items on canvas. Signing photos on a polaroid camera is also a great way for guests to leave a special message.

Spotted in our shops:

• Plenty of puzzles and board games
• Polaroid cameras and instant printers on St Michael’s Hospice eBay
• Large unused notebooks
• Paints and craft supplies
• Easels

5. Eco- and budget-friendly wedding favours

You don’t need to blow the budget when it comes to meaningful favours for your sustainable wedding. Source vintage wine glasses for guests to use throughout the day and then take home (saving waste on any disposable drinkware!), find quirky ceramics that tie into a theme, such as egg or espresso cups, or buy St Michael’s Hospice Lottery Favours– you and your guests can feel good about supporting an important cause AND it could win your guests up to £1000!

Spotted in our shops:

• Colourful, etched or modern wine glasses (for as little as 50p each)
• Handmade ceramics
• Fun mugs and cups
• Egg cups

6. Budget wedding activities with a sustainable twist

For those in-between times, add in affordable wedding activities, sourced second-hand, for guests to enjoy throughout your day. Some ideas that we’ve loved include, building a pick-n-mix station using vintage jars and bowls, finding pre-loved lawn games in charity shops (e.g. croquet, boules) and even creating your own photobooth using pre-loved hats, accessories and decorations found second hand.

Spotted in our shops:

• Vintage kilner jars
• Boules and Croquet sets
• Fancy dress hats
• Analogue and polaroid cameras
• Feather boas and leis

7. Eco-friendly wedding flowers

Flowers make a big impact on your special day but can be expensive. Choose seasonal blooms and foraged materials to be more sustainable or consider using potted plants at your venue to add freshness and colour to your space. For low-waste wedding options, potted plants could be given as thank you gifts afterwards or even rented from companies such as Lov Leaf in Hereford.

Spotted in our shops:

• Pre-loved plant pots in a variety of colours and sizes
• Espresso cups and saucers that would suit a mini-cactus or succulent

8. Ask friends and family to help plan your sustainable wedding

Most family and friends are keen to get involved in supporting you on your special day, so why not embrace their generosity and make your day extra special (while saving money!). Utilise their skills and knowledge: ask your bridesmaids and crafty friends to help with any decorating; invite family members to contribute a dessert in lieu of a gift (use thrifted plates and stands to display their creations); or ask avid gardeners to save and dry flower petals for confetti. Just be ready to return the favour!

Spotted in our shops:

• Vintage cake stands
• China plate sets
• Baskets for holding confetti

9. Swap, borrow or share for a low-waste wedding

Whether it’s from a close friend or a local swapping group, you can find amazing pieces to borrow for your big day. If you can’t find what you need on free sites, there are plenty of paid services for eco-friendly weddings, that can help you build your perfect day with less waste and no storage required! Alternatively, if you have a friend getting married at a similar time, see what items you’re both looking to use, such as water carafes, easels, chairs or decorations, and split the costs.

10. DIY: upcycle pre-loved from the charity shop

Whether it’s using something you already own or buying items second-hand, upcycling is a seriously smart way to save money. Give items a fresh coat of paint or repurpose them to suit your tastes to create a wedding that is beautiful, affordable, and kind to the planet. We’d recommend visiting one of our four Pound Shops [LINK} across Herefordshire to find the best bargains.

Spotted in our shops:

• Pre-loved mirrors that could be painted
• Fabric to be turned into buntings or wall hangings
• Old teapots to turn into planters
• Fabric to be used in decorations or ribbons

Planning a wedding? Visit one of our charity shops across Herefordshire to discover sustainable wedding essentials! From pre-loved gowns to eco-friendly decorations, our shops have it all and you’ll know that every purchase supports a great cause. Let’s make weddings kinder to the planet, one beautiful celebration at a time.

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