A Zero Waste Wedding
What’s a Zero Waste Event?
A zero waste event is one with a keen eye towards minimizing landfill waste, with the ideal goal being zero landfill waste whatsoever. In our work at Epic Renewal, we help our clients consider all the details of their events to minimize their waste without compromising quality or beauty.
It’s pretty important to note that Zero Waste is both a misnomer, and an unattainable goal. There are many situations where waste is necessary, but there are also many opportunities at the individual level to make choices to purchase, make, use, consume, and discard less. We are firm believers that lots of people making small changes is what adds up to big impact. As a result, we are always seeking ways to adjust our behavior, shrink our footprint, and create less waste.
We're so proud to say that our 65-guest wedding only produced 6 pounds of landfill waste, with 60 pounds of recyclables, 53 pounds of compostable material, and 100 pounds of recovered food donated.
Photos by Dana Siles
We’ve had so much fun planning this event, and applying our toolkit to a vision of our own.
We couldn’t be more excited to share this special day with you!
Explore below to learn about some of the components of this event we’ve taken into consideration.
Stationery
Our invitations were printed on plantable seed paper, and shipped in an envelope made from recycled paper. We hope they bring you lots of blooms!
Event Furniture
The ceremony furniture is homemade at Epic Renewal, using locally sourced and sustainably harvested ash wood from Maisey’s Tree Farm, which stewards 23 acres of native woods and offers nature-based educational experiences.
The Wedding Dress
The dress was sourced secondhand, cutting down on manufacturing and distribution waste from the apparel industry. After the wedding, a local natural dye artist will help transform it into something new.
Bar
We've swapped out all of the single-use bar elements for reusable ones - our straws, napkins, and glassware will live on at future events!
Cocktail Napkins
Instead of single-use napkins, we’ve crafted washable, reusable ones with offcut linen scraps that would otherwise be wasted, sourced from a home goods manufacturer.
Food Sourcing
The majority of our food is seasonal, sourced from local farms, and thoughtfully prepared by a wonderful local chef and caterer.
Food Recovery
We'll be working with local food recovery partners to find a great home for any remaining excess edible food.
Composting
Epic Renewal will be providing compost collection for back-of-house food preparation, as well as any food scraps, wilted cut florals, and paper towels from the event.
Favors
While these are a surprise, they will include reusable packaging and natural ingredients crafted by local small businesses.