HOT TOPIC: SUSTAINABILITY This issue we asked our experts to tell us how to plan a wedding sustainably GOING LOCAL Jo Cranston from Queen & Whippet (www.queenandwhippet.com) says: My advice is to make sustainability a part of your conversation with potential caterers from your first contact and don’t be shy to ask specific questions. Those, like us, with a strong sustainability policy will be able to tell you how they’ll reduce the environmental impact of your wedding food. Ensure that they’ll be using local produce and that their menus take seasonality into account. Consider a higher proportion of plant-based dishes and ask how any meat or fish is sourced. Salmon is a traditional wedding menu ingredient, but you won’t find it on any of our menus due to sustainability issues. Trout is even more versatile and delicious, and is certified with the MSC blue tick. A good question to ask is how many of your caterer’s dishes are made from scratch. We don’t buy in anything pre-made, so we have much more control over using local ingredients. Ask your caterer’s advice on creating a waste strategy for your event and find out how they’ll take responsibility for the food waste. What can be reused, recycled or composted? At Queen & Whippet we minimise food waste by creating dishes from what might otherwise be discarded, such as our fish skin crackling canapés. Also, bear in mind that no modern caterer should be using disposable plastic serviceware, so if you’re having a buffet or evening food, ask about their compostable or reusable options. GREEN FINGERS Imogen Stuckes, founder of sustainable wedding florist Flowers by Imogen (www.flowersbyimogen.com) says: Sourcing your wedding flowers locally can be a brilliant way to be more sustainable on your big day. Ask your florist if they could possibly buy blooms from local flower farms, or at least be British grown. Ninety per cent of flowers in the UK are imported, flown over from as far afield as South America, and who knows if they’re ethically grown, so it’s always best to go local. At Flowers by Imogen, I use all British Flowers, including many we’ve grown in our very own cutting garden in Somerset. If you wanted to look into sourcing the flowers yourself, you can usually pick up buckets from your local flower farm. Look on www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk to find your nearest one. They usually grow artisanal blooms, which will make your wedding flowers bespoke and special. They’re also often grown organically, using sustainable methods; plus you’d be supporting a local, small-scale business. It’s also a good idea to check that your florist uses sustainable mechanics, and works foam-free. Floral foam is a method of keeping flowers fresh, but it’s made from toxic chemicals including formaldehyde. 57 EXPERT ADVICE www.evokepictures.com REUSE AND RECYLE Your Bristol & Somerset Wedding’s editor, Kelly Andrews, says: A good tip when it comes to planning a sustainable wedding day is to keep everything as local as possible. This cuts down on your wedding’s carbon footprint given suppliers have fewer miles to travel. There are plenty of areas of your big day that you might not dream could have an eco-friendly angle, but even suppliers such as photographers can do their bit. Do your research and look for one that uses renewable energy sources, recyclable and recycled paper for their prints and eco-friendly inks. The biggest decision you can make is to choose a sustainable venue. Many will rightly boast their credentials on their websites, with a section devoted to their ethos, aims and actions. Check out www.berwicklodge.co.uk and www.royalcrescent.co.uk to name just a couple. Also, cut down on waste by gifting your guests edible wedding favours, something useable such as a natural soap bar, or even make a charitable donation on their behalves. Avoid trinkets that will most likely find their way to the bin when the big day is over. Finally, the best tip I can offer is always to hire, not buy. Even scouring charity shops for décor items leads to waste if you’re not going to reuse or resell. There are ample wedding prop hire companies and venue stylists across our wonderful region who have warehouses full of beautiful items ready and waiting to make your big day stunning, sustainably. So, get exploring!
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