2020 has been a weird one, right?
For those in the wedding industry, the lack of actual weddings has hit us hard . Most of us have turned to either diversifying or trying to do anything to keep the creative juices flowing. We all saw through lockdown that the Earth had time to have a bit of a breather - water became clearer, the air became less polluted and I bet it thanked us for it. We have certainly all seen the rewards in which being more thoughtful can reap and we, as one of the biggest industries out there, have a duty to try to be less wasteful and more ecologically thoughtful. That was the inspiration behind creating this shoot.
The concept was to give couples a few ideas as to how they can choose sustainable elements which generate less waste and use natural products rather than man made and disposable items and yet still look luxe and cool.
All images here were taken by wwwmarkuzaphoto.com
The Table
I wanted to utilise natural products as much as possible through each separate element of the design. For the table we used a lovely un-dyed linen as the table cloth and bamboo tableware which could be recycled afterwards. Cutlery was vintage and added a certain nostalgia and luxe touch to a simple setting. The table numbers, menus and invitation suite were created by www.dreamwild.co.uk (she creates very cool, hand illustrated stationery, prints and gifts which are eco conscious). The natural linens in neutral shades hung from the ceiling to create a backdrop effect and softened the brickwork of the venue.
The Florals
Floral clouds and forever meadows, created by www.doveandmyrtle.com were hung from the ceiling and placed on the floor surrounding the table. The great thing about the forever meadows is that because they are individually created, they can be transposed to different areas of your venue, making them an adaptable and cost effective way to create softness and drama. Jane used a mixture of dried and foraged pieces which created an amazing contrast in colour, texture and form. She also made two different bouquets , one which was more 'traditional' and used fresh florals and dry bunny tail, and the other a completely dried monochrome creation which worked beautifully with the linens and translucent veil.
The Food
The amazing edibles were made by www.thegardenchef.net
The breads were sourced separately and were teamed with cheeses and veggie delicacies all beautifully brought to the table on a wooden platter for guests to share as an alternative to the standard three course dinner. The amazing cakes were all created with kindness in mind - natural food dyes created a beautiful complimentary palette and were made even more special with their gorgeous toppings - macarons and salted caramel poached pears. I can also vouch that they were all delicious....
The Gowns and Accessories
One of my very favourite British designers, www.bowendryden.co.uk was my choice for the bridal wear. Sharon has created a new range which uses natural fabric a luxurious way. Her designs are always forward facing and luxurious. We chose separates which can be mixed and matched to create effect - a corset top and full gypsy skirt and palazzo pants with an on-trend ruffled blousy top.
The gorgeous accessories hand-made by www.ashleywildbridal.co.uk were such an added bonus and created an edgy and fun look, from hairpieces and earrings to the stunning hat and veil, all made from natural materials such as bamboo, paper, pampas and linen.
A sustainably thoughtful wedding need not be lacking in the wow factor. It can be a stunningly contemporary do, full of unique and kind ideas. If you would like to chat to me about planning or styling your eco-friendly wedding, just get in touch!
Sally x
Creative team:
Concept, Planning and Styling @lunaandthelane
Venue @patricksbarnsussex
Photographer @markuzaphotography
Florals @doveandmyrtle
Hair and MUA advisor @leeodmua
Catering @thegardenchef
Bridal wear @bowendryden
Accessories and hairpieces @ashleywildbridal
Stationery @dreamwildworkshop
Vegan boots @beyondskin
Model @jasmineambowode