5 Ideas for Sustainability for Every Wedding Guest

Summer is the wedding season, and many of us are well aware of this fact. We likely are on the lookout for options that are more sustainable or eco-friendly before we head off to our next wedding ceremony or big event. But what does trying to be a bit more sustainable actually look like when it comes to shopping for wedding guest dresses, accessories, and the like?

Sustainability for Every Wedding Guest

Where should you consider going if you want to find a more sustainable option? What jewelry should you wear? And if you’re looking to get new makeup products, what is the best way to go? If you’re looking for a little advice when it comes to shopping for wedding guest dresses and other attire, you’re in the right place.

1. Buy Sustainably Made Wedding Guest Dresses

As sustainability and being eco-friendly are growing in popularity, more of us are becoming concerned with treating the planet well and making more conscious purchases. While the best option may not be purchasing something new, there are companies that focus on manufacturing wedding guest dresses and other forms of attire in a more sustainable way.

If you’re in the market for a new dress, consider shopping at a store that practices sustainability and makes it one of its top priorities, like Reformation. This is a great way to practice voting with your dollar, although this vote might be more expensive than other options you could be making. 

The reason sustainable clothing brands are typically more expensive has to do with the way the garment is made: workers are more likely to be paid fair wages, and the materials are more likely to be sustainably and responsibly sourced. Additionally, sustainably made garments are meant to last longer periods of time, meaning you’re going to want to plan on re-wearing any sustainably made garments more than other pieces you would typically purchase from a fast fashion store.

2. Go Thrifting for Wedding Guest Dresses

While many of us have heard of thrifting, not everyone has done it. This means you might not know that thrifting is also a sustainable way to find wedding guest dresses at much lower prices. This is because many formal gowns are donated to thrift stores when a former owner has decided they no longer want or need a particular garment.

By choosing to go thrifting for your wedding guest dresses in the present and in the future, you’re allowing more pieces to have a chance at a second life. This also prevents more clothing from heading into landfills at an unnecessarily high rate.

If you’re used to going shopping with your friends for fancy events, like weddings, dances, or prom, you might also appreciate going thrifting with some of your buddies. This allows you all to enjoy the feeling of the hunt, give feedback on dresses each of you might like, and make thrifting a more comfortable experience in general.

3. Consider Wearing What You Have or Borrowing From a Friend

One of the most sustainable ways to get ready for a wedding as a guest is to avoid buying anything new at all. Not only does this allow you to save a little bit more cash, but this also keeps you from showing other unsustainable companies that you’re interested in purchasing fast fashion.

Odds are, you probably have something nice enough to wear to a wedding, even if you’ve been seen in it before or it isn’t brand new. Or, if you truly have nothing to wear in the wedding guest dresses category, consider going to a friend and borrowing something of theirs.

4. Avoid Buying Accessories You Won’t Wear Again

When it comes to accessories, including jewelry, shoes, and purses, many of the same rules apply. There are many companies that dedicate themselves to sustainability, and you can even go thrifting for many of these items.
However, whatever you do, make sure you avoid purchasing new accessories you don’t plan on wearing again. By making sure you’re only buying items that you see yourself wearing to future events or in your everyday life, you keep yourself from wasting money or from discarding pieces too frequently.

Instead, consider wearing jewelry and shoes you already own or borrow a purse from a friend. This is one of the best ways to practice sustainability in your personal life. Or, if you must buy something new, expect to spend a little bit more in order to support methods and companies dedicated to being more eco-friendly and ethical.

5. Purchase Sustainably Made Makeup

Unfortunately, makeup is one of those categories where it’s pretty tough to thrift or borrow from a friend. This is mainly because it’s pretty unsanitary to do this, so you might be having a difficult time looking for makeup to wear for events.

If you don’t own something already, consider replenishing your makeup supply with cosmetics from companies that dedicate themselves to sustainability. This might mean the company chooses to avoid animal testing, use only vegan-friendly ingredients, or use ingredients that are exclusively naturally derived. Each of these stances from cosmetics companies supports a more eco-friendly stance in the makeup industry or a more ethical standard of production. 

Many of these products are also considered to be of a higher quality and better for your skin, mainly because there’s less processing involved in the production of the cosmetics. However, it may be necessary for you to look at the ingredient lists of these products if you need to avoid any allergens that might be present in some more natural products.

Conclusion

The road to sustainable practices is a tough one, both for the consumer and for the manufacturers of these products. Frequently, more sustainably made products and garments are more expensive to make and source, but this is also a necessary step for ensuring the longevity of the planet. If you’re choosing to follow any sustainable practices, kudos to you!