Got upcoming nuptials? Check out the biggest sustainable wedding trends for 2022 right here!
By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi
Fashion trends come and go, and wedding fashion trends are no different.
According to the Pinterest newsroom, wedding outfits are now surpassing Christmas looks in terms of searches, meaning wedding fashion is a priority for many of us, whether we are brides-to-be or guests.
Pinterest searches have found that corsets, basques and bustiers are trending as wedding undergarments, and that ethical wedding rings, pre-owned gowns and sustainable wedding favours are all also gaining momentum this year.
As for accessories, other trend researchers predict wedding guests will be favouring loads of fancy hair accessories over traditional pastel-coloured hats and feather fascinators.
Beyond fashion, it seems these other trends are taking over nuptials:
- Having a maid of honour only, rather than a slew of bridesmaids (anyone else heaving a sigh of relief?)
- Using smaller bouquets. Large ones tend to hide the bride’s waist, making her look chunky.
- Rather than making your wedding an evening or daytime event only, many couples are inviting guests for a whole weekend of fun and celebration.
- Offering food to suit all tastes and diets. Instead of a three or four course formal dinner, couples are delivering anything their guests require: gluten free cakes? No problem! Vegan menu? Sure! On a diet? We got you!
Whether you’re off to a wedding this spring, getting married yourself, or maybe just having a few ‘white wedding’ fantasies, I think you’ll love reading about these sustainable wedding trends for 2022.
Main image credit: Mila Bridal on Etsy
12 Huge Ethical Wedding Trends For 2022
1. Shorter Wedding Dresses
Love or loathe them, you can’t say the Kardashian-Jenner clan don’t hold an enormous influence over the trends that spread. And the day after the recent wedding of Kourtney and Travis, searches for short wedding dresses went up by 213% around the world. And we predict it’s a trend that’s here to stay!
Reformation has made this one of the top sustainable wedding trends already. They offer many shorter wedding dress styles. Want something short and chic? Reformation’s Corinth Dress is a mini dress with a flattering halter neckline.
Can’t decide between a shorter or longer dress? Reformation’s Aigio Dress is the perfect blend for dabbling with this trend.
2. Plantable Wedding Invites
Sending out invites is the first step to planning a wedding once you’ve chosen a date. Electronic invites are the number one way to keep things both modern and sustainable. It’s paperless and easy, we get it! But grandparents and great aunts may not be fully onboard with e-vites just yet. So if you want to use one of our sustainable wedding trends to spread the word of your upcoming nuptials, try eco-friendly invites.
One way to keep it sustainable? Use recycled paper (which can be recycled again after). Or better yet – use seeded paper which people can plant after the wedding. A few weeks later, they’ll have gorgeous wildflowers in their gardens! A quick google on Etsy provides a plethora of super cute options.
Image: @laura.likes on Instagram.
3. Coloured Gemstone Engagement Rings
One of the not-so-surprising sustainable wedding trends for 2022 is gemstone engagement rings. Thanks to Megan Fox and Jennifer Lopez, coloured gemstone rings are replacing traditional diamonds.
Sure, these rings are gorgeous. But make yours ethical! Not sure where to look? Brilliant Earth has many gemstone ring offerings for the eco-conscious bride.
4. Dried Flowers
Forget sourcing fresh flowers. Dried flowers are the most pinned sustainable wedding decoration in 2022, with over 50% more people tapping ‘dried flower bouquets’ into their search tab. Dried flowers give a rustic vibe to any wedding, and they’re a really cost-effective way to decorate your venue. Use them for the bridal party’s bouquets or as table decorations.
This is one of our favourite sustainable wedding trends. What’s not to love? Dried flowers conserve water, energy, are fully biodegradable, and guests can take them home after the nuptials.
Image: @bohobloomhouse on Instagram.
5. Off The Shoulder Gowns
A bit nervous about the thought of a shorter wedding gown? The trend above can easily be nixed for another trend: the off-the shoulder dress!
Make the ethical choice and get one from an eco-friendly brand. The style below is Marchesa for Pronovias, but ethical wedding dress designers like Sanyukta Shrestha can custom-make any kind of gown you like. And do so sustainably, too!
6. Biodegradable Leaf Confetti
Confetti is a much-loved wedding tradition. However, did you know most modern confetti is just plastic? It takes almost 1,000 years to break down, yikes! Plus, birds tend to eat it, and it’s so tiny, it can get into our waterways. No wonder some venues even ban confetti altogether!
But leaf confetti is one of those perfect sustainable wedding trends that everyone can do!
How to do it: Simply collect green leaves, buy a hole or shape puncher (a heart would be super cute) and punch the leaves into planet-friendly confetti. Store in little paper cones and hand them to guests. Other options are dried flowers, petals, birdseed or dried lavender. Cheap and easy, too!
Image: @justanotherbrideblog on Instagram.
7. Eco Wedding Favours
Eco-friendly wedding favours are another of our sustainable wedding trends for 2022. It’s super easy to do! For example? Make mini glass candles, gift homemade jam jars, or gift guests a plant in a jar.
If you want something even simpler, just give everyone a vintage glass to take home – they can use it during the evening and it’s a lovely memento for them to take.
Image: @twinklingdreams on Instagram.
8. Choosing Eco-Friendly Venues
When it comes to picking your venue, outdoor weddings are one of the biggest trends for weddings in 2022, being the most pinned wedding option. This allows freedom to design your venue to suit your wedding style. This trend is perfect if you’re looking for a rustic wedding venue. Barns, courtyards, vineyards and even gardens are some of the most popular options. Where would you like to say ‘I do’?
Image: @thewillowsatthewoodmans on Instagram.
9. Upcycling Wedding Dresses
It’s sad to think we spend ages finding the perfect wedding dress only to store it in a wardrobe until the end of time. Well, we say no way! Another of the sustainable wedding trends for 2022 which we’re fully aboard with is upcycled wedding dresses.
Whether you dye it another colour to use again, or have it cut into a newer (less wedding-y) style, there are so many creative ways to upcycled wedding gowns.
One unique idea we totally love is weaving your dress into art for your home, as seen below. You get to hang it in your home and enjoy it every day of your married life. How sweet is that?
Image: @greywoven on Instagram.
10. Goth Weddings
Gen Z is shunning the trad white gown and pastel themed flowers and going Goth. According to the Pinterest newsroom,
- Black dress wedding party searches increased by 10X
- Goth wedding decorations searches increased by 6X
- Black wedding ideas searches increased by 6X
- Vampire wedding dress searches increased by 4X
- Black wedding cakes searches increased by +94%
Whoa, right? That’s a big change!
Luckily, black dresses are easy enough to find. I mean, who wouldn’t love to wear this dress, by Photovetania via Etsy? Plus, you can re-wear any black dress for other occasions, too. Which means your dress is more sustainable. Yay!
Image credit: rocknrollbride.com
11. Making It Mystical
Whether it’s crystals in the guests’ gift bags or a Tarot card reader present in the corner, something mystical at your wedding will be bang on trend this year! This spiritually charged vibe could also involve saging, the burning of incense or even an aura photo booth (yes, that’s a thing!).
My favourite idea would be to send guests home with a rose quartz crystal, the classic stone for love. And why not ask your guests to imbue your wedding rings with positive vibes and well wishes? Pass the rings around the tables at your reception, and feel the love!
12. Charity Cheques
The truth is that most modern brides and grooms are much older than they were a few generations ago. They’ve got their own homes, their own stuff, and merging two households together often means a huge overflow of home goods!
Instead of getting even more stuff you don’t need or want from well-meaning guests, why not ask your friends and family to make a donation to a charity that means something to you as a couple?
After all, according to The Knot, Giving Back is one of the biggest wedding trends for this year. And this is a great way to feel good about starting off your new life together! Definitely one of the kindest of all the sustainable wedding trends for 2022.
Our favourite charity? The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. They help orphaned elephants. Aw!
Do you know of any other sustainable wedding trends this year that we may have missed? Let us know in the comments below!
The vegan dresses are out of this world, incredible that eco-friendly fabrics can replace silk!
I love the vintage dresses, it is a crazily good idea for getting married with style.
Completely agree with this, minimalism is the new normal, less is more ALWAYS!!