In celebration of Earth Day 2023, we’re excited to recognise and encourage the wonderful ways the wedding industry can contribute to the preservation of our planet! Check out the efforts of our Sustainability Heroes. These suppliers are going the extra mile to incorporate eco-friendly practices into their businesses to reduce their environmental impact and make your wedding day as sustainable as possible. Read on to learn all about their ethos and approach to sustainability.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
Sustainability is integral to The Wilderness. My parents have owned the farm for more than 40 years and we have a passion for nature and sustainability. Sustainable practices are in our roots. We want to promote wildlife and conserve all the incredible species we have and the landscape we enjoy.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
- We have been running a re-wilding and re-generation programme in the Stour Valley for more than 25 years to encourage rare breeds of birds.
- We ask that all guests are bought to the farm and taken home on a shared bus to minimise vehicle movements to reduce impact on the land.
- We have a leave no-trace policy and are extremely sensitive to how we recycle all waste. We do not use single-use plastics and try to use locally sourced ingredients and suppliers.
- We have off-grid glamping to minimise our power consumption.
- We keep noise in certain areas to a minimum to protect nesting birds.
- We are set on a 200-acre peatland marsh, which is very important as it acts as a natural carbon sink, capturing harmful C02 from the atmosphere. We do not use as pesticides or chemicals on the land and the grass can only be at specific times of year, to allow the nesting birds to rear their young and to allow wildflowers to grow (promoting insects and pollination).
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
We have been protecting the landscape for more than 25 years. We are very proud of our programme and last year saw the return of beavers to the area for the first time.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Running events while always ensuring the environment comes first. I.e. minimising our impact by transporting everyone on a large bus and making sure we are extremely sensitive to the landscape. At certain times of year the water meadows are flooded and this is to encourage certain birds to come and breed. This can be a challenge but we work with the seasons and nature comes first.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Listen and observe and think about the longer term impact. People will embrace it.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Think about what is really important to you. Instead of receiving a wedding gift, perhaps ask your guests to give some money to a charity to plant trees.
- Instead of having a traditional wedding favour, perhaps give your guests some wildflower seeds to plant, or give them something you have bought second-hand.
- Think about waste: everything you buy will have a waste implication. Perhaps buy a second-hand wedding dress or upcycle a wedding dress?
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
Sustainability is important for us as it helps to reduce the impact that our actions have on the environment. Weddings can often generate a significant amount of waste and by adopting sustainable practices, wedding businesses can help to minimise their negative impact on the environment and promote social responsibility.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
- Our heating is provided by a sustainable biomass boiler. We have solar panels for our electricity and we have our own bore hole for water. We can at times run fully off-grid!
- We have planted over 50,000 trees on the organic farm to provide future biomass energy and undertake tree regeneration, and 1 acre of wildflowers out the front for bees and wildlife.
- We take flowers left over from weddings to local care homes to be enjoyed for a few more days.
- The barn was built using oak grown from the farm where possible.
- All our waste is recycled using MCS Waste Management company that specialises in waste recycling.
- All produce is sourced within our local area.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
We are most proud of delivering the leftover flowers to care homes!
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Retro-fitting a biomass boiler!
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Start with the small easy wins and work up from there. For example, swapping the bin company to a more sustainable one was easy for us.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Source from local area to reduce packaging.
- Use rustic tables so that no linen is needed (cleaning linen requires large amounts of energy).
- Pick a caterer that sources locally grown food.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
The events industry contributes widely to climate change, so it has been our mission to reduce our carbon footprint for many years, giving future couples the opportunity to do the same with their wedding. We recently were accredited with a Silver ECO smart venue award.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
500 solar panels, a wildflower meadow, beehives, upcycled buildings and furniture.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
Planting 12,000 trees and saving enough carbon to equate to a further more 10,000 planted.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Reducing the carbon footprint of weddings.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Sign up to Greengage for support on your journey and in creating a roadmap to a greener future.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Pick a sustainably-accredited venue.
- Always use local suppliers where possible.
- Go preloved on bridal wear and grooms wear.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
As a woodland venue, sustainability is one of the most important things we think about when organising our weddings. We have a few ways we keep things green and lower our carbon footprint. From using only Biodegradable confetti, using local suppliers, to having reusable venue dressing included!
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
Some of our standout earth-friendly features include: using only biodegradable confetti; using local supplier lists; decoration from our woodland; sourcing caterers who offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan options; ale from a local brewery; recycling all of our waste; having reusable venue dressing included in our package; and having public transport within walking distance!
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
That would be using and recycling decorations from our very own woodland!
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Our firework displays. After trying many, different ways of trying to keep the carbon footprint low, we finally decided to swap them for a laser/light show! Alongside being more sustainable for the planet, the change is a lot kinder and safer for the local wildlife.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Use resources you have to hand, listen to you customer’s feedback, support your local businesses.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Book local suppliers.
- Use biodegradable confetti.
- Use sustainable decorations (e.g. using wooden table pieces that people can take home as a memento or making sure that something like your guestbook is able to be used as a decoration in your home rather than stored away, not to be seen until years later!)
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
At Dressarte we’re committed to reducing the waste caused by the fashion industry by creating custom-made wedding attire from luxurious upcycled, recycled and eco-friendly fabrics. Over the years we built our own supply chain, sourcing luxurious surplus fabrics directly from mills, and deadstock fabrics from Italian and French fashion houses. Custom-made production means no stock, no over production, no waste. Our priority is to offer natural fabrics that are biodegradable and have benefits for health and environment. We work with experienced tailors, dressmakers and small ateliers who work on clothes production for our clients. Our service is even more responsible as the supply chain is better optimised and more efficient, with a low carbon footprint.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
Eco-friendly fabrics, zero waste design, 3D design and visualisation (reduces number of prototypes).
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
We managed to make luxurious surplus fabrics more accessible to brides around the world.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Building our own supply chain to source luxurious surplus fabrics.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Take it slow and implement initiatives step by step.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Choose quality over quantity.
- Mark your priorities and find eco-friendly alternatives if possible.
- Be open-minded and do not hesitate to DIY and ask friends to help.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
Wedding dresses are typically the most expensive dress you will ever buy and are predominantly purchased for one time use. The fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world and by the very nature of the wedding industry, we contribute to that. A wedding dress is at the very centre of our industry. It is the signature piece and if we can prolong the life of those dresses, if the option is there, for it to be loved again, then we have a responsibility to prolong the life of that dress.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
When you purchase from Love It Again Bridal, you save a dress and other occasion wear from landfill, not just once but twice. Any item you receive from us will use packaging that has been reused and, in most cases, originally made from recycled materials. We use couriers with sustainable policies, committing to green cities and all electric fleets. All of our business equipment is preloved, where it is practical and safe to do so. We work with local suppliers, who also have sustainable practices, to ensure that our styled shoots and other projects, are as sustainable as possible.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
“Refresh the Dress Project”. We have taken one of our dresses, which is simple in style and design and are collaborating with a local seamstress, to transform the dress in to something more spectacular, using only existing and preloved materials. We are documenting the process, to transform the dress and hope to reveal it at a fashion show at a local wedding fayre in September.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Saving a dress with tomato soup, champagne, sweat, mud, grass and fake tan stains. We thought there was no way we could save it but persevered and have a dress worthy of being loved again!
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Choose wisely!
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Preloved wedding dress and other attire
- Use local and ethical suppliers
- Don’t be afraid to be green!
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
Sustainability is important to my business because it allows me to create memorable experiences while minimising my environmental impact. Furthermore, by incorporating eco-friendly practices, I contribute to a healthier planet for future generations and meet environmentally-conscious couples’ growing demand for sustainable options.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
I have transitioned to conducting Zoom consultations instead of meeting clients in person. This switch not only allows for a more flexible scheduling process, but also significantly reduces carbon emissions by eliminating the need for travel. I also prioritise the delivery of digital files in order to save the materials used in physical prints.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
I run a 100% paperless office, meaning all correspondence with clients, including contracts and questionnaires, is completed and returned electronically. Thereby eliminating the need for unnecessary printing and significantly reducing waste.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Transitioning to a paperless workflow. Initially, I faced resistance from some clients and vendors accustomed to traditional printed materials. However, through persistent efforts to raise awareness about the environmental benefits of going paperless, I successfully made the shift. I now utilise digital contracts, invoices, and photo delivery systems, which has reduced my ecological footprint and improved my overall efficiency and client satisfaction.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Embrace digital solutions: transition to paperless systems for contracts, invoices, and communication. Utilise digital platforms for sharing information with clients and employees, and consider offering virtual consultations to reduce carbon emissions from travel.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Opt for a location that already has eco-friendly practices in place, such as energy-efficient lighting, recycling programs, and responsible waste management.
- Prioritise working with vendors who share your values and incorporate sustainable practices into their businesses. This can include sourcing locally grown, organic food.
- Choose eco-friendly wedding favours, such as seed packets or small potted plants, that your guests can enjoy while also benefiting the environment.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
It’s really important to me that my work only spreads good vibes, so of course damaging the planet is out! In 2020 I started tracking and offsetting my personal and business carbon emissions, and along with growing my own little ‘forest’ I’ve continued to take steps to reduce my impact – eating a plant-based diet, cutting out fast fashion, and switching to reusables.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
I offset my business carbon emissions through Ecologi, and plant 25 trees in my Ecologi forest for every wedding booked with me. My couples get a link to the trees planted in their names, and can track the impact they have as they grow.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
The wedding albums I offer are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, using gorgeous eco-leather, inks, binding and glues. My kit bags are vegan leather and I’ve built up a list of other vegan wedding suppliers too. My wedding contracts and regular client contact is paperless and I offer video chats as an alternative to travel for meetings. Shooting weddings obviously involves a lot of necessary travelling and to tackle that I track and offset my carbon emissions through Ecologi. As of April we’ve planted almost 1500 trees, supporting reforestation in Mozambique and Kenya, planting forest gardens in Uganda and saving Moroccan fruit tree species.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Realising and researching ways to counteract my environmental impact. Ensuring that I use a reputable company to offset emissions.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Seek out and collaborate with other businesses with similar priorities, share initiatives and continue to speak out about what you’re doing.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Look into local sustainable suppliers and ask about how they work to reduce impact.
- Think about hiring rather than buying decor and having edible, recyclable or plantable favours, for example flower bombs or details of a donation made on your behalf written on seed paper.
- Speak to your venue about food options, are they locally sourced, plant-based etc.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
I feel passionately about sustainability and it’s been a cornerstone of my business since its inception to work hard to care for the planet in a lot of daily small ways in my little corner of the world.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
I use organic and ethically sourced ingredients and plastic-free products throughout my business. I work hard to ensure traceability in all the ingredients I use to ensure they are ethical down to the source.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
Investing in an electric car which is powered by green energy, to ensure all my wedding deliveries are green and good for the planet.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Ensuring traceability of all my ingredients in an area of the food industry that is notoriously poor in terms of slavery and welfare. I now source many of my products directly such as vanilla bean pods from Native Vanilla to ensure traceability and handmake all vanilla bean paste in house.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Do your research on where your products come from and where possible use small UK-based companies to help bring down your carbon footprint and help your local business community.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Look out for suppliers who talk visibly about their sustainability.
- Try to work with local or UK-based suppliers and ask the question. We’re usually very excited to be able to discuss our sustainable initiatives with couples.
- In terms of cakes – if you’re serving dessert as well drop your numbers by 20% – a lot of guests won’t eat both and it will save you money and wastage!
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
We have always looked to our plates and consumables to be compostable – and compostable in a reasonable timeframe. We settled on palm leaf tableware early on and have added bagasse into the mix as new suitable products have arrived on the market.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
From the re-purposed horsebox down to the non-bleached napkins and calculating food miles, we always look to make the eco-conscious choices without compromising on flavour or customer experience. Our plates and consumables are plastic-free and compostable, and we have been committed to zero plastic and great taste since 2016.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
Choosing a rusty old horsebox to create our business around.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
We ensure that the wood we source for the pizza oven is locally sourced and wholly a bi-product of the local arboreal maintenance programs.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Look closely at your consumables and check for greener alternatives. The industry has come a long way and there are greater opportunities to choose eco-conscious products than ever before.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Choose a venue with easy access to public transport.
- Consider offsetting your event with a donation to tree planting.
- Look for caterers who source local produce and have an eco-conscious outlook.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
Sustainability should be a priority for all businesses nowadays. A lot of people automatically believe that floristry is natural and good for the environment because we work with natural materials. Unfortunately this just isn’t true! A lot of flowers are imported from abroad and are grown in heated glass houses and some are sprayed with harmful pesticides.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
I try as much as possible to work with seasonal flowers that are grown outside and sourced from reputable suppliers. I also have close links with local, organic British flower growers, where I source the majority of my flowers from during the summer. I am very passionate about reusing and recycling as much as possible so I try to avoid single-use plastic and floral foam in my designs, instead opting for designs in water supported by chicken wire or moss.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
I am particularly proud of the close relationship I have forged with my local grower.We regularly work together on weddings and events and have created a powerful symbiotic relationship. I have also recently started teaching at my local college and have adjusted the curriculum to include sustainable floristry techniques. Sharing my knowledge and passion for eco friendly floristry with other budding florists is something I am very proud of.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
It isn’t always easy to not use floral foam. It is such a convenient invention. Unfortunately it is full of microplastic and never biodegrades. Making the break from foam means I have to explore other options and be a bit of a problem solver. Sometimes designs take longer to make and I have to test my mechanics to make sure the flowers last. It is worth the effort though. Flowers arranged without foam look more free form and natural, and not using foam is much better for the planet!
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Do your research to find out about latest advances in your industry. Talk to fellow businesses to find out what sustainable practises they have in place. Experiment and test out green alternatives for yourself and share the results. Being more sustainable and eco-friendly benefits everyone.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Opt for seasonal or locally grown flowers
- Gift your arrangements to your guests after the wedding so they can be enjoyed for longer
- Choose designs that can be repurposed for both your ceremony and reception so you get value for money and enjoy the flowers all day.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
I grew up by the sea and take a lot of my inspiration from nature, so it feels only right that I work to protect what inspires me so much. I like to make sustainability accessible to my couples: it doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile doing.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
I operate plastic-free, and will wherever possible source recyclable, biodegradable or plant-based materials for people’s wedding stationery. I also run charitable initiatives across the year to raise funds for good causes nominated by my couples, and am a corporate sponsor of Surfers Against Sewage, who have been working since 1990 to protect our coastlines.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
Definitely my work supporting good causes. Sustainability goes beyond being environmentally-friendly, and in 2022 I raised £346 for good causes through initiatives like my charity map illustration and corporate sponsorships.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
Finding ways to pack my orders that protects them from damage without using plastic or other single-use materials. I use unbranded packaging that is easy to reuse or recycle, and replaced bubble wrap with wood wool which is compostable. As a paper-goods based business I feel that I have an extra responsibility to offset the impact of that on the environment.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Start small: whatever you can do will make an impact. It doesn’t need to be a huge change or something that’s going to be difficult to manage.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Ask your suppliers what environmentally-friendly alternatives they recommend – they’ll have great ideas.
- For stationery, avoid single-use acrylic and opt for things like natural fibre, plant-dyed ribbons, or recycled/plantable card.
- Anything you can swap or reduce will make a difference. You don’t have to compromise on everything you love and want.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
My concern is for future generations and our planet. Animals especially are suffering as a result of human disruption. I’ve always been cruelty free in my personal life so it was an obvious choice to continue this ethical stance within my business. It has naturally progressed to include sustainability too. The wedding industry is responsible for so much waste, from food to single-use plastic products. I wanted to be a part of helping to reduce this moving forward.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
I’m cruelty-free and proud. I use organic skincare products which are certified with the Soil Association. I recycle empty cosmetics using in-store/brand recycle schemes. I also only use bamboo disposables, organic cotton and reusable wipes/pads where I can too.
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
Choosing brands certified with the Soil Association and Leaping Bunny and ensuring that I recycle wherever I can. Actively sourcing sustainable products and equipment within my business.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
COVID!!! Single-use aprons, masks and visors were a huge challenge as well as having to use throwaway cotton pads again, but I opted for reusable bamboo wipes that were boiled and disinfected, and where I needed to use disposable wipes, I chose organic cotton or recycled bamboo ones. I had washable aprons made and got a pair of goggles that were reusable and could be cleaned down after use for each client instead.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
Choose you brands wisely. Do the research and don’t be afraid to ask questions to these brands. Start simple, recycle and reuse where you can.
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Do your research and ask questions.
- Source local suppliers/produce/products.
- Hire or rent items rather than buy.
Why is sustainability important to you as a wedding business?
Engagement rings, wedding bands and commitment rings are deeply sentimental pieces of jewellery, heavily loaded with emotion. To us, the idea that jewellery so symbolic could be mired in a history of exploitation and destruction is just unthinkable.
What are your standout earth-friendly features?
Our default offering of recycled platinum and gold and our collection of reclaimed diamonds and sapphires afford our clients the opportunity to create brand new pieces of jewellery without the use of any new materials whatsoever. The new materials we work with are largely extracted on a small artisanal scale, with environmental impact taken into consideration. We use recycled or FSC certified papers in all marketing materials and packaging, segregate waste for recycling, power our office with Good Energy-supplied green energy, ensure our NEST pensions are only being invested in environmentally-friendly causes, and are working closely with an environmental sustainability specialist to measure our CO2 emissions. Our manufacturing takes place in Hatton Garden, London, where jewellery is transported from A to B on foot – that’s some seriously low mileage!
Proudest sustainability initiative you’ve undertaken?
We’re really proud to fulfil our promise of planting 10 new trees for every piece of jewellery we sell in partnership with One Tree Planted. We have also gained our ‘Created in the UK’ certification, on account of 100% of our jewellery being produced locally.
Greatest sustainability challenge you’ve overcome?
The harsh reality for jewellers who wish to create sustainable pieces is that ethics still significantly limit material and manufacturing options. Whilst the trade has progressed since we first started our journey, our palette is still far more limited than if we were to produce jewels en masse, using industry-standard materials. It’s not just the processes of sourcing and creating that are challenging for ethical jewellers like us, but the costs incurred. Ethically-sourced materials and sustainable manufacturing techniques are simply more expensive to commission.
Top tips for other aspiring green wedding businesses?
If you are to carve yourself a long-term place in the field of ethical weddings, it’s crucial that you are not just unique, but authentic. Take some time to sit down and really consider what it is that makes you unparalleled. Ask yourself these three simple questions. Once you’ve found the answers to these questions – and you believe in them – you are unstoppable.
- What’s your innovation?
- Why do you care about pursuing this?
- What makes your work stand head and shoulders above everyone else?
What would be your 3 top tips for couples planning a green wedding?
- Rent whatever you can. Single-use products are the bane of planet Earth, so when shopping for decor, equipment or clothing for your wedding, seek out rental websites instead of buying new. Loaning high-end products is also a great way to upgrade your wedding without the price tags.
- Think ‘seasonal and local’ at all times. From your wedding flowers to your table decorations and wedding breakfast, you can minimise your environmental impact – and support some independent businesses in the process – by foraging and shopping locally.
- Grill your wedding jeweller. Any jewellery brand who works hard to minimise its environmental impact, maximise its positive socioeconomic output and maintain transparent supply chains will be proud to shout about it. Take some time to research the importance of ethical metals, diamonds and gemstones and define what ‘ethical’ means to you personally.
From earth-friendly venues and bouquets to eco-conscious photographers and caterers, there are so many ways to make your wedding greener. We hope our incredible Sustainability Heroes, with their stories and expert advice, will inspire you to think about the positive steps you can take – even small-scale, individual changes can have a mighty impact collectively.
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Happy Planning!
