Going Green: How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Wedding Dress

An eco-friendly wedding is more than a cost-effective approach to tying the knot. Danyelle Verhaalen, a former bridal shop owner turned shopping consultant, says people often misunderstand sustainable marriage ceremonies. A great deal of research, time and effort goes into planning an environmentally conscious matrimony, also known as a green wedding. 

“I think a lot of people think being eco-friendly means it’s going to be a lot simpler. It means it might be more cost-effective,” says Verhaalen. “And [they’re] not necessarily thinking about making these choices because of the footprint that we’re leaving or planet issues.”

It’s worth noting that, on average, a wedding produces about 400 pounds of waste and 63 tons of carbon dioxide. In the United States alone, there were nearly 2.1 million marriages in 2022. Although sourcing sustainable garments may be a meticulous task, the positive impact on the environment makes it a worthwhile endeavor.

Glam Goes Green

As environmentally conscious bridal fashion evolves, it gives rise to uniquely tailored experiences, where individuals pass down vintage fabrics and delicate embellishments from one meaningful moment to the next, instead of wearing them only once and then storing them away. For weddings, Verhaalen recommends recycling items like jewelry, hair accessories, and veils.

“I have actually worked with quite a few brides who have had a traveling veil; it moves on to the next bride, and they all have a really fun story where they got to share the same thing,” she says. “It’s a vintage wedding gown with amazing love stories behind it that you can also lean into as a bride. I think it’s so romantic.”

For nuptial fashion trends, bespoke wedding attire has emerged as one of the most sought-after styles. Betrothed couples can express their unique personalities through their wedding apparel by repurposing materials into something completely original. By doing this, couples not only create a novel look, but they also recover rich textiles that would otherwise be discarded. 

“I love to see bridal designers using recycled fabrics. We love seeing them creating patterns specifically to minimize fabric waste,” she says. “Upcycling is a huge, huge thing right now, especially in bridal. That makes me really excited because you can get a one-of-a-kind gown from a designer who’s upcycling leftover fabric.”

Twice the Charm

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to convert your wedding gown into another stylish outfit. Sometimes you can go back to the designer at the bridal salon where you bought a new piece and they will transform it into a cocktail dress. Imagine how many lives your wardrobe staples could have if you gave them second chances.

Instead of owning your wedding attire, there’s always the option to rent them. This has become another popular way to reduce costs while minimizing your environmental impact. Not to mention how much easier this alternative might be if you decide to book a wedding abroad. 

“I love the idea of renting, especially if you’re doing a destination wedding and having multiple events,” says Verhaalen. “If you want to rent jewelry, handbags, accessories, why not? I love it. I think it’s fun, and it feels like something new, and then it’s not sitting in your closet taking up space.”