Waste; the sad truth about the happiest occasions. Couples try to think of everything in preparation of their special day, but with a hundred-and-one things to do, it seems the environment is often an oversight.

Here are just five easy changes to make to your Maltese wedding to-do-list that prove going green doesn’t have to mean sacrificing money, time or your sanity.

1. Screw single-use plastic

You knew this one was coming.

Stick a fork in single-use plastic, whether it’s a straw, spoon or stirrer. These small pieces of plastic are a recycling-plant’s biggest nightmare. Avoid them if you can, or use washable cutlery and utensils… as for straws, when did it become uncool to sip gin straight out of a glass?

2. Forget the flip-flops

Handing out flip-flops to high-heel-survivors has become a popular wedding trend.

Sadly, these rubber rescuers result in a huge amount of waste, from their individual plastic wrapping to their unrecyclable material; these dancing shoes should be left outside of the ballroom. Remind your guests to slip a pair of flats into their bags and do the planet (and their outfits) a favour.

3. Ban balloons

Balloons; I love them, you love them, and baby turtles love them; hence the issue.

Balloons often come loose at weddings and make their way into the sea, sky or anything in between. Animals mistake them for food or get tangled in their strings, so swap them with flower hangings, lanterns, or biodegradable decor.

4. Let them eat cake

For most of us, wedding food is the best part of the celebration.

From the buffet table to the desserts, the indulgence is very real; but that’s a big part of the problem. The huge amounts of leftovers are what make weddings such waste-mongers. Make more conscious food choices, go veggie, cutlery-free, and be more realistic with your quantities.

Finally, if it’s safe to do so, why not take all the leftovers to an orphanage, institution in need or a hungry colleague? There ain’t no party like a zero-waste party.

5. Make it an eco-friendly exit

Plastic confetti? Please. Those days should long be over.

Realistically, if it’s light enough to throw at a bride, it’s light enough to be carried by the wind. So if it’s not sea-friendly, swap it over for something that is, like biodegradable cutouts and flower petals.

This just skims the surface on things you can do to make your conscience a little cleaner and your day a little greener. Think about electronic save-the-dates and thank-you cards, recycled paper invitations, in-season food, and local flowers.

With so much love in the air on your special day, save some for the Earth, too.

If you’ve gone out of your way to limit your wedding waste, let Żibel know how by emailing [email protected]

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).