Undoubtedly, the amount of resources that often remain after a wedding is unfathomable. In Latvia, too, we hear more and more about people who save resources on a daily basis, think more sustainably and ecologically. Wedding organizer Dagnija Libane / Sparkling says that it is called mindful approach all over the world, when we reflect on every thing and event in our life, evaluate how to apply it to the maximum and think more sustainably.

Not only the wedding budget is important, but also the use of the budget

"The story is about how each specific couple spends their wedding budget - do they think as much as possible about how and in how many different ways the things bought for their wedding will be used, so as not to create an excessive amount of unnecessary waste. Unfortunately, people think about these things more on a daily basis than during their holidays, however, when I talk to couples, I have noticed more and more recently that it is important to them not only how big their wedding budget will be, but also that it would be used in the most valuable way", says Dagnia Libane.

Make others happy - deliver wedding flowers to a nursing home or hospital

One of the biggest wedding resources (and unfortunately also - later waste) is decorations and flowers. Of course, a wedding is unimaginable without flowers, but there are also several options for using them to the maximum. First of all, if cut flowers are used, Dagnia recommends choosing seasonal flowers that are found here in our latitudes, and not, for example, brought from Kenya - the path of such flowers is much longer and, therefore, more resource-consuming. Secondly, she recommends making the most of potted green plants, which will not have to be thrown out, but can be used again. "The same applies to giving cut flowers at weddings.

Flowers are, of course, beautiful, but how often they are treated carelessly on this day, for example, not being put in water in time, only confirms that a request to give live plants in pots would be a great alternative.

There are also couples who ask not to give flowers at all, instead asking that the money intended for the flowers be directed to a charity project that is important to the couple," says Dagnia. She points out that the flowers used in the decorations are often found in the garbage bags. "Of course, sometimes the flowers are distributed to the guests, sometimes the decorator takes them, but sometimes they end up in the black garbage bags immediately after the wedding celebration. Many of these flowers are still in perfect condition. In the world, people have found many solutions to use these flowers again. For example, to collect all of them and take them to nursing homes or hospitals the next day, where these flowers will continue to please people. You can find places where you would welcome these flowers with open arms and be happy for them from the bottom of your heart. Of course, this is a matter of additional planning. I have not yet heard of such options in Latvia, but I would also like to do something like that if there was a couple for whom it would be important," admits Dagnija.

Don't get lost in the wedding euphoria when it seems - I want everything!

She also points out the inefficient use of other decorations. “However, I think it would be better to use either a professional decorator or a rental so that you don't have to throw out piles of ribbons and lace jars.

People often think that it will be much cheaper to buy and prepare everything yourself, but if these things are not used later, then it is a useless waste of time and resources.

As a wedding organizer, I also think more and more, and I advise couples not to get lost in the wedding euphoria with the idea that we need everything. Therefore, I recommend that you do not print 7 different additions to the wedding invitation. Of course, it tends to be beautiful, but the question is always where it all ends up and how much resources and time are spent on making these things. The same applies to the use of candles. Of course, they look very beautiful at a wedding, but when full tables are set with burning paraffin candles, they emit a large amount of slag," says Dagnia.

Realize that food is a value

In the context of any wedding, it is also necessary to talk about leftover food. Although it is sometimes divided and given to guests, this is not always the case, and some of the uneaten food is thrown outside. “When it comes to food, couples have recently been choosing to support local producers too, for example by supporting small cideries and wineries and caterers. It is also a kind of exchange of positive energy," admits Dagnija. There are many more positions to think about when organizing your wedding. Countless brides around the world choose, for example, to rent their wedding dress or buy it in vintage shops. In Latvia, this trend is not yet so common, because brides want to have that unique and special dress. "If a couple wants to realize even one idea from the so-called mindful approach , then it has to come from the heart, it cannot become theater.

These can be smaller or larger things - don't cut down the trees, don't put cut flowers on the tables, don't exaggerate the amount of food,"

is told by Dagnia Libane.