HOT TOPIC: SUSTAINABILITY This issue we asked our experts to tell us how to plan a wedding sustainably SNAP HAPPY Emily Brown from Emily Brown Photography (www.emilybrown.photography) says: My brand and its ethos are based on my personal passions for sustainability and an overall respect for the natural world. You may not think there’s too much a wedding photographer can do to help you achieve a sustainable wedding, but there’s actually quite a bit. In 2022, I was accepted as a member of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance. Here are some of the ways in which I strive to work in an eco-friendly way. It’s about making small changes that mount up to make a big difference. • We use a green energy supplier, but all energy used is generated from solar panels. To be certain, all charging and electronic use is traced using smart plugs. • All batteries are rechargeable and any office waste is recycled or repurposed. • We have invested in an electric vehicle, with the intention of retiring my petrol car entirely. • To combat any unavoidable carbon emissions and mileage, I’m partnered with TreeSisters, who plant trees in areas of deforestation. I donate a non-negotiable amount monthly, equating to the planting of 800 trees per year. • All contracts are sent electronically. • All newlyweds are given a plantable card, embedded with wildflower seeds, as a thank you for booking and a donation is made to TreeSisters on their behalf following every marriage I photograph. • I offer a range of sustainable products, enabling my clients to showcase and treasure their memories without harming the environment. • Wedding albums and prints are crafted using only sustainablysourced/recycled materials, and all USBs have been replaced with handcrafted wooden print boxes made in Cheshire. • My website is running on green energy and I track the amount of carbon that is produced when visitors click on the site via www.websitecarbon.com www.emilybrown.photography REUSE AND RECYCLE Evie West from The Country Blush (www.thecountryblush.co.uk) says: If you’d like to make your wedding as sustainable as possible, I’d start by thinking carefully about the suppliers you choose to use. Make sure you select a venue and other professionals who are striving to be as eco-conscious as you and who are local to where you’re getting married. When creating your menu, your caterers should use foods that are in season and use local produce wherever they can, to reduce the impact on the environment. When styling your big day, hire as much as you can and choose things with a dual purpose; for example, doubling up favours with place names. Who doesn’t love a little gift personalised with their own name? Dried flowers are also a great alternative to fresh, and you can repurpose them to use them around your home or gift to your family and friends after the wedding. What you choose to wear can strike another green note, as you can purchase pre-loved gowns and outfits, or hire them. There are some great suppliers who even rent out bridesmaids’ dresses. LET YOUR LOVE GROW Kate Mitchell, also known as Celebrant Kate (http://celebrantkate.co.uk) says: Here are my top tips for planning a sustainable wedding day: •Look for photographers who use water-based ink and are carbon neutral. You can’t tell the difference in the quality of their printed photographs, but the planet feels the benefit. •Use recyclable or plantable invitations, place settings and menus. Give your guests the opportunity to have a permanent reminder of your wonderful day in some flower seed-infused paper, which will bring them pleasure in the months to come. •Choose an eco-aware supplier and ask questions. For example, I use ribbons that were once plastic bottles, compostable and plantable paper for scrolls and certificates, and donate two trees in the couples’ names for each wedding I undertake, in a woodland they can visit together. •Wedding favours are often left behind, so be sensible when making choices. Edible options are always popular, so your favourite sweets with a custom label is a great idea, or go for the traditional five sugared almonds in a reusable bag. Another option is a wooden gift – a wooden pen bearing your wedding date makes a gorgeous treat. EXPERT ADVICE 73
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