ECO Wedding: opt for being eco friendly bride

ECOWEDDING

Some great tips and ideas on how to hold a socially concious wedding

In our previous articles, we've discussed the benefits of team building and wedding planners but we haven’t talked about something that is incredibly close to our hearts. Our planet.
Sustainability and protecting the environment is becoming increasingly important. We’ve all heard the slogan, ‘There is no Planet B’ and luckily, we’re living in a world that is starting to open its eyes and see the damage we’re causing. We shouldn’t take life for granted, we’ve been given a gift, therefore why are we not cherishing it like we do our soon-to-be-spouse? Show everyone your commitment to your partner and your planet by getting married in an environmentally and sustainable way. A double wedding if you must!

#LOCATION: We all know that airplane and car emissions are among some of the top contributors to environmental damage, but at the same time you don’t want to restrict yourself on where you can have your wedding. We want to say that you should get married wherever you want but think carefully about your guests and try and determine which requires the fewest journeys, whether it be by car or plane. Suggest to your guests they carpool, this will help cut down on petrol and could also be a good opportunity for those guests who don’t know each other, to make new friendships along the way.

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#ECOFRIENDLYDECOR. Advances in science and technology has made eco-friendly finds more obtainable than ever. There’s a whole host of biodegradable materials and reusable décor that can help your wedding be waste-free. But unfortunately, some wedding trends have a bigger impact than others. As much as we love them, balloons and sky lanterns can be quite harmful to the environment. Deflated balloons are ingested by sea birds (they mistake them for squid or jellyfish) and sky lanterns are a significant fire hazard plus the wire frames can strangle and maim animals and livestock. For an eco-friendlier wedding, beeswax, soy or vegetable oil candles are super romantic and soothing and can really set the ambience of your wedding. Focus on items you can reuse in your home after the wedding. Scour flea markets for forgotten treasures like glassware, books, or vintage candlesticks. If you want sparkle on your day, consider biodegradable glitter and confetti. Get crafty and create bunting, macramé and ribbons from sustainable fabrics. And if money is a concern, consider using companies from which you can hire items such as table and glassware.

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#FLOWERPOWER: It’s a well-known tradition that the bride carries a bouquet of flowers and wedding venues are adorned with impressive floral arrangements. If you’re as obsessed with plants and flowers as much as we are, then flowers are a must at any wedding. However not all flowers are organic and most of them have been flown or shipped in from far away. Remember those carbon emissions! But don’t panic. Depending on the time of year you choose to get married, you can source locally-grown plants and flowers. Like the food, seasonal and local flowers guarantee you the freshest, best quality stems at the best price. In order to reduce waste further, you can use living plants as decoration. Potted herbs or greenery plants can be used as centrepieces. The herbs are a nice touch if used as table decoration because guests can use them to garnish their food. After the event, they can be presented to guests as favours which they can take home and replant. If you’re not keen on having flowers at the wedding, what about a bouquet beautifully crafted from farmer's market fruits and vegetables? Perfect if you’re always hungry and get a little peckish on your way down the aisle.

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#FOODGLORIOUSFOOD. This has to be one of the easiest ways to source environmental and sustainable products for your wedding. Locally-grown products will help keep general costs down and guarantee the freshest and tastiest ingredients. It also means less time in the fridge, less plastic packaging and lower fuel emissions. If you opt to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables, you really can’t go wrong. You may also want to consider offering a vegan or vegetarian menu, as this alone would reduce the environmental impact in any meal presented at your wedding. However, we appreciate that this may not be received happily by all your guests so aim for a menu that's 50% vegetarian. And a wedding wouldn’t be a complete without alcohol. Barcelona has no shortage of local wineries, distilleries and breweries so this is another great way to reduce your carbon footprint.

#PRELOVED. Choosing the wedding dress is a huge deal for many brides and sourcing the perfect one takes time. When selecting your dress, consider and support designers who work hard to ensure fair conditions for their garment workers. Source organic and sustainable fabrics from suppliers who have the same ethos as the designers. Also, think about the longevity of the dress. Can you design something that you will be able to alter and wear after the wedding? Any great designer will be able to help you design a dress that you will love and wear again and again. If buying new doesn’t appeal to you, a vintage or second-hand dress is a good option. And after the wedding, maybe you want to consider recycling or donating your dress after you wear it.

#RAZZLEJAZZLE. Jewellery is another great opportunity to make ethical choices. Shop vintage or look for designers who work with sustainable manufacturing companies and source conflict-free stones. Adorn your outfit with a beautiful brooch bouquet. This is a perfect bouquet alternative if flowers, plants and fruits and vegetables are definitely not your thing. For extra bonus wedding points, gift your guests with one after the wedding as a thank you gift.

#CRUELTYFREEBEAUTY. People may claim that Meghan Markle sparked the minimalist bridal makeup trend, but we don’t agree. Minimalist make up is simple, classic, and works for everyone. Source make-up artists and hairstylists that use cruelty-free, zero-waste or locally-produced products. If you have a make-up artists or hairstylists already in mind, ask if they would be willing to use cruelty free alternatives for your big day.

#SAVETHEDATE. Millions of trees are cut down every year to make paper products, and the process involved of creating paper pollutes the environment. There is a big movement towards being paperless and you can continue this by directing guests to your very own wedding website. If you like the idea of inviting your guests through traditional postal methods, opt for stationary that is printed on recycled paper, this includes Save-the-dates, menus and thank-you cards.

#THEGIFTOFGIVING. If you are opting to have a gift registry, and why wouldn’t you… who doesn’t love receiving gifts? There's now an eco-friendly option for this. When selecting items consider organic bedding, tablecloths, towels and tea-towels, even cloth shopping bags. Request items you can use outdoors like bamboo plates, coffee cups or metal water bottles. If making a registry with a big department store, pay close attention to where items are made and what materials are sourced or instead of choosing a big department store for your registry, find local, independent businesses that support companies that are doing good. Talk to the owners and see if you can create a registry. And if you are forgoing a traditional registry altogether, ask guests for a charitable donation to an environmental charity, register part of your honeymoon in lieu of traditional gifts, or encourage your guests to plant a tree with seed wedding favours. And if you are presenting your guests with favours, give them something they can enjoy after the wedding. We’ve talked about potted plants and brooches, but maybe your guests love to eat and drink. Consider coffee beans, cocoa powders, jams, teas, chocolates, sweets or little bottles of alcohol, all sourced ethically and locally. And if you’re still wondering what to do with those flower arrangements, consider donating them to a local hospital. Be creative and your guests are guaranteed to love you for it.

And there you have it. Just a few ideas on how to hold an environmentally and socially conscious wedding. Not only will you be helping to save the planet, but you will also be educating your guests on how these alternatives can be applied in their everyday lives.