Sustainable weddings in the Scottish Highlands

Our tips for a sustainable Scottish wedding

As we become more aware of the effect our actions have on the environment, we’re all looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint. As a hotel and events venue, why we strive to be as sustainable as possible in all that we do. For couples getting married at our hotel, we’ve put together this list of sustainable wedding tips, to help you do the same. If we all work together, we can look forward to a cleaner, greener future!

Our sustainable wedding venue

By choosing Mackays Hotel for your wedding venue, you’re off to a great start. Sustainability is important to us, and we are constantly looking for new ways to be greener as a business. So far, we have installed LED lighting, heat and motion sensor smart lights and a high-capacity biomass boiler to improve energy efficiency. We use local suppliers wherever possible and offer seasonal local produce on our menus. We’ve also purchased two electric vehicles and we have charging points available for guests to use. When planning a wedding at Mackays, we encourage couples to keep the environment in mind too. Here are a few things you can do to lower your wedding carbon footprint…

Eco-friendly menus

At Mackays, we work with you to create the perfect wedding menu for your big day, using local and seasonal ingredients. Please let us know if you’d like a vegetarian or vegan menu. We can create delicious plant-based dishes that even the meat-eaters in your life will love!

Local and ethical suppliers

Shopping locally is great for sustainability. When you buy from a local business, this reduces the transportation of goods and services, meaning lower carbon emissions. We have a handy list of local wedding suppliers, which will help you find everything you need. It’s also important to find ethical suppliers that align with your views on sustainability. Choose handmade over mass-produced, and avoid single-use items and plastics. Take a look at potential suppliers’ environmental policies and don’t be afraid to ask questions to help you decide.

Something borrowed…

Instead of buying new, consider hiring, borrowing or finding pre-loved items for your wedding. Outfits for the wedding party, such as dresses and kilts, can easily be hired. You can often find lovely wedding supplies that have only been used once on online marketplaces like Gumtree and Vinted. And when you’ve finished with them, be sure to donate or sell on any items in good condition, so they can be used again by someone else.

Wedding stationery

Reduce waste and transportation by keeping your wedding stationery streamlined. There’s no need to send a “Save The Date” card. Just send your invitations out early, making sure they are printed on recycled/recyclable materials. Include a link to your wedding website for RSVPs and any further updates. It’s easy to create a wedding website with a little help from online tools such as With Joy and Hitched. Some couples do away with physical invitations entirely and simply send an email and link to their website.

Public transport

Encourage your guests to get here by public transport. The train is considered the most eco-friendly mode of public transport. Conveniently, Wick Train Station is located near to Mackays Hotel, connecting us with major towns and cities in Scotland and throughout Great Britain.

Giving back to the environment

Planting trees and plants is a simple but effective way to give back to the environment. You could give out seeds or plants as wedding favours. You could also plant a tree, as a way to remember your special day. Or why not include the option to donate to an environmental charity of your choice on your wedding gift list? Wedding gift registries such as The Wedding Shop and Prezola make it easy.

Find out more about getting married at Mackays Hotel. From small and intimate to large celebrations, we can accommodate up to 150 daytime guests and 220 in the evening. If you have any questions at all about our sustainable wedding tips or environmental policy, please get in touch.