Planning an eco-friendly wedding is a great choice (yay!), but managing the logistics of coordinating sustainable transportation for your guests can be a headache. We shared some time ago our favourite ideas for eco friendly wedding transport so today we want to share practical steps and examples to help you ensure that your guests arrive in style while minimising their carbon footprint.
1. Choose a Centralised Location
One of the simplest ways to reduce transportation emissions is by selecting a wedding venue that is central and easily accessible. This cuts down on travel distances for most guests, making it easier to organise eco-friendly transportation options. For example, if many of your guests are from London, consider venues in or around Greater London to minimise travel time and distance.
2. Provide Clear and Comprehensive Information
Communicate all transportation options clearly to your guests. Provide detailed directions, timetables, and any relevant information to make eco-friendly travel more accessible on the invitations or on your wedding website. Create a dedicated section on your wedding website that includes maps, public transport links, and carpooling options.
3. Encourage Public Transport
Public transport is often the most sustainable way for guests to travel. Encourage its use by providing detailed information on how to reach your venue via trains, buses, or trams. For example, add a sentence such as “The nearest train station to our venue is Oxford Station, which is just a 10-minute taxi ride or a 20-minute bus ride on the 5A bus to the venue” to your invites.
4. Arrange Group Transport
Hiring coaches or minibuses for group transport can significantly reduce the number of individual car journeys, thereby lowering overall emissions. Arrange for a coach to pick up guests from a central location, such as a major train station or a hotel where many guests are staying. This not only reduces emissions but also ensures guests arrive on time.
5. Promote Carpooling
Encourage guests to share rides if they are driving. This can be facilitated through carpooling apps or by setting up a carpool coordination system on your wedding website. Add a sentence like “We’ve created a carpooling page on our website where you can connect with other guests to share rides. It’s a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and make new friends!” to your invites.
6. Use Electric or Hybrid Vehicles
If hiring cars, opt for electric or hybrid vehicles. Many car hire companies now offer eco-friendly options. Consider a company like Green Motion, which specialises in providing low-emission vehicle hire in the UK.
7. Offer Bicycle Options
For venues that are accessible by bike, consider providing information on bike routes and facilities for securing bikes at the venue. Add “For our cycling enthusiasts, there is secure bike parking available at the venue. We recommend using the National Cycle Network Route 1, which passes nearby” to invites.
8. Offset Carbon Emissions
Despite your best efforts, some emissions are unavoidable. Consider purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate the environmental impact of your guests’ travel. Add “We’re working with Carbon Footprint to offset the carbon emissions from our wedding. If you’d like to contribute, we’ve set up a wedding offset fund” to invites.
