Ties that bind: Waste-free weddings, the most inspiring trend of 2019

Sounds like an anomaly in the excessive and extravagant world of Indian weddings? Well, as millennials get ready to tie the knot, they’re deciding to do it differently. “Everyone has a different idea of extravagance, a different way in which they want to make their wedding special. For me, it was always to have a celebration that’s in tune with nature,” says Shreya, a Chennai-based musician who got married to Praveen last October in a zero-waste wedding. They ensured every aspect of the big day was environment-friendly and socially conscious. From saying no to single-use plastics and donating the extra food to sourcing all return gifts from rural collectives and going for e-invites, every decision was a responsible one.

Staying true to the no-wastage line of thought, the couple also created a charity and cash wedding gift registry on Wedding Wishlist, so the money their guests spent would be used in a memorable manner. “We didn’t want to collect things we won’t use, and with both of us being passionate travellers, we decided to create a cash fund for a holiday in Bali,” says Shreya. “We didn’t expect our guests to adopt the idea easily but the response was overwhelming,” adds Praveen. Over 75 per cent of their guests chose to go with the gift registry, and the couple not only managed a fantastic holiday to Bali but also raised funds for Maithree, an NGO they support.

In fact, the very idea of a gift registry has caught on like wildfire post Bollywood stars like Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra doing one for their wedding. While Deepika chose to take contributions towards her Live, Love Laugh Foundation, Priyanka created one with gifts from Amazon. And while both routes may be different, they both lead to a waste-free bent of mind.

Shubha, a Delhi-based entrepreneur who got married recently, opted for a wedding registry with gifts that would help her set up her new home. “We got such amazing feedback from our friends and family, especially the ones who came from outside Delhi. They didn’t have to carry a gift or cash to Delhi and they knew their gifts would become a loving part of our lives, not be recycled!”

These decisions made by couples today are reflective of a millennial mindset, where young adults now want to make responsible choices. From choosing to ask for the gifts they want so they can avoid wastage to going paperless with invites, the big fat Indian wedding is getting a conscious makeover. And advancements in technology as well as growing exposure among the youth is helping couples turn this ideal into a seamless reality.