The Eco Chic Wedding and Home Show report
Lupe Castro finds green white weddings to fit every budget
My spirits soon lifted as, on arrival at this glorious venue, I was greeted by smiley people offering me cakes. KissMeCupCakes.co.uk (they are of course all made using fairtrade, free range and local quality ingredients where possible and are incredibly yummy).
Although it was really bustling I kind of just relaxed. What with all my scoffing I nearly missed Jen Marsden, author of the Green Guide for Weddings. I am pleased I didn’t, she delivered a fab, informative talk on how to plan your ethical wedding right from the dress, ceremony, reception, gifts, stationery to the presents. Buying the book saved me writing notes. Other informative speakers included Sue Edgar of ‘Living for the Future’ and Samantha Strecker of the ‘Body Shop’ at home.
But, me being me, I got side tracked by all the glitter and scooted over to Credjewellery.com. OMG!
I have been looking for a just plain gold, truly ethically sourced band and I found it here. 18 ct gold sourced from Oro Verde, a group of Colombian mining communities meeting strict environmental criteria and offering three styles to choose from. My favourite fit my chubby little finger beautifully and, at £267, it was a fair price.
Interestingly, they also have a graduate collection of which, Laura Strand’s Wave Collection was my absolute favourite. Personally, I think that Greg and Christian have the makings of our monthly green gods as their green credentials are spot on.
We look forward to the day when it is culturally unacceptable to buy a piece of jewellery that is not independently certified as socially and environmentally responsible.
Yes siree. You tell em boys!
Rosie Weisencrantz’s recycled vintage jewellery was unsurprisingly, rather packed, Her pieces are unique, incredibly well priced and fit in nicely with the ‘something old something new something borrowed something blue’ tradition. Her hair adorments really are terribly delicate and make one instantly feel like a cross between a princess and fairy.
Moving on, for those wedding favours, bridesmaids and ushers gifts, it can be difficult to be original and truly green. I think Bonita Finn might have stumbled on it with her Love Nature treatments. They come packaged to co-ordinate with your wedding colour scheme, all messages and names added. These little bath bomb packages use organic oats, sugars, oils and herbs even fruit skins and are extremely effective on feet and hands. What a well-deserved treat for all guests. Natural petal confetti, beautiful stationery and smart organic home textiles, the wedding fair had it all.
Finally managing to sit myself down for the much anticipate fashion show, I bagged myself a seat next to Jen Marsden so we could have a good girly gossip. The girls looked beautiful and they wore dresses by Julie Dutton and oncewornwithlove.com with head pieces by papillon-boutique.com and annacliftonjewellery.co.uk. All the dresses were very reasonably priced averaging at £500.
The fashion show was fabulously compered by the two brain stormers of this eco chic event, Kate from Green Finder and Katie from Ethical Weddings. Well done girls, it was a truly fantastic success and I can’t wait for the next one.
