Join the Sustainable Wedding Alliance
Join a community of values-driven professionals and achieve the UK’s leading sustainability accreditation. We provide the guidance, training, and accountability you need to make progress with purpose.
Future-Proof Your Business with Purpose
When you join the Sustainable Wedding Alliance, we provide the resources and support you need to reduce your environmental impact and implement long-term, sustainable strategies. Operating as an ethical business isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s a powerful competitive advantage. Today’s conscious couples are actively looking for suppliers who can prove their commitment to the planet.
Stay Ahead of the Curve
The hospitality and wedding sectors are evolving rapidly. We predict that by 2030, sustainable practices will no longer be optional but required by law. By acting now, you are getting ahead of future requirements and creating a robust sustainability policy that works specifically for your business model.
Expertise Without the Stress
We remove the confusion and stress of navigating environmental best practices. Our team provides the expert advice and support you need to stay up to date with the latest initiatives in the industry and beyond. We are here to help you build a business you’re truly proud of, one with sustainability at its core.
An Industry Movement
We understand that the wedding industry is incredibly diverse, from small, independent businesses to large, international corporations. That’s why we offer membership options tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re an agency, brand, organiser, or supplier, we have the expertise to guide you towards a more sustainable future.
Our approach is personalised and flexible, recognising that one-size-fits-all solutions simply don’t work in this industry. We’ll work closely with you to identify your unique sustainability challenges and develop a plan to address them effectively.
A Membership That Pays for Itself
We believe sustainability should be a business advantage, not a burden. When you join the Sustainable Wedding Alliance, you aren’t just getting a badge, you’re getting a comprehensive toolkit for business growth. If these elements were purchased separately from many different sources, the total market value would be worth over £4,825 per year!
- Verified Sustainability Assessment & Accreditation: An in-depth assessment with a personalised report, verified by our team trained to ISEP standards. This leads to the official Sustainable Wedding Alliance Accreditation (for UK members)
- “Building a Sustainable Business” Course: Immediate access to our step-by-step, self-paced course designed specifically to guide you toward achieving accreditation
- Carbon Literacy Training for Wedding Professionals: Certified training for wedding professionals, including up to five team members, to help you understand and reduce your carbon footprint
- Comprehensive Resource Library: A growing collection of practical templates, workbooks, checklists, and guides to simplify your sustainability journey
- Dedicated Membership Platform: A private space to connect with other members, share best practices, and collaborate with like-minded professionals
- Monthly Focus & Live Training: Every month, we dive into a new topic with live training, tutorials, and dedicated support
- Sustainable Wedding Directory: A professional listing that includes a valuable backlink to your website and social media exposure
- Exclusive Partner Discounts: Including a listing discount with The Natural Wedding Company directory
- Networking & Expert Insights: Access to local and national networking events (online and in-person), plus regular training sessions with guest experts on topics you suggest
- Ongoing Strategy Support: Join our monthly members’ calls and Sustainable Strategy support sessions to keep your business on track
- Direct Access to the SWA Team: We are here to support you personally at every stage of your sustainable journey
In addition to the above benefits, we also plant trees on behalf of every new member, and fund CO2 reduction projects globally.
What our members say…
“The Sustainable Wedding Alliance have completely changed my business. I became a sustainable wedding supplier in 2019 but had only just scratched the surface until I became an SWA member in December 2021. They have taught me to dig deep down into my business processes and pin point every aspect of where I can improve my sustainability with a fine tooth comb and I’m not only a better business woman but a better person because of it. I have learned how to communicate my efforts without Greenwashing and make changes that will not only be good for the environment and the world around us but good for business too.
The community that SWA have built means that I always have colleagues with a similar ethos to myself to bounce ideas off, celebrate our wins and speak candidly about the times when things don’t go to plan! They’ve built a safe space where you aren’t judged or penalised but educated and encouraged.
The support from the SWA team is second to none. Always at the end of a zoom call or email and always prepared to answer our questions or help us with research. Taking time to support us with our action plans or just catching up with our community.
I am very grateful for the Sustainable Wedding Alliance and honoured to be a member. I can’t wait to see what they will be able to achieve in the Wedding Industry once they’re completely global. So exciting that I get to be a small part of it. The Sustainable Wedding Alliance is the platform that the Wedding Industry needs right now, all over the world.” Mercedes, 4YaParty Weddings and Events
How much is membership?
Membership fees vary depending on the size of a business. This is due to the differing requirements of the sustainability assessment for small, medium and larger businesses.
-
Sole trader £540 a year / £45 a month
-
Small business (up to 15 employees) £648 a year / £54 a month
-
Medium business (up to 25 employees) £756 a year / £63 a month
-
Large business (25+ employees) £864 a year / £72 a month
-
Venue £972 a year / £81 a month
If you’re part of a venue group, please contact us for a combined membership rate.
All fees are invoiced in GBP and must be paid in GBP.
Once accredited, the annual cost is reduced by 25%. You will continue to receive all the member benefits and an annual review, action plan and ongoing support from the Sustainable Wedding Alliance team.
If you’d like to apply for the membership scholarship, please see click here.
All memberships are for a 12 month period. There is no VAT charged as we are not VAT registered, however this is subject to change and once registered VAT will be applicable to all memberships. Membership rates are reviewed in each year, however once a member you lock in to your annual rate.
For Registered Charity Venues: A Special Membership Discount
We are pleased to offer a 25% discount on our annual venue membership fees to registered charities that operate wedding venues. To qualify for this special rate, the income generated from wedding bookings must directly benefit the charity and be processed as part of the charity’s accounts, rather than through a separate, for-profit business entity.
Please note: This exclusive discount is available for venue memberships only and does not apply to other member categories.
Your Path to Accreditation
Your Path to Progress, Not Perfection. Sustainability is a journey, and we are here to walk it with you. Our 3-step process is designed to be achievable, practical, and deeply rewarding.
1. Join & Assess
Gain immediate access to our community and start your initial sustainability assessment. We help you establish your baseline without judgment.
2. Learn & Implement
Use our Carbon Literacy Training and “Building a Sustainable Business” course to make measurable changes. You’ll have the full support of our Ambassadors and member community.
3. Achieve Accreditation
Once you meet the Alliance standards, you’ll receive your official accreditation, the benchmark for sustainability in the UK wedding industry.
Bonus: Accredited members receive a 25% discount on their annual renewal.
Frequently asked questions
Feel free to get in touch if you have a question that isn’t answered here.
How do I become accredited?
As part of your membership, you will receive an in depth assessment on your business’s sustainability processes and procedures. We will then send you a personalised assessment report to work through alongside the Building a Sustainable Business Course.
Once you have completed the Building a Sustainable Business Course, you can shout about your sustainable credentials through the use of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance accreditation badge and certificate. The accreditation is based on the business reaching a minimum level within the course.
We will also announce your Accreditation on social media.
How do you promote your members?
We are dedicated to actively promoting our members to couples seeking sustainable wedding options. Here are the key ways we showcase your commitment:
- For Conscious Couples Directory: Your business will be listed on our dedicated directory on our For Conscious Couples website. This directory allows couples to easily filter by business type and region, ensuring they can find sustainable suppliers and venues in their area.
- For Conscious Couples Instagram Promotion: We regularly feature our members on the For Conscious Couples Instagram account. This includes dedicated welcome story and posts showcasing your services, which are also saved to relevant highlights for ongoing visibility.
- Discounted Listing on The Natural Wedding Company: As a member, you’ll benefit from a discounted listing on the esteemed The Natural Wedding Company directory, further expanding your reach to conscious couples.
- Conscious Couples Planning Blog Articles: You have the opportunity to publish up to two articles a year on our Conscious Couples Planning Blog, allowing you to share your expertise and attract engaged couples. Once you achieve accreditation, this opportunity increases significantly to up to ten articles.
- Accreditation Celebration Posts: When you become a Sustainable Wedding Alliance accredited member, we celebrate your achievement with a dedicated post on the main SWA Instagram account and a collaborative post with your business on the For Conscious Couples Instagram.
- Unlimited Social Media Promotion for Accredited Members: Once accredited, you can provide us with content to share unlimited social media posts showcasing your sustainability journey on the For Conscious Couples Instagram. This provides ongoing visibility to a targeted audience.
- Sharing Tagged Content: If you tag the For Conscious Couples Instagram account in any of your posts directed at couples, we will actively share it with our audience.
- Behind-the-Scenes on SWA Instagram: We also share behind-the-scenes glimpses of our members’ sustainable journeys and initiatives on the main Sustainable Wedding Alliance Instagram account, highlighting your dedication to a wider industry audience.
How much is membership?
Membership fees vary depending on the size of a business. This is due to the differing requirements of the sustainability assessment for small, medium and larger businesses.
-
Sole trader £540 a year / £45 a month
-
Small business (up to 15 employees) £648 a year / £54 a month
-
Medium business (up to 25 employees) £756 a year / £63 a month
-
Large business (25+ employees) £864 a year / £72 a month
-
Venue £9,72 a year / £81 a month
If you’re part of a venue group, please contact us for a combined membership rate.
All fees are invoiced in GBP and must be paid in GBP.
Once accredited, the annual cost is reduced by 25%. You will continue to receive all the member benefits and an annual review, action plan and ongoing support from the Sustainable Wedding Alliance team.
All memberships are for a 12 month period. There is no VAT charged as we are not VAT registered, however this is subject to change and once registered VAT will be applicable to all memberships. Membership rates are reviewed in each year, however once a member you lock in to your annual rate. Membership fees increased on 1st March 2026.
Is it possible to pay monthly rather than annually?
Yes, during the membership set-up process you can choose to pay monthly or annually. All memberships are for a 12 month period.
How do I access all the trainings, tools and resources?
Once you join the Sustainable Wedding Alliance, you’ll have access to the Membership Platform that has all the tools and resources we’ve created, along with useful links to external resources, events, details of offers and campaigns you should join.
We host live trainings sessions monthly, all of which are recorded. All historical trainings are included in the Membership Platform for you to view in your own time.
I don't know anything about sustainability - will I understand the trainings?
Yes, absolutely. The trainings and resources are developed for businesses early on in their journey. We avoid using jargon, explain terms in full and welcome questions.
As part of the business assessment we will discuss where you are in your sustainable journey and what help and support you need in order to complete your action plan.
I've already started sustainable making changes, can you still help me?
Yes absolutely, the aim of the assessment process it to find out where you are on your sustainable journey, and where you want to get to. From that we will create an action plan specific to your business to help you achieve your sustainable goals.
How do I access the resources library, templates and trainings?
All resources are available 24/7 in the Members Area. When you become a member you will be emailed your login details. We will notify you when there is new content loaded into the Members Area too.
I'm based outside the UK, can I still become a member?
Yes, we have an international membership option for businesses based outside the UK. The membership includes:
- In depth sustainability assessment with personalised action plan (Accreditation not available for international members)
- A growing resource library with practical templates, checklists and guides
- A monthly topic focus area with tutorials and support
- Entry into the Sustainable Wedding Directory which includes a backlink to your website and Instagram
- Online networking events
- Training sessions on topics suggested by members
- Monthly members call and Ask Me Anything sessions
- Guest expert training sessions on specialised topics
- Access to the team to ask questions, seek support and get support from the other members!
Please contact us to discuss International Membership.
Do I get a badge for my website?
When you become a member you can proudly display your Sustainable Wedding Alliance Member badge on your website and social media. This shows couples and suppliers that you’re part of the Alliance, and actively working towards becoming more sustainable.
Once a business has completed their action plan, they can shout about their sustainable credentials through the use of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance accreditation badge and certificate. This Accreditation is based on the business reaching a minimum level within the assessment. The badge is for use only by accredited members, and is reviewed annually.
How long will it be before I'm accredited?
There is no fixed time frame. If you’re able to invest time into making your business more sustainable then it can be a quick process.
If you are already working sustainably it’s likely that during the assessment you will be able to evidence your processes and therefore receive accreditation immediately.
I'm not the business owner, can I still become a member?
Yes, as it’s the business that becomes a member and not the individual.
When completing the Sustainability Assessment we will need to review many internal business documents, so the owner will need to have given permission for us to do that.
Will I have time for it all?
Good question! We know that time is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to managing a business.
As part of the membership we will complete an in depth Sustainability Assessment on the business and give you a personalised action plan to work through. We suggest using that as your planning tool. Choose one section per week or month, depending on how much time you can dedicate to it. That way you can work out how long it will take you to complete the actions and become accredited.
As the content is always available in the Membership Platform, there is no rush, you can go at your pace. Content is regularly updated and you will be notified when new resources have been added.
If you are worried about not having enough time to contribute or engage fully, please remember that you can add members of your team to the Membership Platform, who can also access all the tools and resources. Please let Em, our Community Manager know when you sign up.
What does the Sustainability Assessment include?
The Sustainability Assessment is completed online and usually takes 1.5 hours.
We look in detail at what sustainability means in the context of your business, what you are currently doing and what you need to put in place in order to meet your objectives.
Do you have a code of conduct, and what is it?
Yes, we do have a code of conduct to ensure that we act with integrity and honesty at all times, and expect all partners, sponsors and members to do the same.
- I/We respond to all questions and enquiries within 48 hours.
- I/We respect client confidentiality.
- I/We are fully transparent and always honest.
- I/We respect copyright from fellow professionals.
- My/Our business is free from discrimination and encourages diversity, equality and inclusivity.
- My/Our business insurance is up to date.
- I/We always do the best job I/we possibly can.
Do you offer any discounts?
As an ethical business, we don’t agree with pressurised sales or promotions, as we’re committed to providing you with the very best value we can, all the time.
For businesses that have struggled to get started with their sustainable journey due to ongoing financial difficulties we have our Scholarship. Please contact us for more information and eligibility criteria.
Are you ready to make your business more sustainable?
We are passionate about creating a more sustainable wedding industry through education, support and accreditation. We work with businesses, like yours, to create long term sustainable strategies that you can implement yourself, or with our support.