How to Throw a Low-Waste Wedding!

As a New Jersey calligrapher, it might surprise you to hear that I am actually a big fan of low-waste weddings. I have talked time and time again about how much I cherish personal touches on your wedding day. But I am often asked if there are ways to incorporate personal touches in a more eco-friendly way… There definitely is—and this is one of my favorite questions to answer! I’m a big fan of having your cake and eating it too (who isn’t?) so if you are dreaming of stunning hand-written touches AND want to be conscious of what to do with them after or the amount of waste created, you’re in the right place.

Choosing Your Rentals for Low-Waste Weddings

Although I love custom signage, there are a few rental options that don’t necessarily need to be custom to each couple. I’ve recently started offering rentals to my custom signage couples to make this process even more simple and to ensure that the non-custom pieces match the rest of their calligraphy decor because everything is still hand-written by me! Table numbers are the most popular rental option right now—they still add hand-written touches to your wedding day, but since they’re a rental, you can return them to me after your wedding and don’t need to throw them away or wonder what the heck you’re going to do with a bunch of table numbers post-wedding.

Certain types of wedding signage work well for calligraphy rentals too. For example, COVID-related signage is a hot request these days. Almost every wedding has wedding signage indicating whether or not masks are required or asking guests to choose a bracelet color with their comfort level. These COVID-related wedding signs still look pretty and are handmade in the same calligraphy as your custom signage, but you don’t need to keep them after your wedding day, which cuts down on waste and overall investment!

Use Mirrors As Wedding Decor and Signage

There are a few reasons why mirrors make great low-waste wedding signage… They’re perfect for welcome signs and seating charts and fit well with almost any wedding style (if you are curious, you can read more about different wedding styles here). The ink can actually be removed from the mirrors, so you don’t necessarily need to purchase something new! You can use a mirror that you already have, purchase one to re-use in your home after your wedding, or find some gems on facebook marketplace or eBay. I even had a bride once bring a gorgeous vintage mirror that she found on the side of the road!! Talk about low-waste wedding signage!

More than that, mirrors can be more repurposed or kept as a keepsake after your wedding. I wrote a whole post on repurposing your wedding decor here. Your wedding might just be one day, but there’s no reason your decor can’t last longer!

Eliminate Place Card Waste

I love the look of place cards. Nothing makes your guests feel more special than walking up to a table and finding a stunning hand-written card with their name on it. Consider making your place cards do double-duty by using them as wedding favors as well. This can also help cut down on paper waste… If you’re having a summer wedding, consider using oyster shells as your place cards and favors! If you really want to commit to low-waste, you can have a seating chart instead and completely eliminate the paper aspect. Check out this post about the difference between seating charts, escort cards, and place cards!

Low-Waste Wedding Ideas

I hope this has inspired you to take advantage of all the different ways you can make your wedding low-waste, without feeling like you are sacrificing anything. When we think of this as an “all or nothing” kind of decision, it can be hard to stay motivated. But these little tweaks in your wedding decisions can make a big difference in creating a more sustainable wedding industry (without sacrificing the things you love!). Don’t forget to check out this post on post on repurposing your wedding decor here. If you have questions or would like to talk about your wedding day signage, get in touch through the button below!