Subscriber

I’m going to 11 weddings this year — here’s how I’m saving money and still having fun

Cork-born, Dublin-based Shannen Healy has grown a following as a de-influencer, sharing her imperfect sustainable journey online. Here she shares how she is approaching wedding season in a way that saves money, reduces waste, and doesn’t take away from the fun

Wed, 13 May, 2026 - 08:00

Shannen Healy

Weddings can be a time of overconsumption, both as a bride, and as a guest. This year I am attending 11 weddings — including my own.

As someone who puts sustainability at the heart of everything I do, I’ve had to rethink the pressure to buy something new for every event. It’s not cost-effective, it’s not sustainable, and most importantly, it’s not necessary.

Here’s how I’m approaching wedding season in a way that saves money, reduces waste, and doesn’t take away from the fun.

Getting dressed

The pressure to wear something new to every wedding is real. I’ve tried it all — second-hand platforms like Vinted and Depop, as well as rental services. Of course, the most sustainable and cost-effective thing you can do is wear what you already have in your closet, but with 11 weddings in different seasons and different climates, you do need a few options.

CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB

If you only have a few weddings, I’d recommend renting. Ireland has a growing number of rental platforms, including Happy Days, Rag Revolution, Designer Room, Best Kept Secret and Angel’s Share. Beauty & The Bump even offer maternity dresses for hire.

Rental prices typically range from €50-200, depending on the company you choose, the rental length, and the brand. While this is a sustainable option, it may not be the most cost- effective.

Shannen Healy: Saving money and reducing waste doesn’t have to take away from the fun.

Last year, I purchased a new dress from a brand called Miphai. I felt guilty buying new, so I made a commitment to ensure the dress got as many wears as possible. That’s when I came across Circular Style Club, a Clare-based, female-owned peer-to-peer rental company that allows you to rent out your own clothes to other users (You can even filter by Irish Design when choosing something to rent!). Since listing my dress, it’s been worn multiple times, and I’ve actually made money.

When it comes to day-two, I rotate the same three dresses. In my experience, people are less likely to take photos on day-two — everyone is still recovering from the day before!

Shannen in the Miphai dress she has shared on Circular Style Club

For accessories, I use the same two bags for almost every wedding. I have a white option and a gold that go with just about everything. The same goes for shoes: a white pair from Dune and a gold pair from Zara, both bought second-hand on Vinted at about 70% less than their original retail cost. I have had the white ones for over three years now, and just bring them into Issac Jackmans in Dublin whenever they’re in need of some TLC. The plastic part of heels can wear so quickly (probably all the dancing.), but this is cheap and easy to replace, so there’s no need to buy a new pair.

Getting there

If the wedding is located close to public transport, the train may be a quick, easy, low cost, and environmentally friendly option. Unfortunately, in Ireland, this is not possible for a lot of wedding venues, especially as many are in more remote locations.I have found carpooling with lots of friends is the best option. It’s fun to catch up and get excited together on the way, and it takes a few cars off the road too.

Staying there

Ireland is home to many incredible hotels, many of which are making real efforts to improve their sustainability practices.

When booking accommodation, I try to research local hotels’ sustainability efforts, what are they doing to reduce food waste, their energy consumption? I also love staying in small, family-run B&Bs — nothing beats an Irish mammy’s fry the morning after a wedding.

Eating there

A small but impactful choice — why not request the vegetarian option at dinner? Reducing meat consumption is one of the simplest ways to lower your environmental footprint, and as a bonus, you often get your own veggies and don’t have to fight for the shared sides!