How To Have An Ethical Wedding? / How To Have A Fair Trade Wedding?
With the average UK wedding swallowing approximately £18,000 and spewing around 14.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per event, it's no wonder people are turning to green, ethical weddings that don't take a toll on the planet or aggravate the already lopsided power balance in world trade that is responsible for oppression and exploitation of thousands of workers in developing nations.
The number of things you can do to make your wedding eco-friendly and an ethical one with only fair traded goods are numerous-right from the wedding ring to an eco-friendly honeymoon.
- Wedding Ring Buy your accessories and jewellery from a company that deals in fairly traded or recycled precious metals and conflict-free diamonds.
- Wedding List You can replace the traditional wedding list by charity lists, with tree plantations and donated cows for communities in the developing world. Look for companies whose product ranges are eco-friendly and ethical or sign up to one of the many charity aid giving lists-your guests would be able to donate to your choice of good causes.
- Wedding Stationery Buy products that are made recycled paper or fairly traded. To save paper, you could also design a website and send an electronic invitation to guests referring them to it. And your distant uncles and aunts who couldn't make it to the wedding can see the photos as soon as they are out!
- Bridal Clothing Use a designer or dressmaker who uses organic or recycled fabrics and fair trade natural materials that haven't been subjected to any environmentally harmful chemicals. You could also hire the wedding gown and other wedding outfits instead of spending a fortune on buying clothes that you will keep in the wardrobe only to pull them out for the occasional look!
- Hair & Beauty Use the services of hairstylists & make-up artists who use organic or natural mineral products that are free from environmentally harmful ingredients. When buying your own products try to stick to this guideline too.
- Catering Employ a caterer that uses organic products and local produce. Avoid using disposable plates and ensure that empties go to the recycling bin. Ask your cake-maker or local baker to use local and organic ingredients in your wedding cake. Support organic and fair-trade by buying your wine, champagne, spirits, beer and soft drinks from an independent organic retailer rather than supermarkets.
- Venues Try to choose a venue which is local for you and your guests. If using the catering services offered by the venue then check if they can use locally produced organic foods or fair-traded ones. Also make sure that they follow eco-friendly policies, such as recycling, commitment to environment, etc.
- Transport You can add an enchanting touch to your wedding by using horse drawn carriages, which are also an environment friendly means of transport. Try to pick a venue as close to home as possible and if you don't have the ceremony and reception at the same venue, encourage guests to carpool to the reception or provide a bus or coach.
- Flowers Try to use florists who can supply locally grown and organic flowers for your bouquets, button holes and venue decoration. Alternatively you could use fair-trade flowers available through local florists and online stores.
- Confetti Use biodegradable confetti or organic, fair-trade or locally produced flower petals.
- Honeymoon Consider romantic destinations you can visit close to home to reduce the number of road and air miles. If you decide to go long haul, then stay at an eco friendly or ethical hotel. If flying is unavoidable then use a company specialising in ethical and sustainable travel to destinations where the local communities will benefit and natural surroundings are preserved.