Ethical and Eco-Friendly Wedding Ideas

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Eco-friendly wedding dress designer Celia Grace wants you to “imagine that your wedding could make the world a better place.” Like Barbara Michelle Jacobs, the designer is passionate about making that dream a reality.

Weddings are undoubtedly a huge undertaking, but they don’t have to leave behind a large footprint. By making conscious choices with each element of your wedding, you can minimize the environmental impact of the big event while supporting good causes along the way. The good news is that there are a variety of ways to make your wedding more ethical. You can seek products and vendors that are eco-conscious, fair trade, vegan, local, made in the USA, and/or socially responsible. Here are just a few options that could add up to a more ethical wedding.

As detailed in our article on How To Choose an Eco Friendly Engagement Ring, as a whole, both the diamond and gold business don’t maintain the most transparent or environmentally clean practices. By choosing a vendor who’s committed to using conflict-free diamonds, however, you can make the socially responsible choice. Likewise, by purchasing jewelry made with recycled precious metal, you’re preventing literally tons of toxic mining waste. Fortunately, recycled precious metal is just as lovely as new metal.

Jewelry For Your BFFs

Costume jewelry makes a lovely gift for your bridesmaids. There are a many options for you to choose from. Jewelers like Nashelle and Color by Amber participate in giveback programs and philanthropy projects. Color by Amber is particularly notable for its zero waste production policy. Everything gets used!

Alternatively, vintage pieces are a wonderful way to avoid production waste—plus, antique jewelry can lend a special, classic feeling to your bridal and bridesmaids’ ensembles.

Shoes

Even if your wedding shoes are mostly hidden by your dress, they’re still a big part of your day. After all, they have to get you through the long walk down the aisle, dancing, socializing, and more dancing. Seek an eco-conscious brand that you’d be proud to wear.

NAE creates stylish vegan footwear for both men and women. Their materials are eco-conscious Meanwhile, Green Wedding Shoes rounds up conscious shoe designers from around the world and links to them in their online store.

For wedding party attire, seek dresses and suits that are made with sustainable and/or repurposed fabric. Fox & Brie, for example, offers a line of men’s accessories (like bow ties) that are made with repurposed vintage fabrics. Svilu uses locally-produced, organic materials, including organic cotton, tencel (made from the pulp of the eucalyptus tree), modal (made from the pulp of beech trees), and bemberg/cupro (made from the linter of cotton balls). Plus, their clothes are gorgeous!

Svilu Dress with Bow—A pretty bridesmaids option.

Flowers

Ethical flowers are pretty simple. Team up with a local florist to create a floral plan that relies on local, seasonal, and, if possible, organic flowers. Alternatively, source flowers from One World Flowers, a flower delivery service that provides fair trade flowers. Finally, you can eschew fresh flowers and opt for pretty picks from Ritzy Rose, a company that creates boutonnieres and the like with upcycled vintage jewelry.

As with your flowers, try to find a caterer who’s interested in working with locally and organically grown food. If you serve meat, opt for hormone-free, free-range selections—or, be bold and host an all vegetarian or vegan wedding (just be sure the caterer is experienced with veg-friendly dishes). Of course, one must not forget the wine! One Hope Wine offers a range of luxury, fair

trade wines.

Vegan wedding food can be as beautiful as it is tasty.

Wedding Makeup

Consult with your makeup artist about using toxin-free and cruelty-free beauty products. If you’re doing your own makeup, why not use the occasion as an excuse to explore the world of natural beauty products? No More Dirty Looks, Spirit Beauty Lounge, and Petit Vour are excellent resources. Georgie Beauty is a vegan lash company that provides toxin-free eyelash glue—as well as a slew of gorgeous faux lashes.

Even guilty pleasures—like coffee and chocolate (or chocolate-covered coffee beans)—don’t have to leave you feeling guilty about the social impact of their sourcing. Equal Exchange offers delectable chocolate bars, coffee, and mini treats—all of which are fairly traded.

Equal Exchange Mini Favors

Your Dress

Last but surely not least, your dress is the magic element that ties the rest of your beautiful wedding together. It’s one of the most special garments you will ever wear. Make the memory of your dress even more special by choosing one that represents love for the world and the creatures in it. Celia Grace is one of the most beautiful wedding dress lines not only because it offers stunning bridal gowns but also because it’s commited to ethical production practices. Celia Grace dresses are handmade with fairly traded and environmentally responsible materials.

“The Teresa” Dress by Celia Grace

Photos: Elizabeth Scott Photography, Mary Hood Luttrell, Green Wedding Shoes, Svilu, Georgie Beauty, Equal Exchange, Celia Grace

Posted in celia grace, conflict-free, ethical wedding, local, organic, recycled gold, style, sustainably sourced, vegan, wedding favors, wedding ideas

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