Nowadays, any event that takes place across the country needs to have an eco-friendly ethos at heart, and a wedding fair is no different.
Temporary events and roadshows such as these often rely on environmentally damaging items such as single-use plastics, and with the recent push to eliminate this type of product from common use in the UK, it’s now more of a consideration than ever to plan a wedding fair that’s as eco-friendly and environmentally conscious as possible – especially if you’re selling green products themselves.
This quick guide will run through some of the things you’ll need to think about in order to make your eco-friendly wedding fair something special, providing the inspiration for a slew of unforgettable ceremonies.
THINK ABOUT YOUR WEDDING FAIR DECOR
Creating a welcoming, magical space for soon-to-be newlyweds to get inspiration for their big day is priority number one. A natural, garden party aesthetic could work well here – think bunting, plants and fairy lights to brighten up a dour convention centre. While having a strong aesthetic is a priority, making sure it’s eco-friendly should follow right behind. Consider investing in fabric bunting instead of plastic, and using LED lighting and real plants instead of energy-sapping bulbs or faux alternatives.
CATER FOR ALL AND REMEMBER THE CLEANUP
Chances are, you’ll want wedding caterers to sample their wares at your fair, which means a lot of disposable food packaging being distributed across the event – and this could be an environmental oversight if handled incorrectly. Think about following in the footsteps of large music festivals such as Glastonbury and ban all single-use plastic, to ensure that the waste generated by food-curious couples is going to biodegrade in the proper way.
Making sure the food itself is sourced responsibly and offers plenty of vegetarian and vegan options is another thing worth considering, as meat-free foods typically have less of an environmental impact, and locally sourcing your produce can further improve your catering in this way.
HAVE A CONSCIENTIOUS MARKETING STRATEGY
If your wedding fair is to pride itself on an eco-friendly ethos, promoting it with reams of paper flyers and leaflets that are hard to dispose of isn’t the way forward. Being conscientious of the resources you use while promoting your event is a simple step that can help the environment in a big way. Using online marketing techniques to promote your wedding fair is a carbon-neutral alternative, and if you’d like more traditional paper invites, then make sure they’re printed on recycled paper – or go one better and print them on planet-friendly rice paper.
Be careful not to overstate your green credentials either, as this could be seen as ‘greenwashing’, something that has afflicted corporations and events alike over the past few decades. Simply put: don’t talk the talk unless you can walk the walk, as the negative PR that stems from spurious claims of eco-friendliness is absolutely not worth it and can be damaging for your brand.
CREATING YOUR EVENT BUDGET
To ensure the success of your wedding fair, it’s crucial to make an event budget. This budget not only ensures financial sustainability but also helps you make informed decisions throughout the planning process.
Income Sources: Begin by identifying potential revenue streams, such as exhibitor fees, ticket sales, and sponsorships, while maintaining realistic projections.
Expense Listing: Create a list of expenses, including venue rental, marketing, staff salaries, equipment rentals, and more.
Prioritize Expenses: Categorize costs into essential and non-essential items, focusing on crucial expenses.
Contingency Planning: Allocate funds for unexpected expenses to provide a safety net.
Research and Negotiate: Seek competitive quotes and explore cost-saving opportunities.
Expense Monitoring: Continuously track spending using budgeting tools, making adjustments as needed.
Boost Revenue: Maximize income with premium booth packages, sponsorships, or additional income streams.
Transparency: Keep stakeholders informed about the event’s financial health for trust and credibility.
Post-Event Analysis: Analyze actual finances compared to the budget for future improvements.
Sustainability Focus: Stay true to eco-friendly values in budgeting decisions.
By following these steps and making an event budget, you can ensure financial success and long-term sustainability for your wedding fair.
ATTRACT THE RIGHT KIND OF VENDORS
Every facet of a bride and groom’s special day has an eco-friendly alternative, as couples are increasingly opting for a green wedding that doesn’t harm the planet. Even royal wedding florist Shane Connolly agrees that eco-conscious flower displays are the way forward, so making sure there are vendors ranging from green florists to sellers of natural skin care products present at your event will help to ensure it’s a satisfying experience for all your attendees.
Conversely, making sure that your vendors don’t offer services or products that are bad for the environment, such as plastic-based glitter and confetti, is a further consideration that will make your fair a success. Attendees will turn up expecting a fair that offers a green alternative to every possible aspect of a wedding, so paying attention to detail is essential.
We hope you’ve learned a lot from this quick guide – and are inspired to add your own creative spin on an eco-friendly wedding fair. With a little imaginative thinking, you can ensure your next event is an eco-friendly success.
