Your name: Denise Thomas
Wedding date: 15 August 2009
Venue and location: Ufton Court, Berkshire
Budget: £20,000
What inspired you to have an ethical wedding?
We try and live in the most ethical way possible in our daily lives, and we wanted a wedding that reflects that.
Also, it’s fun to try and do things that others say is impossible (finding antique wedding platinum bands for example!). Half the fun is searching for ways to do the wedding more sustainably, or finding small suppliers to support.
What has been the most difficult bit so far?
Often it’s been difficult in compromising over low cost versus more ethical options. It’s been easy for us to get excited about something (a venue for example) without checking out their eco credentials first.
We did that with our invitations. After we had designed them, paid AND had them delivered we checked their eco policy. They don’t have one. OOPS!
What has been the most fun bit?
I’m lucky in that my fiancé is really engaged in every aspect. It’s truly a partnership in that sense. We’ve made every decision together and that’s been the most fun, knowing that we both will have the wedding day that we want.
I have to say too, that I get a kick out of finding a secondhand bargain too! Finding an ebay wedding dress was incredibly fun, eco and saved me money!
What are your 5 top tips for brides and grooms planning an ethical wedding?
1. Decide early on what you won’t compromise on (e.g. recycling at venue) and ask your suppliers straight away before you fall in love with something that might not be sustainable.
2. Don’t try to please everyone. If you know that your friends or family will give you a hard time about a secondhand dress, or other eco decisions, just don’t tell them. They won’t notice!
3. Ignore people when they say it’s impossible to find what you are looking for. Google is your best friend, but just keep asking people for referrals.
4. Enlist the help of eco-minded friends. They’ll keep you excited, accountable and can always kart home waste if you went for the venue that doesn’t recycle!
5. Searching is half the fun. You’ll find so many eco suppliers, you’ll wish you could use them all. Keep track of the gems you find, and pass on the knowledge, even if you don’t use them.
Denise runs Raw Brides – introducing raw food to women (and probably grooms!) who want to get healthy for their big day. Visit RawBrides.com.
