With a strong emphasis on living a sustainable life, there is more and more pressure to go green in all aspects of our lives – and that includes your wedding day. But going green for your big day is a lot easier than you think, and will give you plenty of options to play around with to create a unique event. From everything including your food down to your dress, check out our top 10 ways you can make your wedding more green.
1. LOCATION
Your wedding venue plays a big part in how your day will look, feel and be represented, but it’s also one of the key ways to making your wedding greener. Aim to choose a location that is already promoting sustainability with their food, electricity, water usage, etc. This will make it easier for you when sorting out your decor and catering. To save on fuel, try to find a venue that is more central so that most of your guests can carpool and travel shorter distances.
2. STATIONERY
When it comes to creating greener stationery, there’s plenty to play around with. Apart from it being a major trend in the digital era, creating a wedding website where your guests can find all the details and RSVP saves you on paper (and printing costs). As for the menus, seating charts and stationery present at the wedding, you can get creative with materials like recycled cotton for that high-end look. You can also get away with only one menu per table, instead of giving one to each individual guest.
3. DIY
While DIY doesn’t necessarily equal planet-friendly, creating things yourself will help you keep track of the materials and methods you’re using so that you can avoid anything harmful. Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends and family for second-hand or recycled goods that can be used to for your wedding decor. For example, placing candles or organic flowers inside old mason jars can create a rustic look on the tables for your wedding reception.
4. FLOWERS
Source the flowers for your wedding from a local organic florist, or even plant them and pick them yourself from your garden. Try to use florals that don’t require a lot of water – succulents are beautiful and modern – and create a beautifully unique arrangement. They can even serve as your wedding favours too, so your guests can take them home and plant them in their own gardens.
5. FAVOURS
There is a wide variety of thoughtful and fun wedding favours when it comes to sticking to green options. Spoil your guests with some herbal tea leaves and a personalised ‘Thank You’ note, or offer them organic seeds that they can grow at home to symbolise your new journey of growth with your loved one. Plants, birdseed or homemade organic beauty products are also lovely options.
6. THE DRESS
Every bride wants that special and unique dress that feels perfectly made for her, but this can be an expensive and taxing reality. It’s much greener and cheaper to hire a dress or have a vintage one altered to suit you. However, if you do plan on buying a dress or having one made, aim to use more planet-friendly materials and create a piece that you will be able to wear again or pass down.
7. FOOD
If your venue is sustainable and offers catering, it’s a perfect deal! If not, look for a caterer that makes use of organic produce. Maybe even opt for going completely meat-free for your wedding menu and serve colourful fresh foods for your guests to enjoy that have a lower impact on the environment.
8. CONFETTI
Instead of plastic or paper confetti, opt for flower petals (which are much softer), birdseed, grains or plant seeds. These make light and pretty confetti pieces that can be carried in hand-woven baskets or bowls to save on plastic or paper cups. They are also affordable, easy to find and utterly unique.
9. DECOR
Try to avoid any paper or plastic use. Rather use proper cotton napkins, bare tables and chairs, and lots of greenery. Write your table numbers on rocks, pebbles or shells, and ask friends and family for spare decorations and table settings that you can borrow just for the day. Mismatched decor may just be the next trend!
10. RINGS
A family heirloom or vintage ring is the perfect way to lower your environmental impact on the planet, while still spoiling your other half with something precious. Alternatively, you can source your ring from companies that work with recycled metals and gemstones and have fair trade labour practices to create a sustainable option for you and your partner.
Image: Unsplash
With all the planning and excitement around the wedding, there’s little room to prepare to ensure you are fully honeymoon ready! Even if you’ve arranged for your honeymoon…
Weddings are all about celebration and coming together. But most of all, weddings are about love. Finding all of these elements in one song that you and your partner both enjoy is no easy feat, which is why we tend to fall back on old wedding classics (or every single Ed Sheeran song). While there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it’s important to remember the tune you pick will hold memories that last a lifetime, and to hear your wedding song blasted on the radio for months on end can be a bit – well – annoying.
If you really want to opt for a wedding classic for your song, consider using a cover or having someone perform the track on the day for a more personal experience. But for those who prefer something out of the ordinary, see our top 10 picks of wedding songs for the alternative couple.
1. Issues – Julia Michaels
2. Magic – Coldplay
3. Home – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
4. I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab For Cutie
5. Mango Tree by Angus & Julia Stone
6. I Would Do Anything For You – Foster The People
7. How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
8. Video Games – Lana Del Rey
9. Make You Feel My Love – Adele
10. Better Together – Jack Johnson
Picture: Pixabay
With more and more brides opting for a budget-friendly wedding, DIY wedding decor has been (and will always be) trending. Putting together an elegant wedding with stunning decor…
Go bold or go home! Menswear is no longer restricted to a boring black tux – we’re talking bright colour, mixing and matching prints, and show-stopper accessories.
Julius (left) wears: Shirt, Edgars; jacket, Zara; trousers and bow tie, both Eurosuit
Nicolas (right) wears: Shirt, Zara; blazer (part of set), trousers (part of set) and bow tie, all Eurosuit
Hector (left) wears: Shirt, trousers (part of set) and bow tie, all Eurosuit; waistcoat, Edgars;
sneakers, Pressroom
Julius (centre) wears: Shirt and waistcoat, both Sello Medupe; blazer and pocket square, both Woolworths; trousers (part of set), Eurosuit; shoes, Old Khaki; rings stylist’s own
Nicolas (right) wears: Shirt, Topman; blazer, TM Lewin; trousers, Sello Medupe; tie, Thomas & Benno; shoes, Aldo; pocket square stylist’s own
Hector wears: Shirt and trousers (with belt), both Zara; waistcoat, Edgars; tie, Eurosuit; sandals, Woolworths
Julius wears: Shirt and trousers, both Sello Medupe; blazer, Zara; sunglasses, Call It Spring; tiepins, Smith Jewellery; pocket square stylist’s own
Nicolas wears: Shirt, Thomas & Benno; blazer, Topman; pocket square and feather both stylist’s own
Hector wears: Shirt and bow tie, both Eurosuit; waistcoat, Woolworths; blazer, Edgars; pocket square stylist’s own
Nicolas (left) wears: Shirt (with collar pin), Topman; blazer (part of set), Eurosuit; trousers, David Tlale; shoes, Old Khaki
Julius (right) wears: Shirt, J Crew at Zando; blazer, David Tlale; trousers (part of set), Eurosuit;
pocket square and sneakers both stylist’s own
Julius wears: Shirt, Edgars; blazer, Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs; neckpiece, Smith Jewellery; pocket square stylist’s own
Nicolas wears: Shirt, Edgars; blazer (with spider brooch) and trousers, both Sello Medupe; bow tie stylist’s own; pocket watch, Smith Jewellery; shoes, Madison at Zando
Fashion: Kim Mitha-Coe
Photography: Andreas Eiselen/HMimages.co.za
Grooming: Yumna parker/Buff Make-up
Models: Hector & Julius/Cover Model Management, Nicolas/20Management
*All products subject to availability
We got together with some of the best local bakers around to show you six of our favourite wedding cake trends to help you make sure that your…
With all the details you have to think about while planning your big day, one thing many couples often overlook is the grand getaway. After you’ve wowed your guests with your big entrance, the delicious meal, and that epic dance party, you probably won’t want the night to end. So sweeten the deal and go out with a bang! Here are 6 unique ways to bid adieu to your guests and ride off as newlyweds in style.
1. Own your exit with an old-fashioned car. Consider renting an old-fashioned car for your grand exit. Tie a few empty cans to the bumper and hang a home-made “just married” sign in the window, and you’re set for a classic sendoff…just like in the movies. The pictures you’ll get from this getaway will look great at the end of your wedding album, hung on the wall of your entryway, or on your thank you notes!
2. Hop in a horse and buggy. If you love horses or are just into the classic, romantic charm of a horse-drawn carriage ride, this is the getaway for you. Just be sure to have the driver bring a heavy blanket to keep you and your new spouse warm as you leisurely make your way home.
3. Take a trolley. For couples getting married in a city where trolleys are iconic fixtures (think: New Orleans or San Francisco), leaving in a trolley can be the perfect way to bring your wedding locale’s personality into your wedding. The best part? All of your nearest and dearest can join you when you depart if you’re not ready for the night to end just yet.