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Spring has sprung and here at Leilani Weddings, we bring fresh news!
We are thrilled to be planning and designing the wedding of Jules Hunt, the blogger behind Om & the City who Wanderlust named as one of their 35 under 35 in Wellness! Jules’ blog aptly describes her as “a wellness entrepreneur, yoga & mindfulness teacher, plant lady, and dog mama here to uplift + bring holistic wellness down to earth”. Her wedding is set to be featured as one of The Knot‘s most influential weddings of 2019!
In other news, we have also been inspired by the season to bring you a list of 7 ways to have a wedding that’s both gorgeous and green. More couples are taking an earth-friendly approach to their big day with a focus on sustainability, reducing their carbon footprint, and living mindfully. Thankfully, an ecologically responsible event is easier than ever to execute with increasing resources available. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for couples who want to be part of the solution and not the problem!
THE CASTLE by Marlow Events | PHOTOGRAPHY: Natalie Faye Fern
1. Choose a Sustainable Wedding Venue
Choosing a venue with a fierce commitment to the environment is the first step to having a green wedding. If you’re in California and have a passion for vino, you’re in luck! Wine country is flush with eco-chic venues that are both sustainable and luxurious. Nestled in a wildly romantic terraced hillside of Napa Valley is Auberge du Soleil where French elegance meets California sunshine (and a 15,000 bottle cellar). Recognized for its dedication to environmental preservation by TripAdvisor, Greenleaders, Bay Area Green Business Program and the Green Spa Network, this venue sits on 33-acres of heritage olive and oak trees! For NYC brides, one of our favorite new wedding venues, The Castle by Marlow Events, not only sources its ingredients from local purveyors devoted to sustainable farming practices – it also comes with beautiful furniture and decor (including a hanging plant installation next to their disco ball!), reducing the need for external decor sourcing and waste. We also love Brooklyn Grange Farms – the world’s largest rooftop soil farm which cultivates organic produce and operates naturally-managed apiaries in addition to hosting weddings and events! Planning a destination wedding? Perhaps it’s not the best idea for reducing your event’s carbon footprint – especially if you have a large guest count. However, consider one of the world’s many eco-lodges – low impact venues built, designed, and operated with environmental and social sensitivity to both nature and the local communities!
PHOTOGRAPHY: Never There Yet
2. Recycled Fashion
Shop at local boutiques and give a vintage wedding gown or bridesmaid dress a second life. Or if you bought a brand new Rue de Seine or Amanda James gown that was “THE ONE”, consider reselling it after the wedding. Choose dresses for your bridesmaids that they are likely to wear again or recycle in creative ways. A DIY-inclined friend, for example, took to her sewing machine after the wedding and turned her bridesmaid gown into a harem pants jumpsuit! For the groomsmen, why buy if you can rent? Friar Tux is one of our favorites.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Vacay Photo
3. Green Stationery
There’s no getting around the fact that wedding stationery kills trees. Save the Dates, invitations, RSVPs, itineraries, ceremony programs, menus, signs, escort cards, place cards, thank you cards… not to mention envelopes! It all adds up to a whole lot of trees. Select a stationer who uses recycled paper or go digital altogether! If you can’t bring yourself to do an e-vite for your wedding, think about a digital RSVP at least. Not only does it save the world one wedding at a time, your guests will appreciate the convenience of not having to walk to the mailbox. As for signs and escort cards or seating charts at your wedding, hire a calligrapher and rent a chalkboard, mirror, or wood sign that can be reused by others instead of printing paper ones.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Birds of a Feather
4. Potted Plants
Potted plants that will go on to live full lives after the wedding are a good alternative (or at least addition) to cut florals. However, should you envision a wedding lush with intoxicating, beautifully scented flowers, opt for seasonal blooms from local farms. Many of the world’s largest flower exporters are water scarce countries with impoverished economies and scant labor regulations, raising a host of ethical issues to contend with. After your wedding, donate your flowers to a hospital or hospice so they can bring joy to others for another few days, extending their purpose.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Olga Kubrak
5. Say NO To Blood Diamonds
Antique diamonds and dealers who obtain their precious metals and gemstones from ethical sources are the way to go! Satomi Kawakita in NYC and Ceremony in Los Angeles are two jewelry designers who only use conflict-free diamonds that are fully traceable. More couples are also opting for lab-grown diamonds, which are not only more sustainable but also affordable!
PHOTOGRAPHER: Meagan Lindsey
6. Donate Leftovers
Ask your caterer if they donate the leftovers from your reception feast. If they do not make their own arrangements, call your local food bank in advance to work out their requirements for a drop-off. Many food banks will also pick up the food!
PHOTOGRAPHER: Chard Photographer
7. Mindfully Exit
While tossing bird seed at the bride and groom may seem more sustainable than confetti, consider the fact that you MIGHT be introducing an unwanted plant species into a non-native environment. To be safe, check to make sure that the seeds are native or create your own mix!
