India’s retail sector is poised for a significant boom during the upcoming wedding season, with an estimated 4.8 million weddings contributing Rs 5.9 trillion, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Wedding budgets range from Rs 3 lakh to over Rs 1 crore.

As big, fat Indian weddings are set to take place, generating tons of waste, here’s how 10 couples chose a kinder path by planning eco-friendly weddings that celebrated love while reducing environmental impact.

1. Zero-waste celebration  Jayashree and Abhinav hosted a two-day wedding in Bengaluru for 3,000 guests. By using steel cutlery, banana leaves, and bio-enzymes for cleaning, they saved 30,000 disposable items. All waste was composted, and minimal floral decorations were used.

2. Digital invites  Rahil and Shaily from Vadodara embraced digital invitations to reduce paper waste. They kept floral decorations minimal and opted for reusable satin flowers. Fresh flowers used at the wedding were composted afterward, cutting both waste and costs.

3. Farm-to-table wedding Dr Poorvi and Shamanth’s wedding in Shivamogga, held on an organic farm, featured local food, steel cutlery, and banana leaves for meals. All waste was composted on-site, and the sugarcane mandap was fed to cows, leaving the venue spotless.

4. Plastic-free celebration Anupama and Charulatha hosted their children’s wedding in Bengaluru for over 1,000 guests, using rented steel cutlery and banana leaves for meals. They composted all food waste, generating 300 kg of compost. Their approach avoided 30,000 disposable items.

5. Planting trees to celebrate Ashwin and Nupur’s Pune wedding featured upcycled decor, with flowers composted post-event. The groom arrived in an electric car, and for each guest, four trees were planted. Their wedding set an eco-friendly example for many.

6. Electric baraat Aditya Aggarwal made a unique entrance at his Delhi wedding on an e-bike, while his baraatis followed on cycles. Their waste-free celebration included upcycled decor and e-invites, reducing both costs and their carbon footprint.

7. Composting and sustainable fashion Madhuri and Aditya opted for upcycled sarees and sherwanis for their Delhi wedding. The couple ensured that all leftover food was distributed, and decorations were composted, combining sustainability with affordability.

8. Plantable return gifts Lipika and Rishab gave guests eco-friendly seed balls as return gifts. Their wedding in Mumbai, completely free of plastic, used ceramic tableware and earthen kulhads for serving drinks. Excess food was composted on-site.

9. Minimalist menu This couple chose a traditional, eco-friendly wedding menu with millet-based dishes, served on leaf plates and steel tumblers. They emphasised healthier, local alternatives, saving both food and money.

10. Eco-conscious decor Prashin and Deepa avoided traditional decorations, using recycled cardboards, handmade posters, and minimal flowers. Their eco-friendly Mumbai wedding saved costs and reduced waste, leaving a lasting impact on their guests.