Plan a green wedding with our expert tips on sustainable celebrations, tailored for marriage halls in Kolkata.
Back in 2021, as the world was still grappling with the pandemic, Netflix aired a reality show called The Big Day. Showcasing several wonderful Indian weddings, there was one that stood out the most.
While grand in scale and set in Bishangarh, Jaipur, it looked like a typical Indian wedding until it came to light how the couple was planning to make their wedding eco-friendly and sustainable. Their planner, Devika Narain, beautifully brought the couple’s idea to life by locally sourcing decor and making greener choices.
Fast forward four years, and as a new wedding season approaches again, we notice a growing shift towards more sustainable celebrations. If you’re getting hitched this year, how can you make your wedding at a banquet hall in Kolkata better for the planet? Keep reading to know how!
Why Plan a Sustainable Wedding?
Sustainability often takes a backseat in the big fat Indian wedding. They end up generating mountains of waste, much of which ends up in landfills. By choosing reusable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly decor, you aren’t just reducing waste but also making a statement about your values.
Locally sourcing from artisans, using deadstock fabric, decorating only with seasonal plants and flowers, or having a no-plastic wedding are conscious choices you can make. It adds authenticity and warmth to the wedding that no mass-produced decor can replicate. Additionally, creating a menu with local and seasonal produce also reduces harmful farming practices.
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How to Make Your Wedding At a Marriage Hall in Kolkata More Sustainable
Choose Reusable Decor
Inclusions like jute and cane for the wedding decor are a simple way to incorporate sustainability. You can decorate your mandap with reusable fabric, turning it into plant-like shapes. If you add greenery to your wedding, you can make sure they are properly composted. More often than not, luxury banquet halls will have a collection of artificial flowers and drapery. You can modify them and incorporate them at your wedding instead of getting new ones.
More Greenery is Always Good
Flowers are a common sight at Indian weddings, but live plants are also great for decor at your banquet hall in Kolkata. Floral decor, while stunning, also causes a lot of wastage. The best way to incorporate greenery in your wedding is by seeking the help of a local nursery. You can rent the plants, which, in turn, helps a local business. And if you don’t rent, you can send your guests back home with a plant as wedding favours. You could also donate the plants to schools or local gardens.
Take the Vocal for Local Approach
When deciding on your wedding decor, choosing local vendors and artisans helps the environment and community. Use decorations handmade by local artists and crafters. This will also help you reduce waste and lower the wedding’s overall carbon footprint. The best way to do this is to look at every aspect of the decor, and then figure out the eco-friendly swaps you can make.
For instance, instead of a flower wall at your reception in a luxury hotel in Kolkata, you can have a pichwai backdrop. This art style from Rajasthan is detailed and refined, and you end up supporting a pichwai artist at the same time. Or, how about instead of real flowers, you hire a Sholapith artist to craft flowers out of the shola plant? You could later use them as decor elsewhere or let your guests take them home.
Select Locally-Sourced Catering
The menu can also display your and your partner’s eco-commitment when planning your big day. Choosing organic and local dishes brings a special touch and supports nearby businesses and farmers. When you source local produce, you are also guaranteed freshness and a lower carbon footprint due to minimal transport.
Moreover, by selecting seasonal produce, you reduce the environmental harm from unsustainable farming practices. Seasonal eating is also good for your health, so extend that privilege to your guests as well.
Being thoughtful with your wedding menu helps your boutique hotel in Kolkata create a meal that’s delicious for the guests and kind for the planet.
Book the Right Venue
Today, many venues in Kolkata are focusing on sustainable practices. For instance, The Park Hotels Kolkata has plans to become energy neutral by 2027. Such hotels and halls will be more than willing to help you plan an eco-friendly wedding.
Your wedding can become a model of sustainable refinement. It can become a celebration that mirrors your commitment to your partner and the Earth. So, during the planning process, keep these tips in mind!
