Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 11 June 2019
Many couples say ‘I do’ to Zero-Waste weddings

By KATHERINE ROTH and painted a design on
Associated Press the front, but these days
To protect the environment, I’d say paperlesspost.com
many couples are saying or another e-mail option
“I do” to Zero-Waste wed- would be the best Zero-
dings, focusing on sustain- Waste option,” says John-
ability for everything from son. If you’re set on paper
floral design and dresses to though, “go for recycled
invitations and food. paper with vegetable ink,”
The goal is to recycle, re- says Sylvester. Some papers
use, compost and other- are embedded with seeds,
wise keep anything from so guests can even soak
becoming trash in a land- the invitation in water and
fill. Whether or not couples then plant it.
succeed in reaching the ___
Zero-Waste goal, “they’re ATTIRE
certainly more conscious Like tables, chairs and lin-
of the ecological impact of ens, wedding dresses and
what they do, and are aim- tuxedos can be rented.
ing for something as close Vintage or second-hand
to that as possible,” says dresses are also popular,
Rachel Sylvester, lifestyle and can be tailored to size.
editor at Real Simple mag- Some designers now make
azine. The key to success, This photo provided by Laetitia Drouet, of France-based Kamelion Couture, shows a wedding Zero-Waste dresses using
experts say, is letting wed- dress created by her which was inspired by the Bea Johnson book “Zero Waste Home.” fabric scraps otherwise
ding planners, vendors and Associated Press destined for the trash.
your reception venue know ed a reception for 60 peo- “Zero-Waste weddings are
from the start that you’re ple on a shoestring budget a recent trend in France.
serious about going Zero of $200 for everything. She This year I even designed
Waste. Then be flexible bought bedsheets from a for a client a wedding dress
enough to facilitate that. thrift shop to use as table- made from pieces of her
“Flexibility and creativ- cloths, and borrowed dish- grandmother’s wedding
ity are essential,” Sylvester es, tables and seating from dress,” says Laetitia Drouet
says. Bea Johnson, one of friends and family. of the French-based Kame-
the pioneers of the Zero- “We were on a tight bud- lion Couture.
Waste movement, says, get, so we were married ___
“You’d be amazed at what at city hall with our closest FLOWERS
you can find second-hand family there, had a sepa- Choose locally grown, sea-
if you’re open-minded rate reception for about sonal flowers, “certainly
and really look around.” 60 people, and decided to from a carbon-footprint
Her Zero Waste Home blog save most of our money for perspective if not a waste
features a “bulk finder” tab a really great honeymoon perspective,” says Ariella
that helps locate business- in Maine,” she says. Chezar, author of the forth-
es selling food, drinks and “Honestly, the hardest part coming book “Seasonal
other items free of plastic was convincing our families Flower Arranging: Fill Your
packaging. to go along with it all. My Home with Blooms, Branch-
Kathryn Kellogg, who wrote biggest tip is not to stress es, and Foraged Materials
extensively about her Zero- things, and to balance ex- All Year Round” (Ten Speed
Waste wedding on her Go- pectations with reality. Ours Press). To cut back on
ing Zero Waste blog, host- may not have been the waste, make sure your florist
perfect Pinterest wedding, isn’t using foam in center-
but that didn’t make it less pieces and other arrange-
fun or meaningful.” ments. “It’s one of those
Some Zero-Waste wedding This photo provided by Ten Speed Press shows a floral arch products that is non-bio-
tips: featured in the book “Seasonal Flower Arranging: Fill Your Home degradable and is totally
___ with Blooms, Branches, and Foraged Materials All Year Round” unnecessary,” says Chezar.
FOOD AND DECOR by Ariella Chezar. Next, plan how your florals
Choose cloth napkins, and Associated Press will be repurposed after the
authentic tableware, glass- butcher, had him put in 4 ding gifts, we asked guests event, she says. Many or-
ware and plates, rather or 5 pounds of pork shoul- to each bring a side dish ganizations will pick up ar-
than disposables. der, and served pulled pork or something to drink, and rangements and give them
“It’s easy enough to rent, and pulled jackfruit for the contribute to our honey- to nursing homes and other
borrow or find things at thrift main dishes,” Kellogg says. moon fund,” Kellogg says. institutions. If nothing else,
shops,” says Kellogg, who She and Johnson both rec- Other couples ask for dona- make sure flowers are com-
used her abundant collec- ommend colorful displays tions to their favorite char- posted instead up ending
This photo provided by Ten tion of Mason jars and bor- of fruits, vegetables or even ity, or contributions toward up in a landfill somewhere.
Speed Press shows a flower flower petals as table cen- a goal, such as a down “Or you can forgo cut flow-
crown featured in the book rowed items for her recep-
“Seasonal Flower Arranging: tion. “Sometimes an eclec- terpieces that guests can payment on a house. ers altogether in favor of
Fill Your Home with Blooms, tic mix of plates and glasses take home and enjoy. ___ potted plants, which can
Branches, and Foraged can be fun,” says Johnson. ___ INVITATIONS then be gifted or planted.
Materials All Year Round” by As for food, Kellogg says, “I GIFTS “For my wedding invita- There’s certainly no waste
Ariella Chezar. took my Crock-Pot to the “Instead of traditional wed- tions, I bought card stock there,” Chezar says.q
Associated Press