Newlyweds draw praise for zero-waste wedding

They opted for no decorations, 50 guests, wooden rings, and dried flowers.

Weddings have always been an important event and milestone in Filipino culture, but one couple made theirs even more special by protecting the planet in their own way.

On the Facebook group Buhay Zero-Waste, Jian Pierre Arguelles looked back on his wedding as he and his wife celebrated their second anniversary, sharing how they chose not to follow the “usual must-haves” to make their ceremony more sustainable.

Arguelles listed nine unconventional choices they made for the wedding: having no church decorations, limiting the guest list to 50 people, asking guests to wear clothes they already owned, opting for wooden wedding rings, and using dried flowers for the bride’s bouquet.

The couple also used DIY recycled materials for their reception décor, avoided disposable plastics for packed meals, gave zero-waste souvenirs, and skipped hiring a host, wedding planner, and coordinator.

The post has since drawn positive reactions from netizens, many of whom praised the couple’s simple yet meaningful celebration.

“Nakakatuwa makakita ng ganito. Simple [lang wala] masyado arte. Pero masaya yun[g] wedding. Sana lahat katulad mo [mag-isip],” one comment said. “You truly care for the environment. You truly embodied zero waste life so perfectly even on ur wedding day. Nakaka inspire. This is the most beautiful reflection of who you are!”

Others responded that the post was inspiring, and hoped that others would appreciate and follow the same idea: “Thanks for sharing this!! Saving! Kahit di pa sure sino ang groom. Hahah! 😂✨️”

One commenter, however, pointed out that hiring a wedding coordinator does not necessarily go against the couple’s values: “[Coordinators] are there to absorb unexpected stress and to make sure the wedding goes smoothly. If it worked for you then great! But hiring one is never a bad idea.”

The discussion also renewed conversations about the environmental and financial costs of traditional weddings.

A 2017 Chicago Tribune article, citing the book “The Green Bride Guide,” said the average wedding produces around 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of carbon dioxide. It also cited a Real Knot Weddings Study, which found that increased spending on venues, food, and other wedding essentials often leads to more waste.

Arguelles’ post also reflects a growing movement toward more sustainable celebrations, with couples finding ways to reduce waste without sacrificing the significance of the occasion.

Arguelles owns Fulfill Zero Waste, a Bulacan-based refill store founded in 2021, where customers bring their own containers to purchase household essentials such as soaps and condiments.

Earlier this month, Filipino environmentalist Jade Katherine Castro also shared how she repurposed her mother’s 30-year-old wedding dress for her wedding last May.

In 2023, the Philippine News Agency featured a kasalang bayan in Cavite where brides carried vegetable bouquets instead of flowers—allowing them to take the produce home after the ceremony.

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