The Sustainable Tablescape Series: Part One

In the process of planning my own wedding, I’ve been brainstorming concepts to build a dinner table that would be as low-waste as possible (zero-waste, if I did it right.) Often times, people think we have to compromise aesthetics for the sake of sustainability, but I’m confident that the two can coexist. Thus, this series was born. With the help of some of my friends and local vendors, we are setting out to show the wedding industry that low-waste wedding design is not only doable, but can be beautiful as well.

Our first series was inspired by foraging — things we find in out in the wild (or even in our own backyards). For our candleholders, we sourced rocks from the local quarry and melted beeswax candles straight onto them. We bought in-season produce from the local grocery like mushrooms, persimmons, and pears to garnish the plates. Ikebana-style florals were used in place of bulky centerpieces to use as few stems as possible. As a second option, we used a neighbor’s extra olive tree scraps and placed them into vases.

And the best part of all of these decorations? Everything was eaten, composted, or re-used (i.e. the dried florals). Nothing had to go to waste.

Additionally, all of our tables, chairs, and tableware were rented from The Valley Events and Cloth and Flame. Tablecloths were thrifted. At the end of the day, nothing had to be thrown away or donated; rather, things were cleaned, washed, and ready to be reused.

We are so excited about what we created here, and can’t wait to show you the other ideas we have in the books. If you’re searching for more sustainable ideas for your wedding day, check out my low-waste wedding guide here.

Sustainability Notes:

• If you plan to use produce as decor, make sure you are actually eating the food or composting them afterwards. Food waste that is simply thrown into landfills only creates more harm, as they release methane if they are not composted properly. Send them to your local bulk compost, or do it at home!
  Additionally, try to buy produce that’s in-season in the area. If you want to go the extra mile, source them from the local farmers market!

• If you plan to have candles on your tables, make sure to choose natural, beeswax candles. Most standard candles are made with chemical compounds and may release toxic byproducts when burned. Considering your guests will be sitting next to the candles while they eat, do them a favor and choose the non-toxic option.

The Dream Team: Photos by Eunice Beck. Florals by Form Floral. Tables and chairs from The Valley Events. Tableware from Cloth and Flame.