Sarah Lewis
Jun 17th, 2008 by SarahL
ETHICAL WEDDINGS BLOG CONTRIBUTOR
Your name: Sarah Lewis
Wedding date: 5 June 2009
Venue and location: Ceremony at Broyle Place, Ringmer; Reception at Laughton Barns, Laughton
Budget: umm…
What inspired you to have an ethical wedding?
I’m an environmental journalist and run an ethical lifestyle magazine (gratuitous plug: www.rocksmagazine.co.uk) so spend my whole day reading, researching, interviewing and writing on environmental and ethical topics.
The result of having so much information is it becomes very difficult to be unethical when the option is there. As a result, Toby and I do live with environmental concerns somewhere in the back of our minds most of the time.
That isn’t to say we don’t commit heinous green crimes pretty often, but I don’t think either of us would make it through the wedding process without at least thinking ‘hang on a minute, we’d never normally consider that acceptable’.
What has been the most difficult bit so far?
Having to turn down the offer of a free weekend trip to New York to look at wedding dresses with my mum.
What has been the most fun bit?
Coming up with all kinds of silly and creative ideas to make the day a bit different, and having friends offer to do all kinds of amazing things.
What are your 5 top tips for brides and grooms planning an ethical wedding?
1. Use people’s skills
It saves you money, doing it yourself is always more eco, and it helps people feel involved. I discovered my sister is an origami genius, so she is making a lot of our decorations out of old magazines etc, and our super-domestic friend is baking our cake.
2. Go minimal
You don’t actually *need* all the crap they say you do.
3. It doesn’t have to be perfect
You may well struggle to find everything up to your ethical standards – but isn’t that just the same as your every day life? Better to do a little than nothing at all.
4. Be prepared to explain it to people several times
Especially to mothers who want to fly to New York for the weekend…
5. Enjoy it
Remember that even doing one little eco thing is spreading a powerful message to all the guests at your wedding, so please don’t fret, and have the most amazing day with your friends and family.