GREENFINGERS Bryony Torney from Bryony Mae Flowers (www.bryonymaeflowers.co.uk) says: There are a few simple ways to make your florals more eco-friendly, while ensuring you still celebrate your day in style. •Do your research or ask your florist what flowers are in season for your wedding date. If it’s in season, it’s likely to grow naturally at this time of year thus requiring less energy and heat to produce. I’m lucky to be based near a number of wonderful flower farms in Sussex and I’m frequently amazed by the variety and beauty of what they grow. •Reuse and repurpose. The registrar table arrangement can become the top table flowers, while milk churns can magically move around your venue. You could also use your centrepieces to line the aisle. And do ask your florist about hiring vases for your bouquets. •Floral foam is a single-use toxic micro plastic. It takes a long time to break down and as it does so any particles that enter the water system cause further harm to the environment. There are many alternative techniques available and a good florist will be clued up as to ways to make your ideas a reality without using floral foam. Pssst... For more eco-friendly ideas from Byony check out her blog at www.bryonymaeflowers.co.uk/blog/7-ways-to-make-yourwedding-flowers-more-eco-friendly-and-sustainable A RECIPE FOR SUSTAINABILITY Emily Fitter from Emily’s Mixing Bowl (https://emilysmixingbowl.co.uk) says: Choose an eco-friendly topper. Look for something that can either be saved and re-used as a keepsake or a wooden laser cut topper. Or ask a relative or friend if they have a vintage topper that you can use as your something old. If you’re having edible favours consider the packaging they come in – is it single-use plastic or can the item just be placed on guests’ settings without packaging? Compostable cellulose bags are now available and are great for biscuits, which can also double up as place names. Ask your cake maker to use food grade bamboo dowels instead of plastic. These are a more eco-friendly option, as opposed to plastic straws, which will barely see the light of day before being destined for the bin. However, don’t leave them out or your cake will collapse! Reduce waste by having a cake that’s the correct size for your guest numbers, if you dream of a five-tier cake but aren’t having a huge wedding, consider buying some eco-friendly card take home boxes. Another great way to ensure it all gets eaten is to use it as dessert; ask your caterer to serve a slice with berries and cream, saving you money and reducing waste. CAREFUL THOUGHT AND PLANNING Jude Hesselgrave from Wickerwood Farm (www.wickerwoodfarm.com) says: Although it’s impossible for weddings to be 100% sustainable, there are a number of ways you can plan for your wedding to be sustainably conscious with just a little forward thinking. Consider creating a wedding website, this is a great way of cutting back on the use of paper. However, if you’re considering a stationer for your invitations, there are many out there who produce wedding stationery sustainably, some use what’s called ‘rag paper’ a technique of creating paper using used cotton garments. Check the venue you’re considering has a waste recycling system in place, imagine all the waste from each wedding going into landfill when with just a little thought much of it could be recycled. One thing I often say is choose your suppliers carefully. Using a caterer who’s conscious of where their produce comes from and a florist who sources blooms from local flower farms rather than from wholesalers helps to keep your carbon footprint down. These are just a few ways of consciously planning your wedding with our planet in mind. If you’d like to find out more about sustainable wedding at Wickerwood Farm click check out https://www.wickerwoodfarm.com/post/sustainability-is-at-the-heartof-what-we-do-here-at-wickerwood-farm www.sarahcarmody.uk www.paulfletcherphotography.co.uk 62
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