Say ‘I Don't’ to a Messy Wedding With These 10 Smart Tips for Waste Management

Planning a home wedding involves many decisions, from choosing the perfect dress to curating a dreamy playlist. However, one often forgotten detail is how to manage waste responsibly.

Between your flowers, food and decor, your wedding can generate a surprising amount of litter. Yet, with some forethought, you can say “I do” to a beautiful, eco-conscious celebration without leaving a mess behind.

As a bride planning a home wedding, these waste management tips will help you create a gorgeous event that’s memorable and mindful of the environment.

 

1. Plan Ahead

You can save a lot of time and headaches if you plan for your cleanup. Many brides underestimate how long cleaning will take. Have a solid plan for tackling everything down to the smallest detail.

However long you think it’ll take to clean up, allot yourself an extra 45 minutes to be safe. With a plan and enough time to achieve your cleaning goals, you’ll have a perfectly clean venue and won’t have to clean anything the morning after!

 

2. Set up Waste Stations

Having designated trash cans for paper, plastic, metal and nonrecyclables scattered throughout the venue will make it easy for your guests to assist in the cleanup efforts without even realizing they’re doing so.

When you set these waste management stations up, you will eliminate the time it takes to sift through trash bags to separate the recyclables. This will save you time and keep your wedding eco-friendly.

 

3. Start With the Dance Floor

The best place to start cleaning up is on the dance floor. This allows you to clear a large area where you can store other things while cleaning.

Sweeping and mopping the dance floor is an excellent way to kick your cleaning off and reminisce about all the dancing you did at your reception.

 

4. Tackle the Chairs and Textiles

Next, take on the chairs and textiles. If you have draping on your chairs, remove it and get stacking. Once your chairs are stacked, you’ll have more space to move around while cleaning.

Tablecloths, napkins, ceiling draping and chair sashes may gather dust, crumbs and spills throughout the evening. Dealing with them as quickly as possible will reduce the risk of stains setting.

5. Do the Dishes

Now that you’ve cleaned the area where everyone spent most of their evening, tackle the dishes. The last thing you want is to have to do the dishes in the morning when you want to revel in your brand-new marriage.

Once you’ve done the dishes, you’ll know that in the morning, you can make coffee in a spotless kitchen and then drink it in bed without worrying about tackling the previous evening’s dishes. If your wedding food is more casual — like pizza or tacos — you can use paper plates to make cleanup even easier.

 

6. Delegate Tasks

Even if you have a comprehensive cleaning checklist, you won’t be able to do everything alone. A wedding is a huge event, and cleaning everything up will require some help.

Before the wedding, find people willing to help you clean up afterward. The day before the wedding, tell everyone involved in cleanup where you’ll need them as soon as everyone has left. Doing this will ensure that cleanup is done thoroughly and efficiently.

 

7. Identify Your Recyclables

You will likely have a few decor pieces you want to keep forever and those you don’t mind throwing out. However, before you open the trash can, consider whether that item might be helpful to someone else.

Maybe you have a relative getting married soon who could use the centerpieces or a young niece who would love to hold onto the silk flowers surrounding the main table. Recycling these items gives them a second life and keeps your wedding eco-conscious.

Aside from recycling decor, recycle your papers, plastics and metal from the night, too. Weddings tend to generate many tin cans due to people consuming their drinks out of them, and the energy you might save recycling 100 cans could power your bedroom lights for two weeks.

 

8. Donate Extra Food

You will likely have leftover food that your guests didn’t manage at the reception. This is the perfect opportunity to get charitable.

Approach your local shelters before your wedding and find out if you can drop off any excess food afterward. You might be able to donate baked goods like cookies.

 

9. Clean the Floors

The last thing you’ll want to tackle is the floors. After everything else has been cleaned up and packed away, you can start cleaning the floors, as there will be nothing left to dirty them.

 

10. Hire a Cleaning Crew

If you want to spend the last hours of your wedding basking in the memories you just made and relaxing or playing games with your nearest and dearest, you can always hire a cleaning service.

With a cleaning service, you won’t have to lift a finger. Plus, you can benefit from their experience in recycling, knowing the correct order to clean, and understanding how to safely and eco-consciously dispose of the unwanted remnants from the evening.

 

Keep the Love, Not the Mess

A home wedding is a beautiful way to celebrate love in a meaningful space. With a little planning, you can keep it clean, organized and stress-free. By being mindful of waste management, you’ll make cleanup a breeze and create a more sustainable celebration.

From buying reusable items to setting up designated waste stations, every thoughtful choice makes a difference. So, as you plan your big day, remember that keeping it tidy and sustainable is almost as important as saying, “I do!”

 

 

Author Bio: Oscar Collins is the editor-in-chief at Modded, where he writes about a broad spectrum of topics. Follow him on Twitter @TModded for frequent updates on his work.

 

 

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