How to Plan an Eco-Friendly Wedding in Kerala?

Planning a wedding that is beautiful and conscious of the planet is not only possible in Kerala, it is natural.

With its lush landscapes, local produce, and community-based hospitality, Kerala offers everything you need for a thoughtful and elegant eco-friendly wedding.

In this blog, we will guide you through how to plan an eco-friendly wedding in Kerala —from choosing sustainable venues and organic catering to using local décor and reducing waste.

Whether your guest list is 30 or 100, these ideas help you celebrate love while respecting the environment.

1. Choose Sustainable Venues for Eco Friendly Wedding in Kerala

The first step in planning an eco-friendly wedding in Kerala is choosing the right venue. Instead of banquet halls or luxury hotels that rely heavily on artificial lighting and cooling, go for properties that are built in harmony with the environment.

Recommended Eco-Friendly Venue Types:

• Eco-resorts that use solar energy, harvest rainwater and avoid plastic

• Farm stays surrounded by coconut trees, paddy fields or spice gardens

• Backwater villas that use traditional Kerala architecture and natural ventilation

• Hill station cottages with limited occupancy and local staff

These venues often have limited room counts and offer full property bookings. That makes them ideal for intimate destination weddings.

Ask your planner to shortlist venues that promote sustainability and give you a list of green practices each place follows. A good eco-friendly wedding Kerala venue should be plastic-free, support local employment and reduce energy consumption.

2. Opt for Organic and Locally-Sourced Catering

One of the best parts of a Kerala wedding is the food—and it can easily be made eco-conscious.

Instead of ordering bulk commercial menus, go for:

• Traditional Kerala vegetarian sadhya served on banana leaves

• Locally-sourced seafood and farm vegetables for coastal or fusion menus

• Organic spices, rice and oils sourced from nearby farmers

• Seasonal fruits and coconut-based desserts instead of packaged sweets

Talk to your caterer or venue chef about sourcing produce from within a 50–100 km radius. Avoid plastic water bottles by using glass dispensers and refill stations with copper or steel tumblers.

This kind of mindful menu planning adds freshness, flavour and authenticity to your eco-friendly wedding Kerala.

3. Use Natural and Biodegradable Décor

Wedding decor creates the atmosphere, but it can also generate a lot of waste. To make your decor earth-friendly:

• Use bamboo structures for mandaps or stage frames

• Decorate with seasonal flowers from local markets (avoid imported roses)

• Choose banana leaves, marigold, coconut palm and wildflowers instead of artificial florals

• Avoid thermocol or plastic props—use terracotta, jute, cotton drapes or coconut husk planters

• Light the space with oil lamps or solar-powered fairy lights

For seating, use cane or wooden furniture with cloth runners instead of plastic covers. Eco décor is not only beautiful—it blends perfectly with Kerala’s natural charm and makes your eco-friendly wedding Kerala feel more grounded and soulful.

4. Say No to Single-Use Plastics

One of the easiest ways to reduce the environmental impact of your wedding is to cut out single-use plastic.

Replace With:

• Reusable steel or glass bottles instead of plastic water

• Wooden or leaf-based cutlery and plates for pre-events

• Cloth napkins instead of tissue paper

• Digital signage on screens instead of printed foam boards

• Fabric gift bags for return gifts

Talk to your decorator and caterer early. Mention that your wedding is plastic-free. Kerala already has many suppliers and vendors who are used to this model.

5. Use Digital Invitations and Guest Coordination

Paper invites look beautiful but often end up in the trash. For your eco-friendly wedding Kerala, go digital:

• Send e-invites with personalised designs

• Create a wedding website or WhatsApp brochure with event details

• Use QR codes for guest check-ins or seating charts

• Set up a Google Form for RSVPs

If you want a keepsake invite for elders, print only a few on handmade recycled paper using soy-based ink.

This approach saves trees, avoids logistics waste and still keeps everything stylish and professional.

6. Reduce Waste With Smart Planning

A truly eco-friendly wedding is not just about green elements—it’s about reducing overall waste.

Plan smart by:

• Keeping your guest list small and meaningful

• Ordering meals based on confirmed RSVPs to avoid food waste

• Donating leftover food to a local charity (check with your caterer)

• Composting floral waste at the venue or through a local vendor

• Renting instead of buying props, crockery and furniture

Your planner can also help connect with vendors who already follow these practices.

Include a section in your Kerala wedding itinerary that lets guests know this is a low-waste celebration. Most people will respect it and participate happily.

7. Choose Conscious Gifting and Return Favours

Return gifts are part of the celebration but they do not have to be mass-produced plastic items.

For your eco-friendly wedding Kerala, consider:

• Herbal soaps, coconut oil or handmade chocolates from Kerala

• Clay diyas or brass candle holders

• Organic coffee or spice jars in cloth bags

• Mini houseplants or seed kits with planting instructions

• A thank-you card printed on seed paper that guests can grow at home

These gifts reflect your values, support local makers and leave a lasting impression.

8. Offset What You Cannot Avoid

Even with the best planning some carbon footprint is unavoidable—especially travel. You can neutralise this by:

• Arranging shared guest transport instead of separate cars

• Offsetting your wedding carbon emissions by supporting a tree plantation program in Kerala

• Supporting a local NGO working in conservation, food distribution or water harvesting

This final step makes your eco-friendly wedding Kerala complete—not just in practice but in spirit.

A wedding in Kerala is naturally rooted in simplicity, nature and culture. Planning an eco-friendly wedding in Kerala does not mean giving up on beauty or celebration.

It just means being more thoughtful—choosing venues that respect the land, menus that support local farmers, décor that speaks to nature and habits that protect the future.

You are not just planning a wedding. You are setting an example. You are celebrating your love in a way that honours the earth, your guests and your story.

Let your wedding be remembered not only for how beautiful it looked—but for how beautifully it was done.