Big fat Indian weddings are getting a fresh, eco-friendly glow-up! In 2025, couples aren’t just tying the knot – they’re tying it right by making mindful choices that are as kind to the planet as they are to their wallets. From ditching single-use plastics to rocking pre-loved lehengas, today’s lovebirds are showing us how to celebrate in style and sustainability.
Gone are the days of over-the-top extravagance that leaves behind a trail of waste. The new mantra? “Less waste, more love!” Whether it’s swapping vinyl décor for biodegradable beauty, donating leftover food, or hosting zero-emission baraats, couples are proving that you don’t have to sacrifice vibes for values. If you’re planning your dream wedding and want to make it eco-chic, we’ve got you covered. Here are some sustainable ideas to inspire your big day!
Opt For Minimalism
Image via Palak and Avnish
It’s not necessary minimalism has to be basic. You can have the wedding of your dreams by being more mindful, just like this couple did!
Choose A Green Venue
Image via Rahul and Athiya
Look for a venue that is environmentally friendly, such as one that uses renewable energy, has energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and encourages recycling. You can also choose to get married at your own house or a friend’s farmhouse where you can have more control over resources
Switch to Solar Power
Image via Pooja and Akash
Host your wedding at venues powered by solar energy or use portable solar panels for lighting and other electrical needs to minimize the carbon footprint. Day weddings also use way lesser electricity than night, and if you need anymore convincing, think of those gorgeous sunset jaimala photos!
Sustainable Mandap Design
Image via Pinterest
Build your mandap using natural, reusable materials like bamboo, jute, or upcycled wood. Decorate with greenery, potted plants, and eco-friendly drapes instead of artificial flowers or foam-based structures.
Rent, Don’t Buy
Image via Vedika and Omair
Opt for renting bridal and groom outfits, décor items, and accessories instead of purchasing new ones. Many rental platforms now offer high-quality, trendy, and designer options.
Check out 15+ Best Places Where You Find Bridal Lehenga On Rent In Delhi!
Eco-Friendly Entertainment
Image via Farhan and Shibani
Choose eco-conscious entertainment like live acoustic performances instead of power-intensive DJ setups or fireworks displays.
Digital Wedding Albums
Image via Pinterest
Eliminate printed photo albums and use digital or cloud-based wedding albums to share and preserve your memories.
Sustainable Bridesmaid Hampers
Image via Pinterest
Instead of plastic or single use products, gift your bridesmaids organic product and gifts that will last them a lifetime. Not only is this immensely helpful to the planet, they will have a memory of your wedding for a lifetime!
Organic Henna and Makeup
Image via Nikita and Philippe
Use organic, chemical-free henna for Mehendi and sustainable, cruelty-free makeup products for the bridal look.
Water Conservation Measures
Image via Chandni and Sunny
Work with venues that use water-saving measures, such as low-flow taps and toilets, and avoid using excess water for rituals or decor (like fountains). Or decor them like this couple did!
Eco-Conscious Photo Booths
Image via Shutterdown – Lakshya Chawla★ 4.9
Design photo booths with recyclable or upcycled materials and props, ensuring they can be dismantled and reused post-event.
Eco-Friendly Wedding Attire for Guests
Image via Jaiveer and Ketki
Encourage guests to wear outfits they already own or swap outfits with family and friends instead of buying new clothes specifically for the event. You can mention this in the wedding invite.
Carbon Offsetting Initiatives
Work with an organization to calculate your wedding’s carbon footprint and offset it by contributing to tree-planting drives or renewable energy projects. Include this initiative in your wedding details to inspire others.
Cut Your Guestlist
Image via Saumya and Chakra
By simply cutting your guestlist by even 20%, you will reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding massively! Plus you get to enjoy your wedding with the people that matter the most to you!
Go For A Sustainable Bridal Trousseau
Image via Rahul and Athiya
You can also opt for sustainable brands if you want to go for new outfits for your trousseau like these brands, which are known for slow fashion. These include amazing jewellery brands too!
Go The Heirloom Way
Image via Parnit and Pragya
Instead of buying new jewellery and heavy outfits, you can borrow family jewellery, sarees, and outfits for your wedding. Even if you can do that for 50% of your bridal look, it’ll create a huge impact! Or you can choose to go the heirloom way for one of your pre-wedding events.
Opt For A Green Wedding Activity
This couple went with a plantation drive post their wedding which encouraged all the guests to do so! Also, as a wedding favor, instead of gifts, they planted a tree in name of each guest. Walk the talk!
Go paperless with your invites
Instead of printed invites, send out e-invites over email and Whatsapp. Lesser hassle and good for the environment too! Design your personalised evites here.
Say yes to lab grown diamonds
Pick lab-grown diamonds for the rings and jewellery instead of naturally mined diamonds to reduce the extent of human abuse that happens in mining.
READ MORE: How Much Does a Lab-Grown Diamond Cost for Your Engagement Ring?
Engage With Local Vendors
Image Soumya and Chakra
Booking outstation vendors mean they have to fly in or have their material transported to your city, which makes a huge impact on your wedding’s carbon footprint. You can now look for vendors in your city, by simply filtering through the city filter on WedMeGood.
Shop Vegan
Image via Aksha and Hemanth
If you want to go cruelty-free, go vegan in your shopping. Don’t opt for silk sarees or leather bags in your bridal trousseau and gifts. Opt for vegan-friendly gifts and products that will help you go cruelty-free!
Opt For A Menu That Has Local Food
Image via The Creative Lens★ 4.9
Exotic food counters will mean ingredients have to be imported or transported from other places. Minimise this by opting for a food menu that can be made locally and that way, your guests will also be able to enjoy authentic local food.
Reduce Transportation
Image via Pinterest
Encourage carpooling and use public transportation as much as possible. If all your guests are staying at the same hotel or area, you can book them a fun wedding bus that can be used for transportation and they can avoid multiple cars!
Sustainable Catering
Image via Pinterest
Work with caterers who use reusable or compostable plates, utensils, and napkins. That way there is less wastage and more use!
Pick A Wedding Registry Over Regular Gifts
Image via Pinterest
You don’t want 5 same sets of microwave bowls going to waste, do you? Opt for a wedding registry where your guests can give you something useful and sustainable! Another way is having a ‘no physical gifts’ policy as it’s one of the easiest ways to adopt a more conscious approach on your wedding day.
Other Ideas
- Segregate the food waste
Segregate dry and wet waste so that you can ensure that you compost the waste once the celebrations are over.
- Do not give out plastic water bottles
Instead, get water counters (without plastic glasses). Steel glasses and jugs are good enough.
- Use reusable cutlery and no tissues
No plastic spoons and forks. Yes, edible cutlery is a thing now too. You can also choose to serve food in ceramic, steel or bamboo disposable plates as ideal alternatives.
- Instead of plastic, serve foods on natural plates / banana leaves
This might be pushing it for some couples, but if you’re really serious, make it work.
- Donate the leftover food to those who need it
This is always a good idea, especially looking at how much food can get wasted at weddings! Tie up with a local NGO who can pick up the food at the end of the day and donate it to those who really need it.
- Prefer day celebrations in good weather
Less use of electricity- make use of the natural light outdoors! If the weather is great, then AC usage becomes minimal.
- Let the Baraat enter on cycles!
Image via 1plus1 Studio★ 5
Instead of hiring a big DJ van or the groom coming in on a horse or elephant, let the baraatis come on cycles or even on foot.
- Have a tree plantation drive by guests to mark your wedding
Image via Two Fat Ladies★ 4.8
- Donate the leftover flowers
This can be done to making natural holi colours, potpourri or incense sticks out of them.
- Give out rose petals for showering in banana leaves
Image via With Love Nilma★ 5
Not paper cones.
- Or instead of confetti, used something different
You can use pressed, fallen leaves or even better- bird seeds!
- Make sure the trash from the wedding is recycled or composted
There are composting groups which can take your wedding trash- food, flowers etc to convert them to compost. The rest? Well, make sure it is segregated and whatever can be recycled is sent for it.
ALSO READ: Simple Ways To Go Green At Your Wedding: It’s Tough But Do-able!
All images are for representative purposes only.
*Updated by Apoorva Pagar.