Below are some of my favourite alternatives and steps towards a more sustainable and waste free wedding! New Zealand averages about 22,000 weddings per year, that’s a lot of confetti! Here’s a list of suppliers and vendors who are leaders within the sustainability field as well as a few people I love waving my pom poms for!
 

Say Yes To The Dress

Give your dress a story that’s as magical as yours!
+ Recycle by choosing from the massive selection of  pre-loved dresses over on Once Wed and Still White.
+ Support local designers such as Amber Whitecliffe (bridal) and KILT clothing (bridesmaids) who create and make their own dresses right here in New Zealand.
+ Choose alternatives to a traditional wedding dress and go simple chic. Check out the incredible selection of white dresses from Trelise Cooper. 

Conscious Catering

If your venue is providing the kai for your marena ask about their compost and recycling processes!
Looking for a caterer?
+ The good folk at Monday’s Wholefoods put on a delicious organic spread (for real guys).
+ The Kitchen ℅ SKYCITY have legit incredible food waste and recycling processes! All food waste is composted including their cutlery and servery. 

Cheers to that -clink-

When deciding on what wines to serve, Yealands & Villa Maria are tops!

+ I am crushing hard on Peter Yealand right now and I bet my bottom dollar by the end you will too! Yealands vision is to be the worlds most sustainable wine producer and by golly I would say they are just about there! Not only is Yealands the first winery in THE WORLD to be carbon zero certified, they were also the first winery to carry the DQS Green Company GC-Mark (big deal) and have won a list of mega impressive awards such as The Green Ribbon (very prestigious) and been a Green Apple World Champion Award Winner. If that’s not enough good eco feels let this be the cherry on top! Yealands is made right here in our beautiful Marlborough country so your supporting Kiwi business. Swoon!

+ Villa Maria is also worth a mention, winning awards like The Green Ribbon and Sustainable Business Network (yay). Also made right here in Aotearoa, Villa Maria use their sheep to keep the grass tidy and have an epic worm farm munching on their restaurant scraps, putting all the good stuff back into the ground.

Get with the programme and lose it!

There’s a heap of printed material that goes into a wedding! Save the dates, invites, gift registry info, programmes, song sheets, run sheets, thank you cards etc.
+ Be mindful with your print and cut back where you can. Invites, RSVPs and thank you cards can be done with the amazing Paperless Post.
+ Consider cutting things like programmes all together, more often than not I see them turned into origami, paper planes or ripped to shreds by fidgety guests.
+ For the things you do print, choose recycled paper!

Organic and cruelty free makeup

+ Ask your makeup artist if they use organic or cruelty free products.
+ Some of my fav products that tick this box are here:

LUSH
Australis
Living Nature
Inika Organic
Dr Hauschka
 

eco confetti

For those epic aisle shots use biodegradable confetti or rose petals! Ceeeeeeeeelllleeebrate good times COME ON!
+ Check out Church Confetti for freeze dried roses.
+ The eco friendly page of Pop Roc Parties for all your eco party needs.
+ Sweet Pea Parties has an incredible range of tissue confetti for that perfect pic! 
+ Pick and dry your own flowers like lavender, roses and other blooms you can get your hands on.
+ Punch holes out of dried leaves also works a treat!

Travel - MINIMIZE your carbon footprint

+ If guests are flying in, offset your carbon footprint by flying Air New Zealand.
+ Choose local suppliers and minimize the miles traveled to your wedding.

Put a ring on it!

Any of ya'll seen Blood Diamond? Not gunna lie, watched it for the Leo factor (who is also an incredible environmentalist making epic docos btw).
+ Be sure to ask to see your jewelers company policy on conflict diamonds and fair trade diamonds. You can find more info here at The Greener Diamond on what a conflict diamond is and how to avoid purchasing one.
+ The Diamond Shop here in Auckland prides itself in procuring sustainable and ethical diamonds Yuussss! 
+ Another option is to go second hand. If you're worried about bad juju, you can take it to someone you trust to be blessed.
+ Been handed an heirloom but not your style? Melt it down and recreate!

Let’s keep New Zealand beautiful and our weddings even more so!

xx

Fay 

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