Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have. For couples and suppliers alike, it increasingly determines the choices that are made, from the menu to the decorations and transportation. How do you translate that into your own operations without compromising on quality? Two wedding suppliers share their story, approach, and tips for a more sustainable wedding industry. Read on for inspiration and tips on how you too can organize more sustainable celebrations.
For Coeur Catering, sustainability has been about care and quality since the beginning. Sebastiaan Tips, managing partner at Coeur Catering, explains: "From the outset, quality has been central to Coeur Catering. We quickly realized that quality cannot be separated from sustainability. Working locally, cooking seasonally, and avoiding waste grew naturally out of our belief that good food is only really good if it is made with respect: for the producer, for the planet, and for those sitting at the table."
In 2018, the team translated their sustainable vision into the E-Coeur-plan, which they use to assess their entire operation. Sebastiaan: "In 2023, we then started the B Corp process. In 2024, we were already rewarded with the Belgian Catering Sustainability Award by Gault&Millau and in 2025 with the B Corp label. And we are not standing still: in 2026, our Rooftop Gaston location, where we host many wedding parties, will obtain the Green Key Label: an international sustainability label for event locations that are demonstrably environmentally friendly and socially responsible."
"The B Corp label feels like both a milestone and a motivation for us. Coeur Catering has always been about more than just offering a good and delicious wedding reception. We want to do business with care, with respect for people, the environment, and society. This certification confirms that and reminds us that sustainability is a continuous commitment. At the moment, it proves that a love of cooking and care for the environment can go hand in hand."
Their greatest impact lies in daily decisions, Sebastiaan shares: "Our greatest impact lies in the choices we make every day. We work with local and seasonal ingredients as much as possible, always starting from a largely plant-based menu with the occasional locally sourced, responsibly produced piece of quality meat, fish, or shellfish. Together with the couple, we then look at their specific tastes and preferences and always suggest the most sustainable alternative."
And it's catching on. "Couples always respond very enthusiastically! More and more couples are looking for authenticity and character in their wedding menu, and you can taste that in dishes that come from close by. Couples are often pleasantly surprised by how festive, refined, and original our proposals are. It fits in perfectly with today's way of celebrating: conscious enjoyment, without compromising on experience," Sebastiaan shares.
For Ruben Geerinckx of House of Hugo, the sustainable story began long before he became a photographer and videographer: "My wife Sabrina and I used to work as student workers in the events sector. We went to Australia for a year, where we worked in the events sector and eventually became supervisors at an events agency. We came into contact with beautiful parties there - at the Opera House, at the Harbour Bridge - but in the background we saw a lot of waste, disposable items, poor quality, everything wrapped in plastic..."
That experience spurred them into action: “When we returned to Belgium to get married ourselves, we found it difficult to find partners who took a truly sustainable approach. So we started ourselves, sourcing materials locally, making things ourselves, reusing, instead of using plastic wood and sustainable materials that last a long time, and so on.” This is how their previous company, Green Made, came into being, specializing in wedding planning, styling, and the rental of sustainable decorations. Sabrina and Hugo made decorative pieces themselves, restored furniture, and developed their own ecological wedding services.
“We worked a lot with wood. For example, we bought old school chairs and restored them by giving them a different color. We used blankets to protect materials during transport instead of plastic wraps, worked with local suppliers, or made things ourselves. We often ‘upcycled’ used items in this way.”
That pioneering period was intense but educational. Ruben: “We really went all out in the beginning. However, we encountered many issues that didn't always work out well, such as eco-friendly varnishes that didn't dry properly or came off. We learned a lot from this, including how important it is to find the right balance between sustainability and quality.”
Today, Ruben and his wife focus entirely on wedding photography and videography. “We are absolutely committed to quality in everything we do: high-quality cameras, durable materials, premium-quality albums and frames. We also live sustainably in our private lives, and we consciously carry those values over into our work.”
Sustainability, says Ruben, also means investing in relationships and timeless creations: “We build lasting relationships with suppliers and customers. We always choose quality over quantity and create timeless images that retain their impact for a very long time. We don't jump on trends quickly and create images that evoke emotions for generations.”
Both Sebastiaan and Ruben have noticed that couples today are more conscious of the impact of their celebration. “Whereas it was rarely mentioned in the past, sustainability is now very often part of the initial conversation,” says Sebastiaan. "Couples want to know where our products come from, how we deal with surpluses, and whether we demonstrate social commitment. They want their wedding to be not only beautiful, but also meaningful - a day that aligns with their values.
Sometimes we encounter a generational conflict with the parents, who often have a say in the party. In that case, we invite everyone to a tasting beforehand, and it has never happened that they weren't convinced at that point!"
Balance remains important, Ruben adds. “You notice that it also plays a role in the subconscious. People are more concerned with quality, with things that last. They prefer to invest in something that is sustainable rather than something that quickly disappears.”
Sustainable choices don't have to be big or complicated. It's about everyday habits that you can change, from the materials you work with to the way you collaborate.
Together with Coeur Catering and House of Hugo we share our tips on how you, as a wedding supplier, can take steps that make a real difference, whether you're just starting out or looking to take further action.
Sebastiaan's advice is: “Just start. Look at what you do every day and where the difference can be greatest - in energy, transportation, waste, or purchasing. Involve your team: they often see where improvements can be made. And share experiences with each other.”
Ruben adds: “Listen to yourself and consider what impact you want to make. If you make the world a better place, then you are being sustainable.”
What you can do in concrete terms: start with one aspect (such as energy, transport, waste, or purchasing) and draw up a visible improvement plan for it.
“As caterers, we work with local and seasonal ingredients as much as possible,” says Sebastiaan.
Florists, stylists, and photographers, among others, can do the same: use seasonal flowers, print locally, and work with local partners and materials.
What you can do in concrete terms: choose partners and products from your neighborhood. It reduces your footprint and strengthens the local economy.
What you can do in concrete terms: invest in materials, equipment, and collaborations that will last. Look for a balance between the highest quality and the most sustainable choice.
Sebastiaan shares: “Sustainability only really works when everyone is on the same page. This can range from sharing logistics and transport, reducing waste on site, to choosing suppliers with a smaller ecological footprint together.”
Ruben also advises: “Work with people who share the same vision. These are the most enjoyable collaborations, and they also last the longest.”
What you can do in concrete terms: find like-minded partners and make joint agreements about transport, waste, and material use.
“Think of the school chairs we bought and restored by giving them a different color. We also use blankets instead of plastic wraps, work with local suppliers, and repair or make things ourselves,” says Ruben.
What you can do in concrete terms: reuse certain decorations or give some pieces a second life by repairing or restyling them.
Use reusable or recyclable products. Avoid single-use plastics and find out about deposit systems or dishwashing services. Donate flowers or leftovers after the party: this gives residual material a second life.
What you can do: choose reusable packaging or start a partnership with a local dishwashing service.
Aim for recognized labels (such as B Corp or Green Key) and be clear about what you still want to improve. Transparency creates trust.
What you can do in concrete terms: communicate honestly, show concrete actions, and avoid vague claims about being "green" or “ecological.”
Sustainable entrepreneurship does not always mean doing everything perfectly. “Ultimately, it's all about balance,” says Ruben. “We could go so far in everything to make it ecological that it sometimes became less sustainable because it didn't last as long or required more work. Then the impact is not better either.”
What you can do in concrete terms: be ambitious, but realistic. Small, sustained steps have more effect than grand promises that are difficult to keep.
Sustainable entrepreneurship starts with sincere choices and works thanks to collaboration.
“Share experiences with each other. Sustainability is not a competition, but a collective movement,” concludes Sebastiaan. “Ultimately, you'll notice that it not only benefits the planet, but also strengthens the connection, pride, and authenticity of your brand.”
Those who make conscious choices inspire others to do the same. Because every sustainable wedding starts with suppliers and couples who want to make a difference. Every conscious choice, no matter how small, counts. Good luck!