Planning an eco-friendly wedding? Along with trimming your guest list and choosing local suppliers, creating an eco-friendly gift registry is another great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your celebration.
Instead of traditional gifts like kitchenware and linen, consider using your gift registry to make a positive impact on the planet! From charity donations to planting trees, check out 4 of our favourite gift registry ideas for an eco-friendly wedding below.
Raise Money For Charity
Rather than physical presents, why not ask your guests to donate to an environmentally-focused charity? There are plenty of eco-friendly charities doing great work to protect our planet.
Do some research to find a charity organisation that resonates with you both. For example: climate change research, wildlife hospitals, or marine conservations.
Once you’ve chosen a charity, you’ll need to share the details with your guests. The best way to do this is by including a direct link on your wedding website. You can say something like:
“We are lucky enough to have everything we need for this exciting next chapter, so please, no gifts. However, for those who have expressed an interest, we would love you to consider donating to a charity close to our heart, (insert charity name). You can make a secure donation online here: (insert link)”
Support Local Artisans on Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace filled with unique, handmade gifts from artists and creators across the globe. The platform also has a handy gift registry function, allowing you to curate a custom wish list that directly supports local artisans.
You can find plenty of eco-friendly gift ideas on Etsy – think: recycled timber decor, custom artworks, ceramic travel mugs, handmade candles, or herb garden kits! Don’t forget to include a range of options at different price points so guests can choose a gift that suits their budget.
Again, you’ll want to share the gift registry link with your loved ones via your wedding website. You can say something like:
“Please know that your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for! However, if you wish to honour us with a gift, we’ve created an eco-friendly registry with Etsy: (insert link)”
Plant a Tree
Why not ask your loved ones to plant a tree (or 50!) in lieu of a physical gift? One Tree Planted is a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation, where one dollar equals one tree. Your guests can “gift” you trees in packs of 20, 50, or 100 along with an e-card and personalised message.
You can share the details with your guests by saying something like:
“As you may know, we’re trying our best to plan an eco-friendly wedding. Instead of a gift registry, we hope you’ll consider planting a tree on our behalf via One Tree Planted: (insert link)”
Ps – here at WedSites, we also plant one tree for every wedding planned on our platform!
Use a Wishing Well
Whether you’re planning an eco-friendly honeymoon or building your dream home, wishing wells are another way to cut down on material gifts. You can create a digital wishing well using a platform like Honeyfund, or set-up a physical wishing well at your wedding reception.
To communicate this with your guests, you can say something like:
“Your love and company on our wedding day is the only present we require! However, if you do wish to honour us with a gift, a contribution towards our wishing well would be much appreciated.”
Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas For Guests
Are you a wedding guest looking for eco-friendly gift ideas? We’ve got you sorted, too! Check out 10 of our favourite sustainable and ethical wedding gift ideas right here.
