Going Green with a Small Guest List: Perks of Hosting an Intimate Wedding

Photos provided by: Sustainable Soirees, Photography by: Stephanie Wood Photography

Thinking about scaling down your guest list? Intimate weddings are growing in popularity for couples looking to reduce their environmental footprint while creating a more personal experience. Whether it’s minimizing waste, choosing local vendors, or cutting back on energy consumption, smaller celebrations offer big sustainability benefits. Let’s dive into why choosing an intimate wedding can be a green game changer.

What is an Intimate Wedding?

Before we get into the perks, let’s break down what an intimate wedding really is. It’s all about keeping things small and meaningful, with just your closest friends and family on the guest list. The size might vary, but the idea is to create a more personal, heartfelt celebration. With fewer guests, it’s easier to focus on quality over quantity, and it opens the door to making eco-friendly choices that can be trickier to pull off at a bigger event.

Photography by Naturally Yours Events, Photography by Ed and Aileen Photography

Reduced Environmental Impact with Local Vendors

One of the biggest advantages of an intimate wedding is the chance to work closely with high-quality, local, and eco-friendly vendors. If you’re planning a wedding in Chicago, you’re in luck! Caterers like Big Delicious Planet, Food For Thought, and Lula Cafe are perfect examples. They focus on farm-to-table menus that not only taste amazing but also cut down on food miles and minimize waste. With fewer mouths to feed, you get to be more selective with your choices, supporting local farmers and reducing overall energy use. Working with vendors from the Green Wedding Alliance ensures your choices are both top-notch and environmentally conscious.

Photo provided by Lula Cafe/Photography by Eric Floberg, Gene Yoon & Nicodem Creative, Photo provided by Catered By Design, Photo provided by Big Delicious Planet

Simplified Logistics and Reduced Waste

Let’s face it—smaller weddings are easier to manage. Fewer guests mean simpler logistics, which helps reduce waste. Coordinating with vendors becomes a breeze, and you can focus on making choices that minimize your environmental footprint. From transportation to waste management, a smaller event means less hassle and a greener impact. From transportation to waste management, a smaller event means less hassle and a greener footprint. Chicago venues and vendors who are part of the Green Wedding Alliance can help streamline your plans while keeping things sustainable.

More Personalized and Meaningful Celebrations

Intimate weddings create opportunities for deeper connections. With a smaller guest list, you can spend more time with each guest and create personalized experiences that reflect your values and preferences. This allows for unique touches, such as custom favors from Katherine Anne Confections or bespoke decorations that echo your commitment to sustainability. Each detail can be thoughtfully curated to enhance the overall experience and reduce waste.

Photo provided by Katherine Anne Confections

Lower Energy Consumption

With fewer people, you’ll need less energy for lighting, heating, or cooling. It’s as simple as that! Venues like Colvin House that focus on repurposed materials and energy efficiency are perfect for keeping your footprint light. Fewer guests, fewer resources—it’s a win-win for the planet. Checkout our list of Green Wedding Alliance wedding venue partners who are all committed to helping you throw a more sustainable wedding in Chicago.

Photo provided by Colvin House

Less Food Waste

Managing food waste is easier with a smaller crowd. Fewer guests mean you can better control portion sizes and avoid excess. You can work with caterers like Food for Thought, who specialize in reducing waste through composting and even donating leftovers. With fewer mouths to feed, you can really nail down portion sizes and make sure nothing goes to waste. Many Chicago caterers involved with the Green Wedding Alliance are experts at minimizing waste, making your event even greener.

More Venue Flexibility

A smaller guest list means you can explore eco-friendly venues that might not accommodate larger groups. Places like The Joinery in addition to Colvin House are perfect for couples looking to prioritize sustainability without compromising on style. You get to choose a venue that aligns with your values and makes a positive impact on the environment.

Photos provided by The Joinery, Photography by Cassie Anna Photography

At the end of the day, choosing an intimate wedding isn’t just about scaling back—it’s about creating a celebration that’s meaningful, personal, and kinder to the planet. With a smaller guest list, you can focus on high-quality, sustainable choices that might not be possible with a larger event. From local vendors to eco-friendly décor, every decision you make can have a positive impact on the environment. So, if you're looking to reduce your footprint while still having an unforgettable day, an intimate wedding is the perfect way to do just that. So, if you’re aiming to reduce your footprint while still having a day to remember, an intimate wedding is the perfect solution. You’ll be making lasting memories while making a real difference for the planet.