A couple who thrifted their entire wedding for 100 guests at a Christmas tree farm only spent $5,000

Samantha GrindellSep 8, 2022, 21:38 IST

Alyssa Powell/Insider

Jess and Houston Clifton, who got married in May 2019, prioritized sustainability at their wedding.
The wedding, which only cost $5,000, included thrifted bridesmaid dresses and compostable flatware.

Jess and Houston Clifton have been together since college. The bride says she's been "in love with the planet" her whole life

Jess and Houston Clifton on their wedding day.Alex Blankenship

As the Cliftons planned their wedding, they decided to make the nuptials as sustainable as possible.

They had a sustainable wedding.Alex Blankenship

It became even more important to Jess to have a sustainable wedding as she learned about the waste associated with most weddings.

Jess Clifton learned about sustainability as she planned her wedding.Alex Blankenship

Jess started her sustainable wedding journey by picking her venue: a family member's Christmas tree farm.

The Cliftons got married at a Christmas tree farm.Alex Blankenship

The ceremony decor was simple, thanks to the beautiful scenery.

The ceremony was outside.Alex Blankenship

Jess collected wine bottles throughout her engagement to use as decor.

Jess Clifton collected her vases.Alex Blankenship

And her grandmother helped her find eco-friendly options for candle holders.

Jess Clifton's grandmother collected the candle holders.Alex Blankenship

It was important to Jess that her flowers were grown locally to minimize their environmental impact.

Jess's mom grew the flowers.Alex Blankenship

Jess thought the flowers turned out beautifully and used them for much of the wedding decor.

The flowers served as much of the wedding decor.Alex Blankenship

The experience of growing the flowers even inspired Elizabeth to start her own business.

Elizabeth started a business after the wedding.Alex Blankenship

Jess and Houston borrowed much of their decor from loved ones, including tables, tablecloths, and lights.

The reception space.Alex Blankenship

All of the cutlery for the wedding was sustainable.

The tableware was compostable.Alex Blankenship

Jess gifted her bridesmaids their bridesmaid dresses.

Jess Clifton gifted the dresses to her bridesmaids.Alex Blankenship

Jess and Houston encouraged their guests not to buy new clothes for the wedding.

They encouraged guests to wear items they already owned.Alex Blankenship

Jess was thrilled that so many of her loved ones made the wedding a reality, she told Insider.

The wreath hangs on the door.Alex Blankenship

The ceremony space's proximity to Jess's home also made for fun moments during the wedding – like her dog surprising her by attending the nuptials.

The wedding was full of sentimental moments.Alex Blankenship

The focus on thrifting and borrowing also helped the Cliftons keep their wedding budget small.

The couple only spent $5,000 on the wedding.Alex Blankenship

Jess recommends looking at each component of your wedding individually rather than the event as a whole if you want to make it sustainable.

Take the wedding piece by piece.Alex Blankenship

For Jess, the best part of having a sustainable wedding was that it allowed her to focus on marrying the love of her life.

The wedding was about the Cliftons.Alex Blankenship

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