Let your wedding leave a positive footprint

In all the excitement of planning a wedding, it’s easy to overlook the impact it might have on the environment. Making your wedding as low carbon and sustainable as possible can often be easier said than done, which is why we’ve created the following list of pointers and ideas. In choosing Kilnsey Park for your special day you are taking the first step towards a truly ethical eco-wedding.

Kilnsey Park is proud to be a carbon neutral wedding venue and we want you to be part of our journey, which is why we invite you to plant a tree here to commemorate your wedding. To find out more about our environmental policy click here.

Ways you can make a difference:

Flowers: these are such an important part of the aesthetic of a wedding and have been for centuries. Yet choosing flowers that aren’t seasonal means you are increasing your carbon footprint as they will need to be imported. Mass produced flowers also use harmful chemical fertilisers. Aim to choose local, seasonal and organically grown flowers. Even better, keep flowers to an absolute minimum and instead make a feature of the naturally growing fauna and flora in the Park.

Decorations: Bunting, banners and even invitations can use up resources which might not be sustainable. Think e-invitations and borrow blackboards for signage and menus. There are so many ways you can be sustainably creative with place settings, although allowing people sit where they want is the most eco! Balloons, which have become a feature of modern weddings, should be avoided since they are plastic and in addition to not biodegrading, can be a choking hazard for wildlife and sea life. We do not allow fireworks as these are frightening to our native animals.

Confetti: mass produced and glittery confetti doesn’t always biodegrade and is harmful to any animals that eat it. There are many ways to make your own biodegradable confetti, with dried lavender, rosemary, rose petals and marigolds being not only easy to create but beautifully fragrant.

Food: Choose locally sourced and preferably organic food for a low mileage and low chemical footprint. Also check your catering supplier’s policy on food waste. If they give uncooked food to charity and compost left overs, then the food waste will be minimal.

Other things to consider:

You are what you wear: Choose garments made from ethically sourced fabrics, or try vintage or second time round clothing suppliers. Remember, many wedding clothes can also be rented.

Jewellery and rings: Make sure you know the country of origin of any diamonds or gemstones. It is important that you are aware of the ethical issues surrounding conflict diamonds.

Lighting: Why not rent solar panels? They could collect energy through the day to light your evening event, so negating the need for a generator. If you are staying close to the hub of Kilnsey Park, then you can rest assured that all its electricity and heating is generated from hydropower, solar panels and heat pumps.

Tableware: Ideally hire tableware that can be used again. Failing that choose biodegradable or recyclable, making sure it is collected back in in recyclable boxes as opposed to plastic bin bags.

Travel: Why not organise group travel to the venue for your guests, so eliminating the need for people travelling in separate cars? And remember, at Kilnsey Park, everything is on one site, from ceremony to reception and guest accommodation, which means that no cars are required once the day is underway.

Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better: Inviting less guests, in particular those that have far to travel, will reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding. Covid has shown that the intimacy that a smaller wedding creates a special atmosphere and magic of its own, Choosing when to marry can also impact on the footprint of your wedding. A summer wedding means less reliance on heaters to keep your guests warm.