How do we create beautiful, meaningful sustainable destination weddings while staying mindful of our environmental impact? I sat down with Italian, London based, destination wedding planner Monica Russo, owner of Dandelion Celebrations, to talk about slow travel, conscious planning, and how the industry can move toward more sustainable celebrations.

Meet Monica Russo — The Planner Behind Dandelion Celebrations

Monica is an international wedding planner from Italy, now based in the UK, specialising in destination weddings across Europe and beyond. Her signature approach is inspired by the art of slow travel.

Instead of a single wedding day, Monica designs immersive, multi-day experiences where couples and guests can truly connect with the culture, landscape, and rhythm of the destination.

“I don’t just plan weddings — I design experiences that honour the place and allow everyone to be fully present.” — Monica

Sustainable Destination Weddings: The Reality Check

Let’s be honest: destination weddings come with several challenges when it comes to sustainability. Guests fly. Vendors travel. Decor gets produced, used once, and discarded. And yet — couples still dream of celebrating in Italy, France, or the Alps.

Monica approaches this with both realism and optimism:

“Travel isn’t going anywhere. After COVID as soon as borders reopened, everyone travelled again. So thinking of weddings free of travel isn’t realistic, the questions should be how we can plan them more responsibly.”

Slow Travel as a Sustainable Wedding Choice

Monica encourages couples to make intentional travel decisions:

1. Reduce Flights Where Possible

• Choose direct flights when available
  
• Avoid “hopping on and off flights around Europe” during the same trip or choose rail travel
  
• Limit unnecessary flying back-and-forth for venue visits, tastings, trials etc by extending your stay and combining multiple appointments in one trip

2. Extend Your Stay

Instead of flying in for 2–3 days, Monica encourages couples to turn their wedding into:

• a mini-moon or a honeymoon
  
• a holiday or vacation to really get to know your chosen destination
  
• or a week-long experience with family and friends
  

This reduces travel emissions and enhances the whole celebration — less rush, more connection.

3. Base Vendors Locally When Possible

Some photographers, florists, and other creatives spend entire seasons (e.g., September) in Italy or France, travelling on the ground by train rather than flying in and out.

Vendor Sustainability: What Happens Behind the Scenes

Sustainability isn’t just about flights. Monica evaluates every vendor with careful attention, understanding that each role has different challenges and solutions.

Florists & Decor

• Prioritize foam-free designs (Monica is particularly passionate about this)
  
• Source local, seasonal flowers
  
• Use electric vehicles when possible
  
• Repurpose florals throughout the day as much as logistically possible (for example ceremony → bar or cake table)

• Minimise waste by renting decor and furniture over buying fast/cheap/mass produced or custom made
  

“If a florist tells me they can’t work without foam, they may not be the right fit for my clients.” — Monica

Caterers

• Source local and organic produce
  
• Reduce food waste
  
• Highlight seasonal menus
  
• Work with venues that already have strong sustainability practices
  

In recent years there has been an increase in eco-luxury hotels and venues. Agriturismi and farm-based venues across Italy are also wonderful examples and though traditionally they can be quite rustic some have embraced a more high end service and decor — still offering authentic food and a natural connection to the land. 

Planners & Photographers

Monica shared her perspective on how photographers can adapt too:

• Choose ground travel (train > plane) whenever possible
  
• Consider the sustainability ethos of equipment manufacturers
  
• Review cloud storage providers for greener, more responsible options
  
• Reduce packaging and unnecessary materials
  
• Collaborate with eco-aligned vendors
  

As a photographer, I’m already taking the train whenever I can — but this conversation inspired me to explore even more conscious choices in my own workflow.

What Couples Should Know: Ask the Questions

Sustainability can feel overwhelming for couples — and sometimes even intimidating. Many fear that asking about sustainability will:

• limit their vendor options
  
• increase costs
  
• or make the planning process harder
  

Monica believes the opposite is true:

“Don’t put your values on hold. Ask the questions. So many vendors are already doing sustainable work quietly, behind the scenes — but they hesitate to talk about it.”

This conversation is a reminder:
Transparency leads to better choices. Better choices lead to better weddings.

Monica’s Dream Weddings (and What Inspires Her Most)

Monica gravitates toward:

• intimate celebrations and thoughtful guest lists
  
• couples who are curious, adventurous, and open to exploring lesser-known destinations
  
• venues that feel genuine and connected to nature and local culture
  

She loves hidden gems — not the top 10 Pinterest venues, but the places where you feel the soul of the region.

“The reward of choosing an unexpected location is tenfold in experience.”

Final Thoughts: Moving the Wedding Industry Forward

Our conversation wrapped with a message to both couples and vendors:

• Couples: Don’t be afraid to ask about sustainability so you can work with suppliers that honour your values. The more you ask about it, the more the wedding industry needs to adapt and change to meet your demands.
  
• Vendors: Share what you’re doing. Don’t hide it out of fear of being misinterpreted.
  
• Industry: We need to talk about sustainability openly, without shame or perfectionism.
  

Travel will always be part of destination weddings — but together, we can make more conscious, transparent, and thoughtful decisions.

Want to Learn More and start planning a more sustainable destination wedding?

If you’re dreaming about a destination wedding and want to explore how to make it both beautiful and more sustainable, reach out to Monica or me to plan your wedding — I’m always happy to share insights, experiences, and vendor recommendations that align with your values.