The world has too many white cowboy hats. That was my first thought on a Thursday flight from Toronto to Austin, where it seemed every passenger was headed to a bachelorette party—Stetsons, sparkly fringe, and boots with soles so clean they’d never met a dance floor.
Weddings, and all the celebrations that orbit them, have become one giant, rhinestone-encrusted cash-and-carbon grab. It had me thinking we need more low-waste weddings.
The average U.S. wedding produces about 400 pounds of trash and 63 tons of CO₂—roughly four times what an average person emits in a year. Add in the average $36,000 price tag (hi, Zola), and it’s a lot of pressure for something that’s supposed to be about love.
Why We Went Tiny
My husband and I just celebrated our third wedding anniversary, which had me reflecting on how we did things differently to have a low-waste wedding. Spoiler: there were no sashes, sparkly hats, or monogrammed shot glasses.
He didn’t want a wedding. I wanted a party with family and friends. So we met in the middle—and ended up with a three-day, low-key, very us celebration.
- Day 1: A city hall ceremony with our immediate family
- Day 2: A brunch with my girlfriends (aka my non-bachelorette)
- Day 3: A rooftop dinner with 25 loved ones
Our only rule? We paid for it ourselves so no one could weigh in on the guest list, venue, or decisions. It gave us the freedom to prioritize what mattered—connection, good food, great photos, and of course, champagne.
The Venue Found Us
We toured a few wedding venues but everything felt too cavernous, too cookie-cutter, or too DIY (as in: bring your own forks).
Then, one evening on a walk through our neighbourhood, we passed one of our favourite restaurants and thought—why not here?
It had everything: an intimate rooftop patio, great food, warm service, and plenty of champagne flutes. When I asked if they’d be okay with a champagne tower, they didn’t flinch. Sold.
A Wedding Wardrobe That Worked Hard
We went super low-waste on the wedding attire:
- Look 1: A sleek rented midi dress for city hall. No regrets—three years later, I still haven’t had an event I’d wear it to again. Renting kept the cost-per-wear low and my closet (slightly) less full.
- Look 2: My favourite Ganni dress for brunch. It’s still in rotation.
- Look 3: A sample Monique Lhuillier-esque gown from a local boutique. When I realized I’d never shorten it and re-wear it, I donated it to The Brides’ Project, which supports cancer charities and gives dresses a second life.
My husband wore pieces he already owned for all three events—with one new pair of cream trousers that still make regular appearances at the office.
Florals Without the Wedding Markup
All I wanted was one dramatic bouquet. Easy, right?
Every florist quoted at least $500. Apparently, “wedding” is the magic word that doubles the price.
Then I called Riverside Flower Shop in Toronto and told them what I wanted: a bouquet of orchids (they’re meaningful to us) that felt classic with a hint of drama. No upsell. No minimum spend. Just beautiful, thoughtful flowers and some bonus boutonnieres.
They’re still my go-to florist.
The Ring
I had one custom-made using heirloom gold and diamonds from my grandmother. You might remember her from this post—she’s 98 and still the best-dressed person I know.
However, the ring wasn’t ready in time so I borrowed one of my mom’s for the weekend. Something blue, something borrowed, something with family history? Check, check, check.
8 Tips for a Low-Waste Wedding
If you’re planning your own celebration—or just daydreaming—here are a few things that made our wedding feel more sustainable, more personal, and less stressful:
- Rent what you can. Dresses, tuxes, decor—no need to store it or sell it later.
- Pick a venue with personality. Less decorating, less waste.
- Go digital. Your guests will survive without a wax-sealed envelope.
- Shop local and small. Your dollars go further and you get to know your community.
- Serve family-style. Less food waste and more time to chat.
- Keep the guest list intimate. More connection, fewer emissions.
- Reuse meaningful pieces. Jewelry, accessories, even tableware.
- Compost those flowers. Or send them home with guests to enjoy a little longer.
Looking back, I’m proud we kept things small, personal, and low-impact—without sacrificing the joy or the memories. It wasn’t the biggest party, but it was the right one for us.
Are you planning a wedding? Already married? What worked—or what would you do differently now? I’d love to hear.
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We had a quiet next wedding right here at home with a JP – a friend (I remarried my first husband – go figure – it works!). Finger foods popped into the oven (yep, we chose/purchased it). The kids watched over it/grandkids served – everyone was involved. Just one lovely floral arrangement. We (well, it was a ‘thing’ for me) had a reasonably priced, locally made wedding cake….but in hind sight much really wasn’t eaten, so could have had just ice cream! Simple is better….really it is!
Cheryle, I love this story—thank you for sharing it. There’s something so special about doing things your way, especially when it involves family chipping in. Congratulations!