From a team of passionate suppliers these ethical wedding ideas are sure to point you in the right direction in order to re-create your own ethical wedding. Showing us that you can create a wedding with less environmental impact, with beautiful red and gold styling, a red wedding dress and bespoke accessories… and all ethical! Linda Thomas from Eco Design coordinated the shoot and here we catch up with her and the team to find out about the shoot and how you can include ethical wedding ideas into your big day…
Ethical Wedding Ideas A Red Wedding Dress and Bespoke Accessories
“We wanted to showcase how regional suppliers can bring you the best ethical products and services to create a wedding that is glamorous, luxe and opulent. As awareness of ethics and environmental sustainability grows many people are making changes to the way they shop, choosing to buy local, organic food, fairtrade products and boycotting unethical or excessively packaged produce. If you care about these issues then why not apply it to your choices for your big day too, and share it with your guests, show them how easy it can be. Your wedding can not only be the perfect expression of the love between you and your partner, but also your love for the Earth, and a memorable and inspirational celebration for your guests.”
“Our starting point was the rouge Fire dress by Linda Thomas Eco Design, which sat perfectly alongside the celebratory rich, bold, gold palette. The energising accent tones forge a passionate atmosphere, balanced perfectly with the grounding earth element, slate, alongside the local Cotswold stone. By layering up the colours and textures we created a sense of rich opulence, partly lit by the winter sun like a Dutch Old Masters painting. The model’s long, dark, curly hair was perfect for putting up in a voluminous Gainsborough inspired hair style, which in turn was the perfect pairing for a large, statement tiara. Red is a traditional colour for Indian brides and we picked out little design references to compliment this theme with the hand painted motifs and the Flame tree flowers on the cake, and recycled sari silk ribbons tying up the invitations.”
Styling – Jilly of Delight Vintage
“For this shoot, I felt passionate about using quite simple vintage dinnerware (not a rose bud in sight!), incorporating the rich gold with an earthy grey and some deeper reds to complement the vivid red of the Fire dress. Softer more muted golds were used for the table linens alongside red silk, the layers of colour created a luxe feel to the table.” “I chose to use vintage cut glass wine glasses and champagne flutes and a mix of stunning water glasses with gold detail or opulent gold finish, all captured beautifully by candlelight creating a sense of romance and drama. Brass candle stick holders with slate grey candles finished off the elegant table, with of course the stunning seasonal florals.”
“Don’t be afraid to mix up colours and textures. You can start with a plain table cloth and add runners in metallic or iridescent fabrics to really lift it. Further accent colours can be picked up in the napkins and ribbons tying up the cutlery.”
Photography- Camilla Reynolds Photography
“Camilla focused in on the key elements, and captured moments that felt natural and unfussy. The low light lent itself to a sense of moody drama, which made the glassware sparkle even more brightly, as did the crystals in the tiara and the jewellery.”
Bridal – Linda Thomas Eco Design
“I love creating upcycled silk wedding dresses in every colour of the rainbow, and opening the door of possibility for brides that they can wear a colour that they love and that suits them, they’re not limited by anyone else’s rules.” If you love the idea of a coloured dress but prefer a more traditional ivory gown then you can bring in a pop of colour with a belt or added embellishment around the neckline.
“There is something really opulent about red and gold weddings and there is a shade of red that suits most women. I wanted to bring the colour scheme into Daniel’s outfit too and so chose to design the collar of his jacket in reds and oranges too. I teamed this with an organic cotton shirt by Arthur & Henry which has contrasting floral trim inside the collar and cuffs.”
Flowers Caroline at Abbey Meadow Flowers
“For this shoot I used Dahlias, Amaranthus, Veronica, Eucalyptus and Pittosporum, all grown locally, some were from my own garden and extras were sourced from the Cotswold Posy Patch and Cotswold Country Flowers. Choosing seasonally means that your wedding flowers are freshly picked, packed and delivered without the need for air freight or chemicals to retain the flowers’ youth. They can be combined with foraged foliage and herbs to add extra greenery and scent. Many florists offer bouquet making workshops so if you’re a DIY bride you can learn how to do your own wedding flowers, this is also a great idea for a fun hen party activity.”
Cake- Hampton Cakes
“I was inspired by the fiery beauty of Linda’s dress which invoked the elements and made me think of the red and orange Flame tree flowers. I modelled a sugar branch of Flame tree flowers and seed pods and Ginkgo Biloba leaves, juxtaposed against the granite textured top and bottom tiers, sprinkled with edible gold leaf along with flame shaped sugar shards. The middle tier was decorated in a hand piped Saree design over hand painted elements.” “I love to make a design personal and unique for each couple. I source many of my basic and fresh ingredients from local, organic, ethical suppliers and check for animal welfare, ethical sourcing and sustainability of products. The cake should reflect a couple’s care for the Earth, resonate the meaning of their day and be a highlight of the celebration.”
Hair- Annie Russell of Honeystone Hair
“My signature style is very natural, but I relish the opportunity to try anything different. For this shoot I created a theatrical Gainsborough inspired up-do, with barrel curl detail underneath, a braid and generous ringlets down the back, and masses of gorgeous volume to complement the models features, as well as the Fire dress and tiara.”
“The right shampoo and conditioner, suited to your specific hair type, will be far more effective than having lots of conditioning treatments.”
Make Up – Natasha Louise
“Having such a beautiful model with perfect skin tone and texture made my job a delight. I enjoyed using a new range from Charlotte Tilbury to create a dewy look to the skin, and my trusted Tropic products to create a smoky eye.” “I was keen to keep the first look fresh and clean with just a hint of berry to incorporate the gorgeous red textures we had amongst the shoot.” “The second look was much the same but I decided on a punchy lip, with the addition of some ethical red Ecostardust glitter to really vamp it up.”
“Applying a different, bolder colour lipstick is a really simple and easy way to change the bridal look from daytime to evening.”
Tiara – Gemma Sangwine
“For this shoot I made a statement tiara using vintage diamante in tones of red and gold, balanced with neutral shades of grey and pearl, which were drawn together after seeing the colour pallet of Shani’s sketches for the cake design. The finished tiara sits perfectly in the lustrous, dark curls of the model’s hair, and suits the colourful opulence of the shoot, showing bridal headwear doesn’t have to be limited to conventional ivory or clear diamante.”
“For a truly unique design, if you have any pieces of jewellery of sentimental value they can be incorporated into a bespoke tiara, or for a more pared back look a single vintage brooch can be set on a clip or comb and placed in the hair.”
Stationery – Meridittle Makes
The stationary suite was sourced from a local calligrapher who used handmade paint using locally forested ingredients, with recycled paper for the main invitation tied with recycled sari silk ribbon. While higher in cost, handwritten invitations and place setting cards use significantly less energy and chemicals to produce than printing, and can be made truly bespoke for each guest.
The Team – Ethical Wedding Ideas A Red Wedding Dress and Bespoke Accessories
Photographer: Camilla Reynolds Photography @camillareynoldsphoto
Bride’s Dress, Groom’s Jacket, Model Styling: Linda Thomas Eco Design @linda_eco_design
Hair Stylist: Honeystone Hair @honeystonehair
Hair Accessories: Gemma Sangwine @gemmasangwine
Jewellery: Nicholas Wylde @nicholaswyldegoldsmith
Groom’s Shirt: Arthur and Henry @arthurandhenry
Make Up Artist: Natasha Louise @makeupbynatashalouise
Venue styling, Crockery and Table Settings: Delight Vintage Tea Set Hire @delightvintageteasethire
Cake: Hampton Cakes @hamptoncakes
Flowers: Abbey Meadow Flowers @abbeymeadowflowers
Stationary: Meridittle Makes @meridittlemakes
Venue: Frogmill Inn @thefrogmill
Models; Lili Abey and Alphaeus Daniel
Looking for more wedding day inspiration? Check out out online magazine BOND BRIDE
