Your eco wedding guide (Part two)
Soon-to-be-weds should take a look at the Eco Wedding Guide over at Bridalwave as part two follows on from last week's take on ethical bridal fashion with a guide to stationery, food and drink, wedding favours and gifts that really make a difference.
Stationery
This is the first time, after engagement rings, that your wedding becomes officially 'on' for most of your guests. Worried about using so much paper though? Get your cards from Millbank and Kent and they'll a plant tree for every order over £250. You could even make your own with a variety of papers and soy inks from Organic Weddings and some styles are implanted with seeds so they can be planted later. For expert handmade styles take a look at Dragonfly Invites who also have a range of eco-favours.
Food and drink
Organic is the buzz word of the food industry and you can certainly incorporate this into your wedding food. Check with your caterers for their options or you could include various elements yourself like dessert which could be mini organic concoctions like tiramisu from House of Sugar or a wedding cake from The Organic Chocolate Cake Company where prices start at £220 for 30 portions. Organic wine is another popular choice and there's even organic rose champagne which would be great for toasting.
Wedding favours
There are a number of options for sending your guests home with a little something to remind them of your day. The favourite has always been chocolate so check out Scottish chocolatiers Coco of Bruntsfield for handmade organic choccies. Or you could send guests home with a rose petal filled bath bomb from natural beauty company Lush or even gift them a charitable token from Good Gifts where favours range from £3 to £9 and aid the wellbeing of people in India and Africa.
Wedding gifts
With many couples already living together prior to marriage, they usually have their quota of toasters and napkin rings. You could continue to revamp your home with recycled and fair trade homewares from By Nature, eco linens from Greenfibres or take a look at designer Oliver Health's Ecocentric packed full of fabulous goods with strong eco credentials.
The alternative is to ask for charitable donations. You could either collect cheques for your favourite charity or organise a 'gift' list that benefits those less well off. Companies that provide this service include Good Gifts, Send a Cow, Oxfam Unwrapped and The Alternative Wedding Gift list with gifts ranging from training for rural midwives, education, a wildflower meadow, retirement homes for dogs or kitchenware for disadvantaged youngsters.
Related: Green, Organic and Eco weddings at Bridalwave I Green weddings at Hippyshopper
