Our Commitment to Sustainable Weddings: PearlSandals & the Biosphere Certification Journey

Aug 4

PS team posing at destination wedding — From recycled décor to plant-based menus and off-season weddings, here’s how we’re shaping a more sustainable future — one celebration at a time.

At PearlSandals, sustainability isn’t a trend — it’s a guiding value.

From the moment we started planning weddings along the coast of Catalonia, we’ve believed in leaving a lighter footprint. To us, “sharing the love” extends far beyond the couple. It includes the local community, our trusted vendors, and the breathtaking environment we’re lucky enough to work in.

Over the years, we’ve woven sustainable choices into our planning without always calling them that: reusing parasols and baskets season after season, encouraging shared guest transport instead of private cars, or choosing venues that give back. These decisions have never felt like compromises — just the right thing to do.

*Photo of the Association Sol y Vida taken by* *MujeryMarido*

Why We’re Pursuing the Biosphere Certification

Recently, we decided to formalise our commitment through the Biosphere Certification, a globally recognised mark of sustainability. It’s something we’ve seen in trusted venues, at local beaches, and among some of our favourite collaborators like Gau Catering and Sensacions Catering.

Seeking this certification is not about ticking boxes. It’s about pausing to reflect on how we work, what we value, and where we can do better — from reducing single-use plastics and embracing digitalisation to promoting equal opportunities and training our team in event safety. We’ve already implemented an internal review inspired by the certification to highlight what we’re doing well (like encouraging off-season weddings or using local florals) and where there’s still work to be done (like accessible design and finding alternatives to plastic catering disposables).

We know sustainability is a journey, not a destination. But we’re walking it intentionally.

*Bouquet delivery - photo by* *Juanjo Vega*

Inspired by Our Couples

Some of our most beautiful shifts have come from couples themselves. When Morgan & Matt created a fully vegetarian wedding menu with 21deMarzo, it inspired us to speak more confidently about meat-light menus with future couples. Roberta & Hugo designed a celebration that was not only elegant and joyful, but fully plant-based and eco-conscious from start to finish.

Their weddings are proof that sustainability can enhance, not limit, the experience.

Small Actions That Add Up

We’ve always believed that every little thing helps. Early on, we supported Sol y Vida, a venue and social project rooted in eco-practices and community values. We also partnered with initiatives like Chiringuito de Dios, saved and reused décor items for over a decade, and consciously promoted caterers and venues whose values align with our own.

When it comes to aesthetics, we’re always balancing beauty with responsibility. That means:

Choosing local flowers over imports when possible
Using borrowed candles, greenery, and recycled vases
Suggesting natural wax candles (beeswax, soy)
Recommending small, local favour suppliers over mass online retailers

We include a “best practices list” in our shared decoration document — giving our couples practical, creative ideas that align with their style and values.

Table setup by GAU Catering, and our couple Roberta & Hurgo, from their wedding - photos by Andrea Ferrara

Challenges We’re Still Tackling

No sustainability journey is perfect, and there are things we’re still figuring out. Seasonality is a challenge, with many couples seeking sunny months, which can complicate leftover food management and availability of eco-friendly materials. Some items — like bamboo disposables — are still significantly more expensive than plastic. And we’ve yet to find an affordable local company offering fabric flower rentals, which would be a dream!

But that’s what makes the Biosphere Certification so valuable — it pushes us to keep asking questions, finding new collaborators, and improving step by step.

*Petra and Jordi with couple Neville & Kenny - Photo by* *MujeryMarido*

We don’t claim to have all the answers — but we do know that change starts with intention. We hope that by sharing what we’ve learned and where we’re going, we can inspire other planners and couples alike. The wedding industry has incredible potential to do better for the planet, and we’re excited to be part of that movement.

Sustainability isn't a limitation — it's an invitation to celebrate with more meaning, more connection, and more care.