A wedding dress is arguably one of the most unsustainable purchases you could ever make. Wedding dresses are expensive and typically only worn once on your special day, before being relegated to a forgotten corner of your wardrobe. One way to reduce your wedding day’s carbon footprint is by purchasing an affordable sustainable wedding dress.
From hiring your wedding dress to choosing ethical bridal brands, there are plenty of ways to make greener decisions when it comes to wedding attire. Discover our sustainable wedding dress ideas for a show stopping summer wedding below…
Our favourite sustainable wedding dress ideas
Borrow from family or friends
There’s something so nostalgic about borrowing a wedding dress from a close family member or friend. Yes, your grandmother’s 1930s wedding gown may require some alterations or even a total revamp. However, choosing to borrow a vintage wedding dress is a great way to be kind to both your wallet and the planet. This way, your wedding dress can tell a unique story; plus, you’ll be ticking those “something old” and “something borrowed” boxes, too!
Hire your wedding dress
The “rent-a-dress” trend is on the rise, with more brides opting to hire their wedding dresses than ever before. Beautiful dresses can be worn over and over again, reducing the amount of clothing that ends up in landfill. Not to mention, hiring your wedding gown will also save you a fortune! Popular options for wedding dress hire in the UK include Something Borrowed, By Rotation and P.S. Bridal Rental.
Check out the sample rail
We highly recommend asking your local bridal boutique if they have a sample selection, before diving into their latest and greatest unethical attire. By saying yes to a sample bridal gown, you are helping to reduce the environmental impact associated with producing new wedding dresses. You’ll be giving that garment a second chance to shine, whilst supporting a more sustainable bridal industry. Win-win!
Go second-hand
As most of us know by now, shopping second-hand is the way forward when making sustainable fashion choices. Wedding dresses are no exception to this rule. Yes, it may require more time and effort to browse charity shops or second-hand marketplaces, but you can rest easy knowing that you’ve made an eco-friendly choice. Sites such as Stillwhite, Bridal Reloved and Pre-loved Bridal Boutique are ideal choices for sustainable summer wedding dress ideas.
Choose an ethical designer
If vintage, rented or second-hand wedding dresses aren’t on the agenda, consider purchasing from an ethical designer. There are plenty of brands out there who are now catering for eco-conscious brides through their use of quality ethical fabrics and sustainable fashion procedures. Some of our favourite UK-based ethical wedding dress designers include Medusa London, Luna Bride, Rolling in Roses and Indiebride London.
Make your own wedding dress
If you’re crafty and like the idea of wearing a totally unique wedding dress that nobody else will ever wear again, why not consider making your own? It’s an affordable sustainable wedding dress option that completely cuts out any labour costs, leaving you with a beautiful dress that is made to fit you perfectly. Custom-making a wedding gown certainly isn’t suitable for everyone, but one thing’s for sure; walking down the aisle wearing something you crafted yourself will feel so special.
Host your eco-friendly wedding at Lapstone Barn
Here at Lapstone Barn, we are committed to protecting the environment for future generations to enjoy. Our Grade II-listed sustainable wedding venue in the Cotswolds provides the perfect blank canvas to host the green wedding of your dreams. Get in touch to arrange a viewing of our picture-perfect Cotswold wedding venue today.