The Green Indoors
Mar 30th, 2007 by Jenny
After much deliberation, our green wedding has gone indoors.
Holding our wedding in a field was an idea we originally had when we went to a pagan wedding held by two of our very good friends.
They were married outside, by a blacksmith.
We all watched them give their vows and they received metal sculptures of their initials, which the blacksmith fused together in front of them. Their marquee was perfect for the barbecue reception. It was a beautiful day.
And Phil and I were inspired by the wonderful natural setting!
However their wedding was in late summer and ours will be in early spring. Family commitments prevent us holding the wedding earlier, and honeymoon plans prevent us having it later. (But that’s a story for next week!)
A March wedding outdoors seems to be a weather nightmare. After lots of investigation of waterlogged fields, portable heaters, parking problems and tent sizes, we have come to the conclusion that indoors is really a much more feasible (and perhaps more ecological) plan for a spring wedding. Holding it in a hall means we will not have energy-hungry heaters running in a draughty tent, we will not be attempting to cook or heat food on outdoors appliances, and no large structures (marquees, portaloos and tables) will need to be transported on lorries. We can use the facilities that a local hall has waiting for us.
Holding the wedding indoors has meant an increase in the price, but after lots of research, we have found a venue that is still very close to our home village and does not break the bank. It is a Masonic centre that will allow us to perform our unlicensed ceremony on their stage as part of the booking of the hall and dinner package. And now it is all booked and confirmed, I am breathing a sigh of relief that we have finally found somewhere!
Of course, it will be difficult to make any of the food particularly green now we are booked into a catered hall. But I hope we can compensate with lots of other green ideas. I also plan to try and suggest some ethical catering wholesalers to the hall’s chef as well, and encourage him to try introducing some locally produced, organic or fair trade items on to the menu… I will let you know how I get on!
Well done on finding the venue, Jenny! It will probably work out to have been the cheaper option in the end, when you take into account the heaters, portaloos, and all the extras for a marquee that you would have had to hire otherwise…
Do talk to the caterers about the wedding breakfast. If nothing else, it will give them something to think about for the future! You could ask them to highlight options on the menu that come from local suppliers or that could be organic and then just choose those. You could also ask them to serve Fairtrade tea and coffee - I’m sure they’ll be happy to oblige.
Congratulations - a big step closer to the big day!
Sounds like the sensible option Jenny… we have been seduced by many outdoor locations here in Melbourne, but each time been dragged back to the reality; July ain’t the time of year to be hoping for dry, sunny days in this part of the world!
Excellent!! We too are coming round to the idea of indoors. Although ours will be in August, the transporting of a Marquee, porta-loos etc, generators, and no gurantee of good weather!
Instead we (think!!!) have decided on a grade 2 listed village hall which is a registered charity. We are still going to have our hogroast (from a local farmer) but have it brought inside instead!
I still wonder about the BBQ wedding, but even in teh summer trying ot find somewhere to put up a tent was proving very difficult!!