A Taiwanese couple decked out in a tux and gown embrace in front of a mountain of trash in an unorthodox wedding photo — one the environment-conscious bride hopes will discourage her guests from generating unnecesary garbage.

Greenpeace campaigner Iris Hsueh and her fiance are having their "environmentally friendly wedding" in January, and have asked guests to bring their own containers for taking home leftovers.

Deciding that showing — not telling — was a more effective communication method, the Taipei-based couple travelled three hours south for a photo shoot in Nantou county's Puli township, where the amount of trash brought to a local dump has steadily risen over the years.

"If any guests are not willing to bring along a container, I would show them the photograph and say, 'Would you reconsider?'" the 33-year-old told AFP, adding that the photos ended up drawing local media attention.

"I didn't think it would create such a big sensation."

Since their photos went viral, Hsueh said her friends and relatives had promised to rethink how much waste they created in their daily lives.

But she is just happy about the conversation her photos have started.

"If possible, we should bring our own reusable utensils, mugs and containers.