Thinking about going green for your wedding? Planning a sustainable event is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate your love while reducing your environmental footprint. By choosing eco-friendly wedding venues in Lake Tahoe, you not only contribute to the preservation of the area’s natural beauty but also create a unique and memorable experience for you and your guests. Keep reading as we answer your most pressing questions about eco-friendly weddings and share our favorite venues leading the way in sustainable celebrations.

Sustainable Wedding FAQs: Making Your Tahoe Celebration Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly weddings in the stunning setting of Lake Tahoe are a wonderful way to celebrate love while honoring the environment. With a few mindful choices, you can make your special day both beautiful and sustainable — and we’re answering all your questions about going green without sacrificing elegance.

What Is the Carbon Footprint of a Wedding?

You have so much on your mind when planning a wedding that it’s easy to overlook the environmental impact of your big day. On average, an American wedding emits a whopping 57,152 kilograms of CO2. That’s equivalent to the carbon footprint of several households over a year! This hefty footprint results from a few different factors, including vendor and guest travel, catering, and decorations. But don't worry — there are ways to significantly reduce your wedding's carbon footprint while still having the celebration of your dreams. (And we’re here to help you do it!)

How To Plan an Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Wedding?

Going green for your wedding is a rewarding way to celebrate love while caring for the planet. With a little creativity and thoughtful choices, you can make your big day an unforgettable and environmentally conscious event. 

Here are some practical ways to make it happen:

• Digital Invitations: Opt to send digital invitations instead of paper ones to reduce waste.

• Local Sourcing: Use locally grown flowers and seasonal produce for your decor and catering to support local farmers and minimize transport emissions.

• Wedding Traditions: Choose eco-friendly alternatives to common wedding traditions, like tossing sustainable materials at the end-of-night send-off (think dried lavender or herbs).

• Sustainable Attire: Choose a wedding dress and attire made from sustainable materials, or consider renting to lessen your environmental impact. (You can also ask your guests to wear an outfit they already own or buy secondhand to participate in sustainability!)

• Wedding Favors: Send your guests home with sustainable gifts, like a late-night snack or potted plants or succulents (that double as your centerpieces!).

• Guest Transportation: Encourage carpooling or provide transportation options for guests to minimize travel emissions and make the day more convenient for everyone.

• Eco-Friendly Decorations: Select decorations that are reusable or biodegradable to help minimize waste after the celebration, or rent your decor!

• Eco-Friendly Venue: Eco-friendly weddings take place at a venue that prioritizes sustainability and green practices to align with your eco-conscious values.

Remember, making adjustments to your wedding plans can have a big impact on the planet!

What Makes a Wedding Venue Eco-Friendly?

Eco-friendly wedding venues have features like energy-efficient lighting, solar power, and water conservation systems that help reduce the environmental impact. Venues that focus on sourcing materials locally and using sustainable building practices also contribute to minimizing your carbon footprint. 

But even if your venue isn't inherently eco-friendly, you can still make a positive impact by the choices you make (like all the ideas listed above). By making conscious decisions, you can transform any venue into a celebration that's gentle on the planet and memorable for everyone!

6 Stunning Eco-Friendly Wedding Venues in Lake Tahoe

At Epic Thyme, we're all about crafting eco-friendly, sustainable weddings in the breathtaking Lake Tahoe area. Below are some of our favorite venues in the area where you can tie the knot in style while keeping Mother Earth happy.

1. Edgewood Tahoe

Edgewood Tahoe is an all-inclusive venue that simplifies your planning process and reduces waste by consolidating everything in one location. Embrace sustainability by opting for their local catering options and using their in-house decor services to minimize additional travel emissions. With a lakeside ceremony setting near the heart of South Lake Tahoe, you and your guests can enjoy easy accessibility and walk to nearby restaurants and attractions.

2. Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lakeview Lodge

Known for its commitment to sustainability, Heavenly Mountain Resort offers a perfect blend of luxury and eco-consciousness. Their EpicPromise program focuses on zero-footprint efforts, including energy-efficient facilities and comprehensive recycling programs. You can also encourage guests to use the resort's eco-friendly transportation options.

3. Olympic Valley Stables

With its fully customizable space, Olympic Valley Stables allows you to add your personal eco-friendly touches. It’s essentially a blank slate in a stunning valley where you can create the wedding of your dreams. You can choose finishes and decor that align with your green vision, like sustainable materials and solar-powered lighting.

4. The Chateau at Incline Village

The Chateau at Incline Village offers a beautiful indoor space that reduces the need for excessive reception decor, making it ideal for a sustainable celebration. From stunning stonework to cozy fireplaces, you can create an inviting atmosphere that naturally enhances your celebration's ambiance without the need for additional decorations. By focusing on minimalism and using existing venue features, you can effectively lower your event's carbon footprint.

5. North Tahoe Event Center

With stunning lake and mountain views as your ceremony backdrop, you can skip elaborate decorations at North Tahoe Event Center. With seamless indoor-outdoor spaces, you can immerse your guests in breathtaking scenery, using the captivating setting as an integral element of your sustainable wedding experience. Rent the venue’s arch for a simple, sustainable, stunning ceremony setup and focus on enjoying the natural beauty around you.

6. The Hideout at Kirkwood

Surrounded by the natural splendor of national forests, meadows, and rivers, The Hideout at Kirkwood is a dream for eco-friendly weddings. It’s one of our favorite wedding venues near Lake Tahoe, but it’s a bit tucked away off the beaten path. Take advantage of the stunning outdoor setting and prioritize reusable or biodegradable decor to keep your wedding green.

Each of these eco-friendly wedding venues in Lake Tahoe offers unique opportunities to celebrate sustainably, making sure your special day is unforgettable and kind to the environment.

Want To Work With an Eco-Friendly Wedding Planner in Lake Tahoe?

Epic Thyme is your dream team! We love planning sustainable events, making sure every detail of your Lake Tahoe wedding is both breathtaking and environmentally conscious. Our passion for eco-friendly celebrations means we’re dedicated to crafting a day that reflects your values and style. Let us help you create a magical, green wedding — reach out today to start planning your unforgettable celebration!