Sustainable Weddings

A typical U.S. wedding produces more carbon than the average Seattle household over an entire year! Frustration with the wasteful status quo is why Anker co-founded Emerald Hour, North America’s largest network of greener wedding vendors.

Our Practices + Your Practices

Waste is inevitable, but we work with couples and their vendors on multiple fronts to minimize our carbon footprint. Here’s some of how our practices + yours reduce environmental harm.

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Regenerative
Landscaping

Prioritizing benefits to plants and animals over humans.
Prioritizing native + drought-tolerant plants.
No use of pesticides.
No use of synthetic fertilizers.
Use of wood chips from local arborist as mulch to reduce water and enhance soil.
Use of electric vehicles, equipment + tools.

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Water + Energy Conservation

Renewable solar energy produces approximately 40% of our annual energy.
Unused energy is returned to the power grid.
Low-flow toilets conserve water.
Motion-activated, timed + LED lighting conserves energy.
Limiting lawn watering to specific areas conserves water.

Waste
Reduction

Capping events at 100 guests is the #1 way to reduce waste.
Commitment to sorting trash, recycling and compost.
Implementing policies to impact guest behavior (e.g. prohibiting single-use plastics).
Donating leftover food and floral to local families.

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Vendor
Selection

Contract with fellow wedding vendors who are local and prioritize environmental sustainability.
On-site guidance
Anker’s owner/caretaker co-authored the Green Swaps Guide, an expansive resource on how to reduce waste at weddings.

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On-site Facilities + Amenities

Reduce emissions from big truck deliveries by renting on-site furniture.
Avoid purchasing single-use crap from Amazon by using Anker’s growing collection of inexpensive, high-quality décor and signage.

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Environmental Research

Partnering with multiple outside agencies on studies examining ecological health, specifically our amphibian and avian friends.
Investing in our own year-long study (2025-2026) of the Anker Pond’s environmental health.

YOUR WEDDING SHOULDN’T HURT THE EARTH.

As co-founders of North America’s largest network of environmentally-conscious wedding vendors, we are committed to reducing the needless waste inherent in this industry.

Learn more about Emerald Hour, download their innovative Green Swaps Guide, and better still, work with their members!