The wedding industry has long been synonymous with extravagance, elaborate floral designs, ice sculptures, towering cakes and guest lists that stretch into the hundreds. But beneath the surface of a typical wedding lies a less glamorous reality: staggering amounts of waste.

From single-use decorations to imported flowers that wilt within days, the environmental cost of a wedding can be as lavish as the celebration itself.

Yet, in Durham, a shift is underway. A growing number of couples are choosing sustainability without sacrificing style, and businesses such as Fireside Farm and Emily Katherine Events are leading the charge.

Lisa Joyner, co-owner of Fireside Farm, has witnessed firsthand the increasing demand for locally sourced flowers.

“Couples want to know where their flowers come from,” she said. “They don’t want blooms flown in from halfway across the world, coated in pesticides.”

Joyner, a former middle school teacher turned flower farmer, practices what she preaches.

She grows her flowers using no-till farming, skips chemical pesticides and refuses to use floral foam, a widely accepted industry staple that is, in her words, “hazardous, non-biodegradable, and an environmental disaster.” Instead, she employs reusable materials like chicken wire and compostable alternatives like coconut fiber pouches.

Her efforts resonate with couples who want their weddings to reflect their values.

“You’re the artist, you’re the grower. I trust you with my vision,” many of Joyner’s clients tell her.

For wedding planner Eva Walker from Emily Katherine Events, sustainability isn’t just a selling point, it’s the foundation of her business.

Walker’s team advises couples on everything from sourcing local food to renting décor and thrifting instead of purchasing everything new. They also highlight unexpected but impactful swaps, like opting for services like the Poetry Fox, who writes custom on-the-spot poems, in place of traditional centerpieces.

“We do weddings that look beautiful and gorgeous, and you don’t look at it and think, oh, that was eco-friendly. It’s not gonna look thrown together. It’s not gonna look cheap,” said founder Emily Thomas. “That’s the biggest misconception.”

Bride Theresa Hegar made sustainability a top priority for her big day.

She said finding Emily Katherine Events was a significant step in her sustainable wedding journey, especially since the team could meet her goal of weaving her and her now husband’s personalities into the event.

However, the path to a “green” wedding wasn’t always smooth.

“Sustainability was important to us, but it wasn’t always easy to find vendors who aligned with our values,” Hegar said. “We had to do a lot of research and ask specific questions about eco-friendly options.”

Despite the challenges, Hegar said the effort was worthwhile. For her, the most important aspect of the wedding was the overall experience, knowing that they had consciously chosen options that reflected their commitment to the environment.

Emily LaBombard admits sustainability wasn’t initially top of mind when planning her wedding with Emily Katherine Events.

“It became more important as time went on,” she said.

From there, LaBombard and her wife, Monique, found themselves prioritizing reusable items like ceramic dinnerware, cloth napkins and glassware, opting for rental options that felt both elegant and true to their colorful, mismatched aesthetic.

“It elevated the experience and gave us peace of mind to know that we tried our best to make our wedding sustainable,” LaBombard said.

While the couple did navigate some added costs, they balanced them with do-it-yourself touches and thoughtful vendor choices, like a pizza food truck and flexible wait staff, that supported their values without sacrificing the joy of the celebration.

One of the biggest challenges of planning a sustainable wedding is the perception that it costs more. While some eco-friendly choices – such as farm fresh flowers or compostable dinnerware – may have a higher price tag, other strategies – like repurposing decorations or embracing seasonal availability – can reduce expenses.

“Using what you already have is the most affordable way to make a wedding more sustainable,” Walker said. For couples who want to go even further, her team offers different service tiers, ensuring that low-waste choices remain accessible.

Many of today’s engaged couples, who tend to be “environmentally conscious” and experience-oriented, are willing to put in the extra effort to ensure their wedding aligns with their values, Joyner said.

The biggest roadblock? Travel.

While a “zero-waste” wedding is theoretically possible, most couples still want family and friends to attend, often requiring flights or long drives. Some vendors suggest carbon offset programs as a compromise, but the reality is that sustainability in the wedding industry is often about making smarter choices rather than achieving perfection.

Looking ahead, Joyner and Walker see opportunities to expand rental programs and shift perceptions about what a green wedding can look like.

“Slow and steady wins the race,” Walker said. “And we’re here to show couples they don’t have to sacrifice beauty or tradition to make a difference.”