Eco Weddings Cornwall
It's official: green is the new white. From British blooms to staycation honeymoons, follow Wed's ten steps to a stylish and sustainable celebration
The typical wedding is planned without much thought concerning the environment. We're talking oodles of travel, once-worn dresses and piles upon piles of presents. Not your bag? We've asked some wedding industry experts for their top tips on throwing an environmentally friendly wedding without compromising on style and fun. Whether you embrace each mantra, or pick the ones that work for you, go green for a coolly individual wedding minus the carbon conscience.
Kevern Photography
1. KEEP IT LOCAL
Getting hitched in a tropical paradise might sound good in theory - sunshine, cocktails and a guaranteed tan - but the environmental cost would far outweigh that for any serious eco-warrior. Air travel emissions alone now account for around 5% of total global warming. Ouch! Luckily we live in one of the most beautiful counties in the UK, so finding a dreamy local alternative should prove easy.
It pays to consider the location of your wedding vendors too and, again, the closer the better. As wedding planner Jenny Phipps from Jenny Wren Weddings and Events (jennywrenweddingsandevents.co.uk) told us: "Use local suppliers wherever possible; this not only saves on transport miles, it also supports the local economy." A win win situation!'
Cornish Tipi Weddings
2. CHOOSE BRITISH BLOOMS
From spring and summer through to autumn and winter, there is always a bounty of beautiful British flowers available. And not only is it better for the environment to pick seasonal, local flowers, it often works out cheaper too. "By choosing flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding, your florist will not need to outsource them, saving money and mileage," explains Jenny. "You could even consider home-grown arrangements." Got green fingers? Get sowing!
Emma Halliday from The Eden Project (edenproject.com) has a quirky plant suggestion: "Choose potted plants such as orchids or succulents for your table centrepieces. Once the wedding is over you can give them as thank you gifts to parents, bridesmaids or anyone who made your day complete."
Khalile Siddiqui
3. BOOK AN ECO VENUE
Booking a local venue is one thing, but booking a venue with impressive eco credentials is even better for carbon-conscious couples. So what should you look for? Emma advises asking your venue the following questions: "Do they have a recycling policy? Do they compost food waste? Do they harvest grey water?"
There's a wide choice of eco-conscious venues in Cornwall, such as Cornish Tipi Weddings (cornishtipiweddings.co.uk), Mount Pleasant Eco Park (mpecopark.co.uk), The Emerald (emeraldcornwall.co.uk) and, of course, the Eden Project (edenproject.com). Many other venues boast sustainability policies - be sure to check these before making a booking.
Eden Project (Jamie Bott)
4. MINIMISE TRAVEL
Opting for a local wedding is all well and good, but what if your families live hundreds of miles away? Minimise the environmental impact by suggesting public transport options.
If your guests are scattered across the country, Cornwall is conveniently accessed via coach and train routes. If a good number of them live in the same area, you could organise a private coach to transport them down together. And, if your family and friends aren't keen on the idea of public transport, you could always organise a car sharing scheme. Elle Winsor-Grime from Inspire Hire (inspire-hire.co.uk) has a very 2015 suggestion: "Set up a wedding website that includes a car sharing facility. Encourage your guests to pool their transport to cut your wedding's carbon footprint."
Travers and Brown
5. SEEK STYLISH SECONDS
It's easy to be swept away into the glorious, shiny world of weddings. But you don't need new things to have a beautiful wedding. Emma suggests choosing vintage rings or finding a jeweller who "uses recycled gold and fair labour gemstones." What's more, a number of local jewellers offer a service whereby old jewellery can be made into a new piece; whether it's the diamond from your granny's engagement ring or the pearls from your mum's bridal jewels, look to your family treasure trove for a sustainable and stylish 'something borrowed.'
Speaking of which, Bridget Scott from Blue Fizz Events (bluefizzevents.co.uk) outlines some options for brides open to the idea of a second hand dress: "Vintage shops have a wonderful choice of pre-loved gowns with a story all of their own. Also, charity shops have a wide selection of dresses and accessories that can be altered by a good seamstress to meet your needs." Try Days of Grace (daysofgracevintage.co.uk) or Little Jems (littlejemsjewellery.co.uk).
Not into second hand? "Bespoke dressmakers can create the dress of your dreams from vintage fabrics and some can source sustainable fabrics such as hemp silk," advises Bridget.
Jess Petrie
6. BAN 'STUFF'
Weddings, by nature, involve a lot of 'stuff'. Favours, gifts, decorations - the list can quickly get out of hand. Keep a lid on things by minimising the 'stuff' factor wherever possible. Jenny has a charitable suggestion: "Instead of giving a wedding favour to each guest, donate the money you would have spent on them to an environmental charity of your choice. Leave a message on each place setting letting your guests know you have done this." Alternatively, you might give useful, environmentally friendly favours. "Wildflower seeds in hand decorated packets for your guests to take away make a lovely gift," suggests Bridget.
As for yourselves, if you already have everything you need, why not ask your guests to make a donation to your charity of choice? Or you might request money towards a honeymoon fund. Proceed with caution, however, as you may offend the traditionalists amongst your guests.
As for the 'stuff' required for a wedding? Elle has a good tip: "Hire, don't buy. Don't go out and buy mass produced products from high street stores that you don't have a use for after the wedding. You can hire most items at a fraction of the cost."
Jess Petrie
7. REUSE, REPURPOSE, RECYCLE
Most of us wouldn't dream of skipping the recycling these days, so why not take it one step further and use recycled wedding stationery? Wedding planner Claudia Montano of Claudia Montano Weddings and Events (claudiamontano.co.uk) told us: "The quality of recycled invitations, menus and save the dates can be just as lovely as non-recycled. You can find some beautiful designs, and help to preserve the environment at the same time."
You can use the 'reuse, repurpose, recycle' attitude in all aspects of your wedding. Jenny has a great tip for making the most of leftovers: "Bring Tupperware to your wedding and ask your catering staff to package up any leftover evening buffet food. You could enjoy it at a picnic with your family the next day, or give it away to others."
Kirstin Prisk
8. EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY
Want to take your eco wedding stationery one step further? Ban it! It's 2015: there is no need to have physical wedding stationery.
We're not suggesting you bang out a quick memo in impersonal Arial size 10; you can still make your invites personal and beautifully designed. A quick Google search for 'email wedding invites' will give you dozens of supplier choices and plenty of inspiration.
If you're worried about older guests not receiving them, you could always send a few recycled paper invites as well.
Fleurtations (Kirstin Prisk)
9. THINK DETAILS
You've booked an eco wedding venue, your guests have agreed to travel by train and you've opted for a wedding feast of organic, locally sourced fare that would impress Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. But have you remembered your biodegradable confetti?
According to Claudia, it is the one thing that often slips the mind of even the greenest of brides. "Make sure your confetti is biodegradable! Some venues will only allow biodegradable confetti now. You can even be a little unique in your approach; think about releasing butterflies or getting your guests to blow bubbles - both of these make for amazing photographs." Contact Cornish Gardens Confetti Company (cornishgardensconfetticompany.co.uk) for real flower petal confetti grown in the Cornish countryside.
10. DON'T FORGET THE HONEYMOON!
For ultimate eco points, stay in the country. "Choose a green venue and avoid air travel," advises Tim Kemp from The Emerald (emeraldcornwall.co.uk). "There are plenty of luxurious honeymoon venues in this country to choose from these days."
If you have to go abroad, consider the alternatives to flying. Europe is well served via the InterRail with 30 countries participating. From Serbia to Spain and Belgium to Bulgaria, Europe really would be your oyster.
Hopping aboard the ferry is another option; they are often subject to stricter regulations such as fuel consumption limits and reduced speeds. We are well situated for the Plymouth port, with ferries serving both France and Spain.
Concerned about the damage done? There are carbon neutral companies that will calculate the emissions that have been emitted from your travels; they work out the cost and then your payment is put towards clean energy projects.
words Abby Driver
Copyright Wed magazine
Kevern Photography
1. KEEP IT LOCAL
Getting hitched in a tropical paradise might sound good in theory - sunshine, cocktails and a guaranteed tan - but the environmental cost would far outweigh that for any serious eco-warrior. Air travel emissions alone now account for around 5% of total global warming. Ouch! Luckily we live in one of the most beautiful counties in the UK, so finding a dreamy local alternative should prove easy.
It pays to consider the location of your wedding vendors too and, again, the closer the better. As wedding planner Jenny Phipps from Jenny Wren Weddings and Events (jennywrenweddingsandevents.co.uk) told us: "Use local suppliers wherever possible; this not only saves on transport miles, it also supports the local economy." A win win situation!'
Cornish Tipi Weddings
2. CHOOSE BRITISH BLOOMS
From spring and summer through to autumn and winter, there is always a bounty of beautiful British flowers available. And not only is it better for the environment to pick seasonal, local flowers, it often works out cheaper too. "By choosing flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding, your florist will not need to outsource them, saving money and mileage," explains Jenny. "You could even consider home-grown arrangements." Got green fingers? Get sowing!
Emma Halliday from The Eden Project (edenproject.com) has a quirky plant suggestion: "Choose potted plants such as orchids or succulents for your table centrepieces. Once the wedding is over you can give them as thank you gifts to parents, bridesmaids or anyone who made your day complete."
Khalile Siddiqui
3. BOOK AN ECO VENUE
Booking a local venue is one thing, but booking a venue with impressive eco credentials is even better for carbon-conscious couples. So what should you look for? Emma advises asking your venue the following questions: "Do they have a recycling policy? Do they compost food waste? Do they harvest grey water?"
There's a wide choice of eco-conscious venues in Cornwall, such as Cornish Tipi Weddings (cornishtipiweddings.co.uk), Mount Pleasant Eco Park (mpecopark.co.uk), The Emerald (emeraldcornwall.co.uk) and, of course, the Eden Project (edenproject.com). Many other venues boast sustainability policies - be sure to check these before making a booking.
Eden Project (Jamie Bott)
4. MINIMISE TRAVEL
Opting for a local wedding is all well and good, but what if your families live hundreds of miles away? Minimise the environmental impact by suggesting public transport options.
If your guests are scattered across the country, Cornwall is conveniently accessed via coach and train routes. If a good number of them live in the same area, you could organise a private coach to transport them down together. And, if your family and friends aren't keen on the idea of public transport, you could always organise a car sharing scheme. Elle Winsor-Grime from Inspire Hire (inspire-hire.co.uk) has a very 2015 suggestion: "Set up a wedding website that includes a car sharing facility. Encourage your guests to pool their transport to cut your wedding's carbon footprint."
Travers and Brown
5. SEEK STYLISH SECONDS
It's easy to be swept away into the glorious, shiny world of weddings. But you don't need new things to have a beautiful wedding. Emma suggests choosing vintage rings or finding a jeweller who "uses recycled gold and fair labour gemstones." What's more, a number of local jewellers offer a service whereby old jewellery can be made into a new piece; whether it's the diamond from your granny's engagement ring or the pearls from your mum's bridal jewels, look to your family treasure trove for a sustainable and stylish 'something borrowed.'
Speaking of which, Bridget Scott from Blue Fizz Events (bluefizzevents.co.uk) outlines some options for brides open to the idea of a second hand dress: "Vintage shops have a wonderful choice of pre-loved gowns with a story all of their own. Also, charity shops have a wide selection of dresses and accessories that can be altered by a good seamstress to meet your needs." Try Days of Grace (daysofgracevintage.co.uk) or Little Jems (littlejemsjewellery.co.uk).
Not into second hand? "Bespoke dressmakers can create the dress of your dreams from vintage fabrics and some can source sustainable fabrics such as hemp silk," advises Bridget.
Jess Petrie
6. BAN 'STUFF'
Weddings, by nature, involve a lot of 'stuff'. Favours, gifts, decorations - the list can quickly get out of hand. Keep a lid on things by minimising the 'stuff' factor wherever possible. Jenny has a charitable suggestion: "Instead of giving a wedding favour to each guest, donate the money you would have spent on them to an environmental charity of your choice. Leave a message on each place setting letting your guests know you have done this." Alternatively, you might give useful, environmentally friendly favours. "Wildflower seeds in hand decorated packets for your guests to take away make a lovely gift," suggests Bridget.
As for yourselves, if you already have everything you need, why not ask your guests to make a donation to your charity of choice? Or you might request money towards a honeymoon fund. Proceed with caution, however, as you may offend the traditionalists amongst your guests.
As for the 'stuff' required for a wedding? Elle has a good tip: "Hire, don't buy. Don't go out and buy mass produced products from high street stores that you don't have a use for after the wedding. You can hire most items at a fraction of the cost."
Jess Petrie
7. REUSE, REPURPOSE, RECYCLE
Most of us wouldn't dream of skipping the recycling these days, so why not take it one step further and use recycled wedding stationery? Wedding planner Claudia Montano of Claudia Montano Weddings and Events (claudiamontano.co.uk) told us: "The quality of recycled invitations, menus and save the dates can be just as lovely as non-recycled. You can find some beautiful designs, and help to preserve the environment at the same time."
You can use the 'reuse, repurpose, recycle' attitude in all aspects of your wedding. Jenny has a great tip for making the most of leftovers: "Bring Tupperware to your wedding and ask your catering staff to package up any leftover evening buffet food. You could enjoy it at a picnic with your family the next day, or give it away to others."
Kirstin Prisk
8. EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY
Want to take your eco wedding stationery one step further? Ban it! It's 2015: there is no need to have physical wedding stationery.
We're not suggesting you bang out a quick memo in impersonal Arial size 10; you can still make your invites personal and beautifully designed. A quick Google search for 'email wedding invites' will give you dozens of supplier choices and plenty of inspiration.
If you're worried about older guests not receiving them, you could always send a few recycled paper invites as well.
Fleurtations (Kirstin Prisk)
9. THINK DETAILS
You've booked an eco wedding venue, your guests have agreed to travel by train and you've opted for a wedding feast of organic, locally sourced fare that would impress Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. But have you remembered your biodegradable confetti?
According to Claudia, it is the one thing that often slips the mind of even the greenest of brides. "Make sure your confetti is biodegradable! Some venues will only allow biodegradable confetti now. You can even be a little unique in your approach; think about releasing butterflies or getting your guests to blow bubbles - both of these make for amazing photographs." Contact Cornish Gardens Confetti Company (cornishgardensconfetticompany.co.uk) for real flower petal confetti grown in the Cornish countryside.
10. DON'T FORGET THE HONEYMOON!
For ultimate eco points, stay in the country. "Choose a green venue and avoid air travel," advises Tim Kemp from The Emerald (emeraldcornwall.co.uk). "There are plenty of luxurious honeymoon venues in this country to choose from these days."
If you have to go abroad, consider the alternatives to flying. Europe is well served via the InterRail with 30 countries participating. From Serbia to Spain and Belgium to Bulgaria, Europe really would be your oyster.
Hopping aboard the ferry is another option; they are often subject to stricter regulations such as fuel consumption limits and reduced speeds. We are well situated for the Plymouth port, with ferries serving both France and Spain.
Concerned about the damage done? There are carbon neutral companies that will calculate the emissions that have been emitted from your travels; they work out the cost and then your payment is put towards clean energy projects.
words Abby Driver
Copyright Wed magazine