Rachel Arthur is a Sustainable fashion consultant, George Crowther a data scientist. The couple met through Bumble and tied the knot in a stunning sustainability-focused wedding.
George proposed over dinner in their kitchen at home with a lab grown diamond ring he had managed to get hold of in spite of the lockdown they were presently in. He had been wanting to propose for two weeks, and had originally planned to do it on her birthday and the day they moved into their new house, but the ring got held up in customs. Once it finally arrived, Rachel just thought it was her delayed birthday present so was very adamant about opening it! George managed to convince Rachel to get dressed up and sit down for a meal first. This became a real effort as they had both just tested positive for Covid that morning and felt awful.
Having a sustainable wedding was important to us because…
We know how important it is to try and shift the way we live, work and play towards more sustainable lifestyles full stop in order to avert the climate crisis. Rachel works in sustainable fashion and spends all of her time focused in this space. George holds her even more to account for it at home. When we were planning our wedding, we knew we had to think about it through this lens. The most sustainable option would have been not to have one at all, so we went in as realists about what we could achieve and how, but we really did think about it from every angle – energy, food, flowers, transport, outfits, equipment, you name it. We by no means nailed it, but I think we made some really thoughtful decisions within the context of what was possible. Our hope was to have less of an impact than you would typically associate with a wedding, as well as make some bold choices that would encourage other people to think a little bit differently too. So many of our guests commented on it, which was lovely.
The best part of our day was….
Having both of our children Wilbur (almost 3) and Indigo (8 months) with us. We always planned to do everything backwards, if you will, and it meant the world to have this come to life with them such a special presence on the occasion. Our very own page boy and flower girl.
We choose to get married at…
Rachel’s family home in Hampshire so as to make the day as personal and relaxed as possible. We also felt like hosting it in the garden was a really lovely way to acknowledge our focus on sustainability and being close to nature. Our greatest success with this was placing the marquee in a certain position that meant we managed to have two wildflower beds as central features inside it.
I knew I found ‘The One’ when…
I had originally intended to find a dress style, then go and source the same or similar second hand. I was four months pregnant with baby number two and showing already so time was a huge pressure. When I tried on the one I ended up with, it was the biggest cliché as I knew instantly I was going to buy it. I had such guilt at doing so new, and still do today, but I wouldn’t change it for the world as it really was so perfect. I attempted to ‘offset’ this eco-guilt by encouraging my bridesmaids into sustainable outfit choices. I didn’t want them all to be matching as I felt it was so unsuited to who I am, who they are, and where we’re at in our lives, so we came up with a theme and I helped them search for either second hand or rental options. Both of those are tough if you’re not used to doing them or you’re time poor, which of course all of them are. But we ended up with 3 out of 5 successes (one bought from Depop, one sourced from a friend, and another rented from Hurr), which felt like a real win. George and all of his groomsmen were in second hand waistcoats and pre-owned trousers/shirts/shoes. Menswear is so much easier! We also asked our guests to dress as sustainably as possible, and we organised discount codes for them to a variety of different rental sites accordingly. We had so many of them taking us up on the idea, or wearing something they already owned, and thoroughly enjoying the experience.
The most enjoyable moments of planning were…
Bringing together people we loved to be a part of some of the choices – like which wines we would serve courtesy of two different wine tasting evenings with family and friends, and which vegetarian dishes we would include after a wonderful taster lunch with both of our Mums and the owners of Bread and Flowers. Rachel also took a beautiful trip with her Mum to the trade division of our local garden centre to choose trees to borrow for the wedding day. Talk about sustainable decorations! Euonymus, Cryptomeria, Magnolia and Ligustrum lined the entrance to, and the wild flower beds within, the marquee in the garden.
We made small (sustainable) changes that made a big difference such as….
Choosing to go with an entirely vegetarian and local menu. This was such a simple choice for us, but made for so much creativity in terms of what the dishes would be, how they would suit the theme and setting of the day, and just how much of an impact it would have on the overall sustainability efforts of the occasion. We were pleasantly surprised by just how many people told us how much they enjoyed the food and how different it was to normal.
The hardest part of planning was…
Budgeting. Weddings are just so expensive and we knew this going in, but it’s crazy how things add up. We made a concerted effort to strip out all of the extras that get completely ridiculous, like all of the table decorations or favours that most people are rarely too bothered about. And we tried to then do things that would traditionally be expensive – like everyone’s outfits – for cheaper by looking at more responsible alternatives. I even had my Nicholas Kirkwood shoes lovingly restored by The Restory rather than buying new. Some things you just can’t get around however – like the cost of a marquee or a band, or indeed the catering. But really working through each item and saying ‘can we do this in a different, more sustainable and economical way’ was really constructive.
Our first dance song was…
Harvest Moon by Neil Young.
My top three tips for any couple who are trying to make eco-changes to their big day would be
Firstly, think about your food choices and opt for vegetarian if you can. This makes such a big difference, and there are so many delicious options you can incorporate that beat the majority of traditional chicken dishes. Secondly, try and source everything as locally and seasonally as possible. This means you won’t be adding extra mileage. You don’t need exotic flowers when the UK has such a beautiful variety all year round for instance – it’s just about fitting your day in with what is currently growing, which ultimately will look all the more appropriate. Finally, be thoughtful about your bridal party outfits – from second hand to rental, there are a wealth of options out there today that mean you really don’t need to buy something new for everyone, especially when they’re likely only going to wear it this once. It takes extra work, but it’s worth it.
If I was able to do it all over again, the one thing I would change is…
I really wouldn’t change a thing. We had the most incredible day and were so happy with how all of the details – sustainable and not – came together. I always think things can be improved upon when it comes to being more sustainable, but it’s also about being realistic with what works for you at any given time. My only wish would just be to live it all over again (minus the footprint that would entail!)
List of suppliers
Caterer: Bread & Flowers @breadandflowers
Dress: Rara Avis @raraavis_group
Bridesmaids: Variety including via Depop @depop and Hurr @hurr
Groom outfit: via Ebay (and Vinted)
Flower girls & page boys: via Ebay and Vinted
Florist: Kidge Flowers @kidgeflowers
Photographer: Samantha Cook @samcookphoto
Wedding rings: Alighieri @alighieri_jewellery and Kimai @kimai.co
Makeup: Victoria Baker @baker_makeup
Hair: Jess Turvey @jess_arcanahair
Wedding Planner: Ten Four @tenfourglobal
Related Article: Inside: A Colourful Garden Wedding in the Cotswolds
