As zero-waste weddings move from a niche trend to mainstream priority, the question isn’t so much whether couples care about sustainability, but instead how to execute a mindful celebration with style. We spoke to Holly Cognon of Lettice Events, an industry leader in the sustainable catering space, to unpack the realities behind zero-waste weddings: common misconceptions, what couples get wrong, and the surprisingly simple shifts that make the biggest impact.
What does a “zero-waste wedding” look like in catering terms?
Zero-waste dining is where creativity meets conscious celebration. For us, it’s all about thoughtful planning, clever menu design, and making every ingredient shine – from root to stem and nose to tail. We work closely with incredible local producers, highlighting seasonal ingredients and ensuring anything surplus is thoughtfully recycled, reinvented, or redistributed. The result? Beautifully curated food moments that feel abundant, exciting, and deeply personal to every couple we work with.
Where does most food waste actually happen at weddings?
The most food waste at weddings comes down to one thing: over-ordering. We completely understand why – couples naturally want to make their guests feel looked after, and it’s easy to fall into the mindset that more always means better. But creating a memorable guest experience is more about getting the flow, portions, and menu design just right.
With years of experience in events of all shapes and sizes, we help guide our couples through their day to put their minds at rest. By taking final numbers just two weeks before the big day, we can order more accurately from our farming partners, reducing waste before ingredients even arrive in the kitchen. It means less excess, fresher produce, and a much more thoughtful way to dine.
What’s the biggest mistake couples make when trying to reduce waste?
There’s often a misconception that sustainability and luxury can’t go hand in hand, but we couldn’t disagree more. We believe the most memorable celebrations are designed with both beauty and thoughtfulness at their core. By using low-waste practices as our foundation, we’re able to focus on the things that really create that wow factor: incredible food, beautiful styling, and unforgettable guest experiences. It’s not about doing less – it’s about doing things smarter. For us, true luxury comes from working with other like-minded suppliers to create moments that feel personal, elevated, and unforgettable, without unnecessary excess.
What’s the most unusual way you’ve repurposed leftovers?
Wedding cake is often the most forgotten part of the day- admired, photographed, ceremonially sliced, and then left behind. We’ll serve slices to fuel your dancefloor in the evening and package the rest for guests to take home, but sometimes there’s still some left. With this, we infuse leftover sponge with vodka to create cake-inspired cocktails. This may sound odd, but it makes the most amazing flavoured vodka – we use it to make the most delicious cocktails, inspired by a Lemon Drizzle Cake.
We love finding playful ways to give ingredients a second life. We’ve even transformed spent coffee grounds from a couple’s wedding day into homemade coffee liqueur, gifted to guests the next morning at their recovery brunch. Sustainable can still be just as delicious.
Are take-home bags, donations, or composting the most effective solution?
Reducing food waste isn’t about one single solution – it’s a collection of thoughtful approaches where small decisions can have a big impact. From careful planning and smart ordering to creative recycling and thoughtful redistribution, every part plays a role.
We start by preventing waste wherever we can: ordering intentionally and designing menus with purpose. From there, we look at creative ways to reuse and recycle ingredients wherever possible, whether that’s transforming them into late-night bites or cocktails. The result is a style of celebration that feels effortlessly generous and beautifully considered-proving you really can have luxury without the waste.
If a couple could do just three things to cut food waste, what would they be?
One of the easiest ways to reduce waste is by being as accurate as possible with guest numbers and dietary requirements. Thoughtful planning not only helps the environment but also creates a better experience for everyone around the table.
Avoid using single-use wherever possible, even if it’s recyclable. Some of our favourite sustainable touches have been the most personal ones, like using fresh herbs and edible flowers grown by our couples as cocktail garnishes for their at-home wedding-a beautiful way to add character and create details that feel thoughtful to both your guests and the planet.
And finally, when choosing suppliers, work with those who genuinely care about sustainability. The best celebrations are those where everyone behind the scenes is working with the same core values in mind.
What should couples consider when making sustainable choices on their wedding day that they might not think of?
We’ve definitely noticed couples becoming far more conscious about where their food and drink come from. There’s a real move towards local ingredients, lower food miles, and menus that feel fresh, seasonal, and full of personality.
More and more couples are embracing plant-focused menus and realising that they can be just as indulgent and celebratory. Even small changes – like reducing red meat across the menu – can make a big difference.
People often forget that sustainability isn’t just the food but the bar as well, and drinks are often overlooked. Choosing local wines, beers, and spirits, especially from fellow B Corp-certified brands, is such an easy way to make more thoughtful choices without compromising on style or quality.
Are there any requests that couples are asking for more?
Plant-focused menus are becoming hugely popular with couples, and we love seeing wedding food move in a more creative, seasonal, and ingredient-led direction. We work incredibly hard to make them bold, beautiful, and completely showstopping, so couples can make choices that feel better for the planet without sacrificing any of the atmosphere or experience of their wedding day.
We’re also being asked more regularly to calculate the carbon footprint of our menus, which we absolutely love. It gives couples a clearer picture of the impact their choices make, helping them create a wedding that feels thoughtful, personal, and still full of incredible food and celebration.
READ NEXT: Trends I’m Loving Right Now With Holly Congdon, Lettice Events
