Jane from South Farm talks us through how planning a green wedding can be simpler than you might think. “The Venue is usually one of the first decisions a couple will make. So check out what steps sustainable wedding venues are taking to reduce their carbon footprint”…
Jane says “In particular talk to your venue about food. The increasingly popular and very ethical farm-to-table ethos advocates home-grown, organic, seasonal food and you’ll be surprised to know how accessible it can be! Here at South Farm we have our own organic small-holding and grow around 250 different varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs, we have free range chickens who give us 90% of the eggs used in our kitchens and 40-60% of the pork we use is home-reared. This all means zero food miles, less packaging and lower refrigeration time – all contributing significantly to reducing the carbon footprint. In addition, menus are adapted seasonally to reflect what is growing on the farm.”
If your sustainable wedding venue is not catering in-house or growing their own food, ask the caterer where they source their produce and make sure they are offering you choices that are locally sourced and in season, guaranteeing you the freshest and greenest ingredients.
Other ways you can make an impact and reduce the carbon footprint of your day include…
Transport – Holding your nuptials and your reception all in the same place removes the need for any transport between the two. Find a venue which can offer your marriage ceremony and your reception all on one site. South Farm has five licensed spaces for ceremony and can accommodate up to 145 guests for dining and 250 for an evening party. So there is no need for any travel once your guests arrive!
Outdoor weddings – getting married outside means your guests are warmed by the sun and your ceremony is lit by beautiful natural light alone! At South Farm you can get married in the garden Summer House while your guests seat on the lawns but rest assured there is a choice of a further 4 indoor spaces just in case weather dictates!
Confetti – choose biodegradable! A lot of churches and venues now insist on this so make sure your guests know to only use the good stuff! At South Farm we supply dried rose petals for all our couples so there is no need for guests to bring their own!
Favours – consider a potted succulent, sapling or a pack of biodegradable seeds. Your guests will love the idea of such a unique favour and nurturing their own plants from your wedding day makes it a really special token, not to mention an enduring reminder of your day! Another green option is a charitable donation made on behalf of each of your guests which really is the gift that keeps on giving!
Flowers – Look for a florist who is using organically grown flowers without the use of pesticides and chemicals and ask them to create floral arrangements for you that use only seasonal, local flowers. That way your flowers will look fresh and pretty but will have had less storage, refrigeration and transportation time.
Stationary – Save trees by using paperless save the dates and wedding invitations or set up a wedding website with online invitations and all the details of your day on the web! If you prefer the idea of a traditional printed invitation then look for suppliers that use recyclable paper …that way you can have beautiful invites and feel really good about them!
“There are so many ways you can make a difference when planning your day…the important thing to remember is that your wedding should be unique and beautiful, just like our planet and you really can be green and have the day of your dreams!”.