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A32 FEATURE
Thursday 5 december 2019
Many couples say 'I do' to Zero-Waste weddings

By KATHERINE ROTH der, and served pulled
Associated Press pork and pulled jackfruit
To protect the environ- for the main dishes," Kel-
ment, many couples are logg says.
saying "I do" to Zero-Waste She and Johnson both rec-
weddings, focusing on sus- ommend colorful displays
tainability for everything of fruits, vegetables or
from floral design and even flower petals as table
dresses to invitations and centerpieces that guests
food. can take home and enjoy.
The goal is to recycle, re- GIFTS
use, compost and other- "Instead of traditional wed-
wise keep anything from ding gifts, we asked guests
becoming trash in a land- to each bring a side dish
fill. Whether or not couples or something to drink, and
succeed in reaching the contribute to our honey-
Zero-Waste goal, "they're moon fund," Kellogg says.
certainly more conscious Other couples ask for do-
of the ecological impact nations to their favorite
of what they do, and are charity, or contributions
aiming for something as toward a goal, such as
close to that as possible," a down payment on a
says Rachel Sylvester, life- house.
style editor at Real Simple INVITATIONS
magazine. this photo provided by Laetitia Drouet, of France-based Kamelion Couture, shows a wedding "For my wedding invita-
The key to success, experts dress created by her which was inspired by the Bea Johnson book "Zero Waste Home." tions, I bought card stock
say, is letting wedding plan- Associated Press and painted a design on
ners, vendors and your re- can find second-hand if make it truly Zero Waste." "It's easy enough to rent, the front, but these days
ception venue know from you're open-minded and Her own Zero-Waste wed- borrow or find things at I'd say paperlesspost.com
the start that you're serious really look around." Her ding was on a yacht, so thrift shops," says Kellogg, or another e-mail option
about going Zero Waste. Zero Waste Home blog space constraints limited who used her abundant would be the best Zero-
Then be flexible enough to features a "bulk finder" tab the guest list to 40. collection of Mason jars Waste option," says John-
facilitate that. that helps locate business- Kathryn Kellogg, who and borrowed items for son.
"Flexibility and creativ- es selling food, drinks and wrote extensively about her reception. If you're set on paper
ity are essential," Sylvester other items free of plastic her Zero-Waste wedding "Sometimes an eclectic though, "go for recycled
says. packaging. on her Going Zero Waste mix of plates and glasses paper with vegetable ink,"
Bea Johnson, one of the Focusing on quality instead blog, hosted a reception can be fun," says Johnson. says Sylvester. Some pa-
pioneers of the Zero-Waste of quantity also helps, for 60 people on a shoe- As for food, Kellogg says, "I pers are embedded with
movement, says, "You'd Johnson says: "The smaller string budget of $200 for took my Crock-Pot to the seeds, so guests can even
be amazed at what you the party, the easier it is to everything. She bought butcher, had him put in 4 soak the invitation in water
bedsheets from a thrift or 5 pounds of pork shoul- and then plant it.q
shop to use as tablecloths,
and borrowed dishes,
tables and seating from
friends and family.
"We were on a tight bud-
get, so we were married
at city hall with our closest
family there, had a sepa-
rate reception for about 60
people, and decided to
save most of our money for
a really great honeymoon
in Maine," she says.
"Honestly, the hardest part
was convincing our fami-
lies to go along with it all.
My biggest tip is not to
stress things, and to bal-
ance expectations with
reality. Ours may not have
been the perfect Pinterest
wedding, but that didn't
make it less fun or mean-
ingful."
Some Zero-Waste wedding
tips:
This photo provided by Ten Speed Press shows a flower crown FOOD AND DECOR This photo provided by Ten Speed Press shows a floral arch fea-
featured in the book "Seasonal Flower Arranging: Fill Your Home tured in the book "Seasonal Flower Arranging: Fill Your Home
with Blooms, Branches, and Foraged Materials All Year Round" Choose cloth napkins, with Blooms, Branches, and Foraged Materials All Year Round"
by Ariella Chezar. and authentic tableware, by Ariella Chezar.
Associated Press glassware and plates, rath- Associated Press
er than disposables.