Big fat Indian weddings are known for their scale, elaborate decorations and lavish feasts. At the same time, they are also known for generating large amounts of waste, from disposable cutlery and plastic décor to leftover food and packaging. But a family in Karnataka chose to do things differently.
A video shared by Dr Poorvi Bhat on Instagram has captured widespread attention for showcasing her family's zero-waste wedding, where more than 600 guests were hosted using sustainable practices from start to finish. From farm-sourced decorations and plastic-free dining to composting food waste and reusable return gifts, the celebration demonstrated how large weddings can significantly reduce their environmental footprint through thoughtful planning.
According to Bhat, the event was organised without a wedding planner and remained economical despite its scale.
Inspired by zero-waste creators, not wedding planners
The idea for a sustainable wedding first took shape when Bhat was planning her own marriage two years ago. "We didn’t use a wedding planner, while researching for my wedding 2 years ago, I learned a lot from zero waste creators like @wormrani and @dr.sanjivinisharma."
