Sustainably Wed: The Must-Watch Docu-Series for Eco-Event Professionals

The eco-friendly events movement is growing faster than ever, and we could not be happier about it! The latest wave of momentum comes in the form of an amazing new docu-series: Sustainably Wed.

Filmed and created in beautiful British Columbia, Sustainably Wed is a 7-episode docu-series about sustainability in the wedding industry. Featuring vendors and experts from Vancouver Island and beyond, the series gets to the heart of what planning and hosting a sustainable event really looks like.

Focusing on seven key steps that span the early planning phases to the footprint after an event, Sustainably Wed is a deep dive into what an intentional and mindful celebration can look like. Throughout the series, we’ll learn how a sustainable approach can create a positive impact on a couple, their guests, the community, and the environment.

Sustainably Wed was created and produced by the wonderful Chelsea Kanstrup and Bryan Smith of Paper Heart Films and was made possible by funding from Telus Storyhive.

Episode 1: Aligning Your Vision & Values

Having a sustainable wedding isn’t just about using recycled paper for your invites or making sure you’ve got a recycling bin for empties - those things are important, but a truly sustainable event is much more than that. In conversations with vendors from across the wedding industry, they learned that a sustainable event is one that puts sustainability at the core of the planning process right from the start. In this episode, Chelsea and Bryan speak with vendors about how to make sustainability a priority from day one of the planning.

Episode 2: Finding Your Vendors

Vendors are those talented individuals who can turn your vision into a reality - they’re with you at the start of your planning, throughout your wedding day, and sometimes that relationship lasts long after the wedding is over. So, if you want to put sustainability at the heart of your wedding, you’ll need vendors who share that vision - but how do you find the right people? In this episode, they speak with wedding vendors about how to find the right people and have the right conversations to make sure your event is all you want it to be - or maybe even better. They explore what sustainability looks like for different vendors, and how the definition of “sustainable” goes far beyond some green initiatives.

Episode 3: Sourcing Locally & Seasonally

One of the best ways to reduce the footprint of your wedding is to source as much as you can locally and seasonally. Not only can you get great local ingredients that share a unique experience with your guests, you can also keep your footprint to a minimum by reducing travel, shipping, and more. But the impact of sourcing locally and seasonally goes way beyond just reducing your footprint - by taking this approach, you’re also supporting your local community, investing in local vendors, and making decisions that actually create a positive impact in your community. In this episode, Chelsea and Bryan talk with vendors about all things local and seasonal - and eat some delicious food in the process!

Episode 4: Reducing, Reusing, Recycling

We all know the “3R” mantra, but how does it apply to weddings? In this episode, they speak with vendors about how to reduce what you use, reuse where you can, and recycle what’s left. They cover everything from decor rentals to consignment dresses, and talk about creative ways to ensure that you can still have a great wedding without a big footprint.

Episode 5: Managing Waste

Cleaning up after a wedding is the least romantic part of the whole process, but it has to be done! No matter how much you reduce, reuse, and recycle, chances are there will be some waste to manage at the end of the day. So how do you mitigate this in order to ensure that you’re having an event with a small footprint and also minimizing your clean up time? That’s where careful waste management planning comes in. You’ll see examples of vendors who are doing this in their own businesses and will learn from their efforts. But, this isn’t just about replacing one single-use item with another, even if that other option seems better on paper - as we learn in this episode, these decisions take careful research, thoughtful choices, and probably some help from experts in the community.

Episode 6: Creating Thoughtful Heirlooms

One of the best parts of a wedding is the keepsakes you create - those things that become treasured heirlooms and reminders of what was an incredible day. But, how do you make thoughtful, informed, and sustainable decisions about the things you want to keep after the wedding? In this episode, Chelsea and Bryan lean from vendors across the wedding industry about the heirlooms couples often create and how mindful choices can lead to awesome keepsakes you can feel good about.

Episode 7: Spreading the Love

A wedding is about more th an just one day. Your marriage will last long after your wedding, but so will the footprint of your event. So how do you ensure that the legacy you leave is a positive one? In this episode, they speak with vendors about how to leave a positive footprint on your guests, the community, and on the environment. Chelsea and Bryan speak about who’s responsible for making change in the wedding industry to ensure that more and more weddings leave a positive footprint - is it couples, vendors, industry organizations, or someone else?

Bonus: Sustainably Wed Tips and Tricks

If you enjoyed watching each episode, you’ll love this bonus playlist with quick-fire tips.

We hope you enjoyed this awesome series as much as we did! Be sure to Subscribe to their YouTube channel and stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and news about future episodes!