Ethical Weddings

Ethical Weddings Blog has moved!

2007-02-18T19:18:00.000Z

If you're looking for the Ethical Weddings blog, we have moved! You can now find us at www.ethicalweddings.com/blog where we have two brides-to-be telling us all about the preparations for their big green day! To be kept updated on the latest Ethical Weddings developments, sign up for our newsletter. You can check out our Valentine's edition here. Happy planning! Katie & the EW Team ethicalweddings.com

BBC worldwide wants ethical bride!

2007-01-31T15:45:00.000Z

I have been contacted by BBC World Service Radio's flagship breakfast programme: The World Today. Ahead of the publication of a major UN report on Climate Change on Friday, they are looking to put together a selection of interesting stories about what individuals are doing to save the enviroment. If you are celebrating your ethical wedding this weekend or in the next few weeks, they would really love to have a chat with you! For more information, contact Karen Chan on 020 7557 2782 or at karen.chan@bbc.co.uk

The full story

2007-01-29T20:19:00.000Z

After yesterday's post about the ethical Bradford bride, The Independent now have full details of the big green day here. Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com

It's green up North!

2007-01-28T15:27:00.000Z

We get a lot of requests for details of organic, fair trade and eco-friendly suppliers based in the North of England, as a lot of the ethical action seems to be going on down South... So we were happy to find the Yorkshire Post reporting on a green wedding for one of their native brides from Bradford, 24-year-old final year medical student, Jessica Randall. Jessica, whose now husband, Joe Carrick is a youth and children's worker, had spent time in Tanzania and witnessed the desperate poverty there. When Joe proposed therefore she was keen to focus on "getting married rather than having a big, white wedding". The pair celebrated the special occasion yesterday afternoon. Highlights of the day and the preparations included recycled wedding stationery, flowers grown in her mother's back garden, a conflict-free diamond engagement ring, and fair trade and organic food and wine. The only downside for hopeful green northern couples, the wedding itself took place in London! Read the article in full. If you are a northern bride or groom and are struggling to find suppliers, or have found some superb ones that you want to shout about, Alex, our Ethical Weddings coordinator in the North, wants to hear from you! Happy planning, Katie ethicalweddings.com

A word from the Reverend...

2007-01-17T20:23:00.000Z

This post, we are pleased to introduce Jan Harney, green vicar extraordinaire, who shares with us her thoughts on ethical weddings, and The Church of England's move greenwards... "The earth is an incredibly beautiful place. It was created with a perfect balance as a place for people, animals and plants to live, with all our food and even our medicines and beauty products around us for the picking, with a perfect rhythm to the seasons. Yet the way many of us choose to live our lives is threatening that fine balance. In this 21st century, we are becoming more aware than ever before of the damage that we are inflicting upon our planet, from climate change and soil erosion to pollution of our air and water, damage to the ozone layer and the extinction of some animals simply because they have nowhere to live and breed in safety. Green issues used to be seen as belonging to an ‘alternative’ and even vaguely Hippy lifestyle. Now environmental awareness is a stark reality with everyone being challenged to reduce, re-use, re-cycle. As individuals, we can all take it upon ourselves to reduce our own impact by trying to change the way we live, travel, work, rest and play, source food, use energy and dispose of our waste. A very popular phrase for this is that we should leave a very light ‘footprint’ on the planet. With that phrase in mind the Church of England launched a campaign and marked World Environment Day 2006 (Monday 5 June) by taking a further step forward in the campaign to ‘green’ the Church. The campaign is supported by a website, Shrinking the Footprint, and Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has taken a strong lead on this as he believes it to be a Biblical stance: The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. Genesis 2:15 (New Living Translation) But caring for the planet is the responsibility of everyone who lives and breathes on it. And what better time to do that than when you leave the home of your childhood and start out in a new life as a married couple. Your wedding day is the launching of that new life and the ceremony itself is full of symbolism: The ring is a symbol of unending love If a bride’s dad walks her up the aisle he literally hands her over into the care and protection of her husband. This means he no longer has the right to exert influence but respects the right of the couple to make their own life choices When you walk towards the altar rail for final prayers the Vicar is actually physically taking you away from your families to begin a new independent relationship So to have an ethical wedding symbolizes to all family and friends gathered that this is the way you choose to live – in a way that honours God, each other and the planet. Fantastic I wish you all every possible blessing in your new lives Jan Harney (Rev'd) www.activatecv.org.uk www.rejesus.co.uk www.asineden.org.uk www.newlyweds-uk.com Thanks Jan! It is always interesting - and useful - to hear from the people behind the wedding ceremony. Why not read our interview with Belinda Chapman, a celebrant from Light on Life, who has an eco-approach to the ceremonies she conducts. If you are involved in the wedding or partnership ceremony and support the idea of an ethical wedding, please get in touch, we'd love to hear from you! Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com

Be a blogger bride...

2007-01-08T00:13:00.000Z

At Ethical Weddings we're looking for ethical brides and green grooms to tell us about their plans for the big day. It could just be once a week, or once a fortnight, but we want to hear how you're getting on with your plans for a green wedding - to inspire others to follow you down the eco aisle! If this is something that tickles your fancy, drop us a line at info@ethicalweddings.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com

2007 Honeymoon heaven!

2007-01-06T14:22:00.000Z

Happy New Year! I hope you had a good break and enjoyed the season's festivities. Christmas is such a romantic time of year, I'm sure there were a few fourth fingers wearing nice new rings come January...? But then it's back to work, the weather is dull and rainy and everything seems a little depressing. So, the perfect time to start thinking about holidays and planning your honeymoon! To give you a few ideas, why not take a look at our article for responsibletravel.com on finding a honeymoon with a heart... Take care, and wrap up warm! Katie ethicalweddings.com

Grow your own ring...

2006-12-04T20:56:00.000Z

Well, this is a bit different! We've talked in the past about ethical wedding and engagement rings, the controversial subject of conflict diamonds and the environmental impact of mining, whether for precious stones or precious metals. We looked at the options, certified conflict-free diamonds, fair trade rings from companies such as Silver Chilli or Cred Jewellery, recycled precious metal rings from Green Karat or even wooden rings. But the one thing we didn't mention (for the simple reason that I had never heard of it before) was growing your own ring... Then, in the course of my every day browsing for the unusual and the bizarre of the wedding world (for professional reasons only, naturally!), I came across the Biojewellery Project. Interesting name, I thought. What's that all about? Well, it's pretty much as bizarre as it sounds. In essence, the idea is to grow your wedding ring... from your own bone cells. I discovered from the Biojewellery website that the project began life in 2003 as a response to ‘Consuming Monsters’ a brief on the Interaction Design course at the Royal College of Art in London. The idea was to get students to produce provocative objects that would encourage debate about how we see the benefits and problems associated with biotechnological advances. The project looked for couples who were up for donating their bone cells. Not for everyone but they did get a good response. These would then be prepared and seeded onto a bioactive scaffold (hmm...they were losing me a little at this point!). Apparently, this pioneering material makes the cells divide and grow rapidly in a lab environment, so that the scaffold disappears and is replaced by living bone tissue. The couples' cells were grown at Guy’s Hospital and the finished bone tissue was taken to a studio at the Royal College of Art to be used in the design of a pair of rings. Three couples were chosen to go through with the process; you can read an interview with one of the couples, Matt and Harriet, here. It sounds like an excellent solution for the bride and groom looking for a ring that does not harm the environment or other people; just grow it yourself! I was instantly intrigued. Sadly, however, this isn't the whole deal. The bone is combined with traditional precious metals to make the finished ring. If you're feeling a little intrigued yourself and want to see the final result (the image in this post does not show the real thing but a sample ring using a combination of cow marrow-bone and etched silver), why not head off to Guy's Hospital to see the exhibition: Biojewellery: Designing Rings with Bioengineered Bone Tissue December 7th 2006 - February 14th 2007 Atrium 1, Guy's Hospital, St Thomas Street, London, Greater London, SE1 9RT This exhibition documents each stage of the project, from the donation and culturing of cells, to the design of the jewellery and the actual making of the rings. The exhibition provides an intimate account of what can happen, when our creative visions of science are brought to bear on its progress. Who knows, this might be the future of the ethical wedding ring? Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com

Have we got news for you?

2006-11-28T08:15:00.000Z

We are very pleased to announce the launch of our Ethical Weddings newsletter - out today! If you are visiting this blog because the newsletter popped into your inbox this morning - welcome!

If you weren't a lucky recipient and want to be, you can sign up for the newsletter here. As part of our ongoing wedding research, we have prepared a little survey to find out your thoughts on weddings in general and ethical weddings in particular - you can take the survey here. We'd love to hear your views! And in other news, online ethical TV channel Frontier TV would like to do a short documentary on ethical weddings. If you're a couple getting married early next year and are interested in possibly taking part in this, drop us a line to find out more. That's all for now - be back soon! Take care, Katie, Jamie & Alex ethicalweddings.com

An un-eco wedding!

2006-11-15T23:25:00.000Z

Just read this piece from The Guardian last Saturday in the Ecotist column: How can anybody justify a wedding? It made me laugh, it's quite tongue in cheek, but I guess it does answer that question you get sometimes: how can a wedding not be eco / green / ethical? Have a read - and a chuckle! Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com

Ethical aisle style...

2006-10-28T18:50:00.000+01:00

Well, I'm pleased to say the trend for eco-friendly ethical bridalwear is not going away. Another young designer is stepping up to the mark ready to put her own stamp on the green wedding dress... but before she takes the plunge, she wants to know a bit more about the stylish ethical bride, so that's where you ladies come in! Over to Sabina at Motasem... Calling all stylish eco-conscious ladies who live/work in London and the south east! Are you eco and fashion conscious? Are you a modern working woman? Newly engaged? Or just need a fabulous frock? I am trying to find out how eco-minded professional women shop when they need a non-traditional wedding dress or party frock. Your input will be invaluable in helping to create a range of gorgeous dresses that women will be proud to wear, feel fabulous in, have fun in, and be eco-friendly at the same time. The first half of the questionnaire is about party frocks and the last part non-traditional wedding dresses for anyone who has already had her big day, or is about to... So if you have a spare 5 minutes to tell me a little about your style, please take my survey! Hope to hear from you soon... Sabina x Cheers, Sabina. Can't wait to see the collection! Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green eco-friendly ethical shopping fashion alternative bride wedding style

Estethica!

2006-10-21T01:23:00.000+01:00

The Natural History Museum has shrugged off its vegan silk shawl and stepped out of its organic cotton gown but I have not yet forgotten London Fashion Week's Estethica exhibition that took place there a few weeks ago. I attended with my Ethical Weddings hat on (at a jaunty angle of course!) but was blown away by the whole thing from Davina Hawthorne's 'Auntie Winnies Party' collection of recycled wool and floral fabrics juxtaposing day of the dead Mexican printed skulls and Victorian inspired hair pieces to Enamore's sexy hemp underwear! You didn't have to look too hard, however, to see the potential for the ethical bride... First up is Deborah Milner who has been working with the support of Aveda to develop eco-sustainable fabrics that meet the high standards of haute couture. Deborah's journey has been an unusual one, from St Martins, the Royal College of Art and a successful fashion career, to a year working on environmental sustainability initiatives in Brazil then back to the fashion world with a desire to combine these two seemingly incompatible interests (read more about Deborah's story on Treehugger). When I chatted with Deborah, she mentioned that she had previously designed bridalwear and is looking to do so again. Indeed, she has already created the "Bridal Lace Dress" from melted plastic bags! So watch this space...! Next we move on to an absolutely stunning collection (and fab website) from Trash Couture - who recycle vintage frocks - that would make you an unforgettable bride. I didn't dare ask "how much?" in case I was tempted! But they do have an outlet in West London if you fancy investigating further. Strolling over to the next stand, Sarah Ratty of Ciel had a number of dresses on display that had already been worn for weddings - a simple white tea dress for the bride (as featured in 'Brides' magazine) that could easily be worn again had proved very popular, as had beautiful red hemp/silk bridesmaid dresses. And finally, we musn't forget the bride's green feet! Natalie at Beyond Skin was proud to show off their new range of luxury ethical footwear - Sui Generis -

"inspired by romantic vintage with a hint of candy quirkiness".

And if there is nothing in the collection to take your fancy (which I would find hard to believe!) Beyond Skin also offer a bespoke service for weddings. So there you have it, a pleasant day out for me and some ethical wedding outfit ideas for you...it almost made me want to get married all over again! Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical shopping fashion alternative organic wedding shoes dress

The bride wore green?!

2006-10-03T20:36:00.000+01:00

After a bit of a blog block for the last few weeks, Ethical Weddings is back with a guest spot from Joanne Mackin of Wholly-Jo's. So, over to you, Jo! Hello! My name is Joanne and I am an ethical wedding dress designer. Here is my mini guide to a green wedding dress. 80% of brides keep their wedding dress after the event but only 20% or so wear it again. It is virtually impossible to meet all the criteria that you may think of for a wedding dress. So decide what is most important to you and go for that angle. Think vegan, fair trade, organic, sustainable... In no particular order: Re-use - get hold of a pre-loved dress (!). Look to Mum (or even Grandma), sisters and friends. Oxfam run a small chain of bridal shops, charity shops, ebay etc. A local dressmaker will be able to alter it to fit or make adjustments to style or even just re-use the fabrics from one or more dresses to make a new dress. Finding a dressmaker: ask handy friends, try google, local fabric shops often have lists, yellow pages or try Sew Direct for a list of professional dressmakers in your area. Get one made from ethical fabrics - Do it yourself, ask a creative friend or try: Organic Silks Loop Fabric Greenfibres Fabrics Ltd Even a dress made from conventional fabrics by a local dressmaker will be more green than one produced in poor conditions in a faraway land. Hire one or buy one and re-sell it. Choose a dress you can wear again. Natural fibres can be dyed after the big day - or you could take the dress up to make it more wearable. Separates can be used with other items if you want to dress them down - a corset top with jeans, perhaps? If I can help let me know. I cover design, making, restyles and alterations. I can also supply ethical fabrics including peace silk (veggie silk). See my website or my listing on Ethical Weddings when it's all up and running! All the best, Joanne Thank you very much for the tips, Joanne - really helpful! We'll be back soon with the latest from London Fashion Week's sustainable fashion exhibition: Estethica Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical bridal fashion alternative organic recycle wedding

Share your ethical wedding story!

2006-09-07T11:44:00.000+01:00

BBC TV has contacted us to see if we know of any brides and grooms planning an ethical wedding who would be interested in taking part in a documentary about weddings that are a bit out of the ordinary. Could be a great way to let the world know that a green wedding doesn't require you to walk up the aisle in a hemp sack! If you think you might be up for it, read more here... TELEVISION WANTS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR BIG DAY FOR ‘WEDDING STORIES’ Are you getting married between now and mid November 2006? The BBC is interested in speaking to couples who feel that they have an unusual story to tell and would be happy to be filmed in the weeks leading up to their big day. Are you planning something out of the ordinary for the ceremony? Are you marrying someone from another country? Whatever the story – wedding or civil partnership - we would like to be there to capture the moments up to and including that special journey up the aisle. If you would like to share your story why not give us a call? We will be happy to talk to you in more detail about the programme and will treat your call as confidential. Tel: 020 8752 5724 Or email wedding@bbc.co.uk Take care Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical bbc wedding alternative organic

Going for gold?

2006-09-06T20:04:00.000+01:00

This morning a newly engaged couple from London led a march along Oxford Street calling for jewellers to take action to ensure the gold they sell is mined ethically. Independent Catholic News tells how a twenty strong congregation of CAFOD campaigners carried a 100 metre long signed gold chain petition to deliver to jewellery retailer Argos on New Oxford Street. The couple has signed up to CAFOD's Unearth Justice campaign, calling on UK high street jewellers to sign up to the 'Golden Rules', twelve principles for ensuring that gold mining does not destroy communities and the environment, and to work to ensure the gold they sell has been responsibly mined. They said: "We want to be proud of our wedding bands, not feel guilty wearing them." Read Independent Catholic News' account here: Wedding blues as couple search for pure gold If you're trying to choose your wedding rings but are concerned about the social and environmental issues, why not take a look at the Unearth Justice and No Dirty Gold campaigns? And for companies who are already thinking about - and acting on - the issues, check out this little list... April Doubleday Cred Jewellery Green Karat (US based) Leber Jeweler - Earthwise Jewelry (US based) Silver Chilli Sumiche (US based) Or you could ditch the metal altogether with... Touch Wood Rings (US based) Wooden Wedding Rings Let us know which rings you opt for and why here - and if you have pics, we'll post them on the blog! Take care Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical rings fashion alternative wedding gold campaign

Ethical Wedding Giving

2006-08-31T21:01:00.000+01:00

Bonsoir brides and grooms, I am back from les vacances at the beautiful Moulin Fresnaye in the Loire Valley (big thumbs up!). Although fully rested and very relaxed, I am still feeling just a little bit lazy and so am taking this opportunity to crosspost a recent piece I wrote for City Hippy on ethical wedding gift lists. It discusses the various options open to the couple not in the market for more toasters! Do you go for charity giving or an eco gift list? Have a read and let me know your thoughts on the subject - I'm all ears! Present & Correct? Slap bang in the middle of the wedding season, you're probably, like us, being faced with a range of wedding gift lists to examine and dissect. A recent entry in the Observer's regular ethical living column, asked: ‘Can I say ‘I do’ with an eco wedding list?’, and proposed ‘offering up your wedding list to a higher purpose’ discussing the merits of an actual gift list versus a charity gift list where rather than buying gifts, guests donate to the couple's charity of choice. The ‘eco-themed’ list, offering devices to help you make your home more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly was deemed a ‘lite-green’ option as opposed to the charity list which was termed the ‘true ‘ethical’ list’. At Ethical Weddings we wholeheartedly approve of charity gift lists to replace the buying of goods when they are neither needed nor desired (we often use them ourselves for Christmas and birthday gifts) and The Alternative Wedding List will soon be appearing in our directory. However, we also see the ‘eco-themed’ (insert also fair trade, organic and recycled products) as an excellent one-off opportunity. Not only do you get to furnish your home with all those energy-saving devices that you always meant to get around to buying, beautiful organic bed linen and a complete set of fairly traded crockery to supplement the chipped bowl and plate you’ve had since your first term at university (ok, maybe just us!), but you get to showcase these wonderful products to your guests without preaching at them, and you are supporting small producers and community cooperatives who, given the choice, would probably prefer to earn a living from what they create than be the recipients of charity. If you choose to do without a wedding list, that’s great. The only problem is, it’s a wedding, it’s a celebration, however much you tell them not to, your guests will still want to buy you something, and if you don’t give them a clue, that’s when you end up with multiple toasters and kettles. When it comes down to it, the invention of the wedding list was an exercise in sustainability – to avoid waste, avoid duplication by giving the bride and groom just what they need to set up home – and nothing more! There are ethical gift lists out there of all shapes and sizes and to suit all tastes. Ganesha is an Aladdin's cave of lovely fair trade items to make you and your home beautiful. Their wedding gift list launched in March and the happy couple can sign up here! Greenfibres is a well-established online and high street shop in Totnes offering high quality organic and fair trade items for the home. They have an excellent gift list - guests could even contribute to a new marital bed! Find out more here. For something a bit different, why not try Otterton Mill? A centuries old working water mill, their gallery sells work from a selection of the best artists from Devon, Dorset and Somerset. You can support them through The Otterton Mill Wedding List Service selecting unique works of art from the gallery to adorn your walls and surfaces. Or for the eco gift list option, head for the Centre of Alternative Technology. Their wedding gift list has a massive range of products all aimed at helping you live more sustainably; from organic bed linen and towels, recycled wine glasses and bird-nesting boxes through to the UK's best range of environmental books. And if you happen to be Stateside, why not check out one of these stylish eco-friendly stores. BTC Elements, based in California already has a gift list ready and waiting for you, while Greenjeans in Brooklyn are looking forward to launching their gift list later this year. Happy wedding planning! Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: cityhippy green environment ethical shopping gift list alternative organic eco-friendly fair trade wedding energy efficient UK dorset somerset devon totnes

Biological weddings!

2006-08-17T09:36:00.000+01:00

Allow me to present my excuses for the lack of posts over the last week... we have been entertaining guests from afar - well, Barcelona! As well as trying to keep their (very cute) 2 year old occupied, I have been attempting to explain the concept of Ethical Weddings to them. They seemed very receptive to the idea but having not spoken Spanish for nearly a year, I was struggling a bit for the translation of eco-friendly, recycled, vintage, fair trade ('comercio justo' since you ask!) ...and organic. 'Organico', 'organica' - I tried but apparently no. In Spain, the term they use for what we understand as organic is 'biologico' - biological. With my English fondness for alliteration, and knowledge of Spanish (wedding in Spanish is 'boda'), I spotted an opportunity to move into the Spanish wedding market with, wait for it... 'Bodas Biologicas'! So, do you fancy a biological wedding? What would a biological wedding consist of? Answers on a postcard please! And talking of postcards, Ethical Weddings is off to France for a week of relaxation and wine tasting so... a bientot mes amis! Katie x ethicalweddings.com Image courtesy of www.freeimages.co.uk Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical spanish alternative organic

Bridezilla?

2006-08-11T20:37:00.000+01:00

Wow - weddings are world news now! In last week's Sunday Times (under World news), this little gem caught my eye: 'Bridezillas fall to earth with the blues' Apparently, more and more brides are being diagnosed with PWD - that's Post Wedding Depression to you and me (previously described as PND - Post Nuptial Depression in The Observer in 2003, or PBD - Post Bridal Depression on Australia's girl.com). The depression sets in once the confetti has settled, the dress is back in its box, and the last drop of champagne has been drunk. After the build-up to the big day, every day life seems mundane and dull. Sounds worrying... So what can you do to ward off this condition that in some cases has been known to develop into clinical depression? Well, if you're reading this blog, chances are you're doing it already. According to The Sunday Times article, 'The bigger the wedding, the harder the return to ordinary routines'. It goes on to say that, 'The vogue for ever more expensive and elaborate ceremonies appears to be creating a generation of brides-in-therapy who never recover from the loss of attention that accompanied their wedding planning.' Planning an ethical or green wedding, while it can still take up a lot of time, tends to lead brides and grooms to look at ways of downsizing their wedding, to avoid excess and waste wherever possible, and to make the most of local services and products. Picking up the tab once the event is over can be made a bit easier by the thought that some of your hard-earned cash is helping to support businesses and causes that you believe in. All that planning can set you up for a more sustainable married life too as, chances are, you will have stumbled across some great resources in the process of sourcing items such as fair trade clothes, organic food and wine, stylish vegan shoes, ethical jewellery and eco-friendly transport for the big day. And let's not forget the green gift list that's kitted you out with all the latest energy-saving gadgets for carbon neutral wedded bliss! So... in conclusion, if you want to beat the bridal blues, go green! Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical shopping fashion alternative organic downsizing wedding

Shoes & Chocolate!

2006-08-07T20:18:00.000+01:00

Two ways to a woman's heart... and we've got them both at Ethical Weddings! First up, the stylish but ethical vegan shoe company, Beyond Skin, which boasts Natalie Portman and Chrissie Hynde as fans, will be joining the Ethical Weddings directory when it launches later this year. An exhibitor at the recent Crafts Council 'Well-Fashioned: Eco Style in the UK' exhibition, Beyond Skin's founder, Natalie Dean, declares: “I’d continually found in the past that attempts to combine fashion and ethics generally resulted in one side of the equation being sacrificed. I wanted to prove that they could go hand in hand.” As you can see in this post's pic, I have tasted the proof of the pudding, having been lucky enough to procure a pair for my own wedding last April! Our other newcomer is The - does exactly what it says on the cake tin - Organic Chocolate Cake Company. Trading as Top Hat Cakes since 1985, they thought it was about time their name reflected the fact that they were the first chocolate cake specialists in the UK to be recognised by the Soil Association. They have made cakes for everyone from Aardman Animations to Massive Attack and they could be baking for you. Just make sure you're not too hungry before checking out their fabulous wedding cakes! If you're a potential Ethical Weddings supplier, why not think about taking advantage of our 3 month free trial? Or drop us an email to find out more - we'd love to hear from you. Coming soon... keep a look out for a post from the so far silent partner of Ethical Weddings - it's Jamie, the husband! Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical shopping fashion alternative organic wedding cake shoes vegan chocolate

Light on Life - Interview with Belinda Chapman

2006-07-27T12:28:00.000+01:00

As promised, here is the interview with Belinda Chapman of Light on Life - cross-posted from City Hippy: Celebrant Belinda Chapman of Light on Life works from Arka Eco-Funerals in Brighton and from nearby Lewes. She got in touch to see how Light on Life might be able to work with Ethical Weddings and I was keen to meet her, not least to find out exactly what being a celebrant involves... EW: Nice to meet you Belinda. I'm really intrigued by what you do. We're meeting in an Eco-Funeral parlour but you're interested in Ethical Weddings. Can you tell me exactly what it is a celebrant does? BC: My main job as a celebrant is to create ceremonies for all life events. Those occasions that mark beginnings, transitions and endings in our lives. Each ceremony is designed to meet the individual's needs. EW: Is this the same idea as having a Humanist ceremony? BC: It isn't, that is a common misconception actually. Humanism has a clear set of beliefs and a Humanist ceremony would not have any religious elements at all. As an independent celebrant, I can make the ceremony suit the people at the centre of it whether this involves no religious reference, a combination of different beliefs (if the couple getting married were from different religious backgrounds, for example) or an emphasis on the green and ethical issues which are more and more a part of our lives - as you have found with Ethical Weddings. EW: And as a celebrant, are you able to perform the legal side of a wedding ceremony? BC: Not at present - a Registrar would still need to contract the marriage or civil partnership - and I often work with one. However, I am in the process of setting up an association of independent celebrants (there are about 30 of us in the UK at the moment) so that as a body we can lobby for the right to legally contract a marriage or civil partnership - we had our first meeting in March. EW: And why did you decide to be a celebrant - where did the idea come from? BC: As your idea for Ethical Weddings was a result of your own wedding, sadly, for me the path to becoming a celebrant stemmed from my mother's funeral 3 years ago. I was not happy with the funeral, it did not seem to reflect her life, and I thought: if only there was someone to help with this when you were at your most vulnerable, to draw out all the good things and make it an occasion for celebrating and remembering. And it was after this that I began my research into becoming a celebrant. EW: How did your previous experience qualify you for this role? BC: I came from a performing background - theatre, TV, radio and community theatre - and was involved in Lanternhouse International [a theatre company started over 25 years ago to create 'poetic, daring, visually stunning, emotionally arresting works of participative and celebratory arts and performance']. I attended their 'Rites of Passage' course looking at ceremony and ritual with artists and performers, and now teach on these courses myself. EW: And where do your clients come from - what are they looking for when they get in touch with you? BC: The circumstances are different in each case - I have done ceremonies in a front room, on a beach, in a hotel - although more and more people are looking for the greener options such as the eco funeral we offer at Arka or a green wedding, such as one I did in Lewes recently in a field with all the food sourced locally. At first, people came to me through word of mouth, friends of family and friends of friends. They wanted a ceremony that wasn't just about tradition or the way things had always been done, but that was about them, that reflected who they were and the lives they led. I talk everything through with the family or couple and find out what is important to them and from that I create the ceremony - through songs, poetry, literature, whatever they choose. Before the Civil Partnerships were introduced I created ceremonies for many same sex couples - although now many are opting to go via the Registrar only. EW: And what do you find you do more of, weddings or funerals? BC: In the last 12 months it has mostly been funerals - people are increasingly interested in the idea of the eco coffin and leaving as small a footprint as possible on the earth when we leave it. But I am very keen to develop the wedding side and hope to get the word out through Ethical Weddings. The latest development is to open a ceremony shop in Lewes - and to make the service and products on offer as green as they can be! EW: Best of luck with that, Belinda. And I'm looking forward to working with you through Ethical Weddings! If you want to get in touch with Belinda about your ceremony or celebration, visit Light on Life or click here - she will be more than happy to hear from you. Take care, Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: cityhippy green environment ethical wedding ceremony alternative organic funeral brighton hove UK celebration

A storm is brewing!

2006-07-26T21:59:00.000+01:00

So the hot weather continues but not for much longer perhaps? The lightning show has begun...where is the rain? It's been a few days since my last post so I thought I would do a quick update of Ethical Weddings events. At the weekend we went to Bristol where I met with a journalist for the Soil Association's magazine, 'Living Earth'. We had a good chat over a cup of tea about my own wedding and how this led to the setting up of Ethical Weddings. The article, which will appear in the Autumn issue of 'Living Earth', will feature a bride (who works for the Soil Association) who planned her own green wedding; Ruth Culver, who set up the wedding coordinating service, Green Weddings; and me! On the supplier front, I had the pleasure of meeting with Belinda Chapman of Light on Life the other week. Belinda is a celebrant - her role involves creating life ceremonies to suit the people at the centre of them - they can take place anywhere, in a hotel, on a beach, in a field - and use any form of expression - music, songs, literature, poetry or performance. I will be posting my chat with Belinda on City Hippy - watch this space and I'll let you know when it's up! Another supplier to sign up to Ethical Weddings is the very funky Junky Styling. Using clothes from charity shops or that were headed for the bin, they deconstruct them then redesign them into twisted, tailored garments that are utterly unique. Wedding dresses begin at £2000 and men's suits at £450 - all items can be turned around within 2-6 weeks. My sister and I have been giving our own clothes a new lease of life tonight...by conducting a swap shop in my living room. However, I now seem to have more clothes than I started with - a trip to the charity shop may be in order! Bye for now! Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings wedding bride green environment ethical cityhippy fashion alternative organic ceremony celebrant recycling

Hot & Green!

2006-07-19T23:12:00.000+01:00

Phew it is hot! I managed to haul myself away from the beach today to head up to the big smoke (and it definitely is right now) and meet up with Ruth Culver, wedding coordinator extraordinaire of Green Weddings fame. Over a rice muffin and fresh juice at the yummy Neal's Yard Salad Bar in Covent Garden, we swapped stories of our own weddings and shared ideas on where the whole green / ethical wedding is heading. While Ethical Weddings is very much about providing the resources for couples to organise their own ethical weddings, and a space for them to chat and swap tips and advice, Green Weddings is a bespoke service where you meet with Ruth, tell her the type of wedding you would like to have, and she will organise it for you - with your input of course - in the greenest way possible! So if you're short on time but big on going green, ask Ruth. You can read some of Ruth's top tips for having a green wedding in The Times' eco-worrier article: 'planet-friendly partnerships: their big, fat green weddings'. Meanwhile, Ethical Weddings is keen to encourage ethical wedding suppliers to sign up to the online directory due to go live later this year. So if you are an organic caterer or a purveyor of fair trade confetti (for example!), sign up here. Bye for now... Katie ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings cityhippy green environment ethical bride fashion alternative organic wedding green+weddings fair+trade

Ethical Weddings - early days!

2006-07-17T22:29:00.000+01:00

Many of you will already know me from City Hippy where Al kindly publishes my posts when I manage to put together something worth reading! I will continue posting on City Hippy but have decided to use this space to give you a little insight into the day-to-day struggles of starting a business (for those of you who are interested - or who want to give me advice!). My next Ethical Weddings post on City Hippy will be on the rather stressful subject of finding a venue so before I get on to tackling that weighty issue I thought I would point you in the direction of some lighter reading as well as a bit of background: the whole story from beginning to end (starting when I was 6 years old, I believe - you get to see me dressing up in my mum's wedding dress!) of our own attempt at an ethical wedding appears in August's issue of Lifescape - the new vegetarian magazine whose tagline is 'cruelty-free, fair trade, organic'. It is available now from WH Smiths and all good newsagents or you can sign up for a subscription here. Meanwhile, back at my desk, my husband and I are trying to get my many files and newspaper cuttings (about all those potential ethical wedding suppliers!) into some semblance of order. Once this has been achieved my levels of efficiency will no doubt know no bounds...once I've dragged myself away from the beach that is (oh the trials of living in Brighton!). Bye for now... Katie x ethicalweddings.com Technorati tags: ethicalweddings green environment ethical wedding bride alternative organic lifescape start-up eco