When is comes to sustainable, eco-friendly weddings I always look to the seasons and the place where a wedding is to take place. This beautiful wild Welsh wedding shoot organised by Ness of TogetherNess Weddings does exactly that – she was inspired by the hedgerows and meadows in June for this wild Welsh summer wedding inspiration shoot.
“With local and seasonal in mind, I took my inspiration from hedgerows in June hoping to create a sense of hazy summer moments mixed with the bright pinks of our native flowers at this time of year. I hoped to highlight the simple yet exceptional beauty that can be created by combining the talent of local artisan business’s with what our doorstep nature has to offer.”
This wild Welsh summer wedding inspiration shoot is full of foxgloves, ferns, and natural fabrics set against a backdrop of a whitewashed chapel and a meal in a meadow.
Ness used her expert styling skills and collaborated with a small team of talented Welsh wedding suppliers and artisans to create this beautiful wedding shoot. I hope it encourages you to look to the place and season in which you are getting married for inspiration.
TogetherNess Weddings is a Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about them here.
The Metamorphosis Collection is made entirely from transforming and readapting materials, patterns and off-cuts of their existing collection, reducing waste and working with existing resources. They say “We believe in giving bridal wear a new meaning, 0% waste, 100% cool.”
Brides are invited to embrace their individuality and personal style using their dresses as blank canvas to customise and express their personality on their special day. Their collection offers a refreshing take on traditional bridal wear, seamlessly blending individuality, coolness, and elegance.
Medusa London believe choosing a wedding dress should be a journey of self-expression, where you let your emotions and sensations guide you to finding the perfect gown. They’re also passionate about comfort, which is why they’ve designed their dresses to be unstructured, free from constraints, and feel like a second skin.
Medusa London is a Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about them here.
Medusa London designer Agnese Petraglia
Eco credentials
Medusa London’s dresses are the epitome of sustainable luxury, handcrafted in London using only the finest 100% organic silk and a carefully curated selection of sustainable materials. Their expert artisans, with a deep understanding of couture techniques and wedding dresses, bring each piece to life with strategic seams that flatter your curves and highlight your natural beauty.
“We believe that fashion and sustainability can coexist. Our commitment to using sustainable materials and practices is unwavering, and we are always looking for new and innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment. We care about our products, and we care about the people who make them. After all, there’s no fashion to be made without a healthy planet to live on.”
Introducing the dresses and bridal separates
Below you’ll find details and photos of the full Metamorphosis collection from Medusa London. If you’d like to book an appointment to view and try any of these dresses, please contact Medusa London directly via their booking page.
Athena – Separate
What Medusa London says about the Athena separate: “Make a bold statement on your big day with our minimal Athena separate. The top with chiffon detail, asymmetrical neckline, and A-line skirt create a youthful and modern look that is perfect for the bride seeking a unique style. The organza tie at the back and peplum detail at the waist add a touch of romance to the look.”
Made of 100% GOTS certified organic peace silk and 100% organic bamboo viscose.
Today we are joined by Mark from Jacqueline & Edward – one of our TNWC Recommended Suppliers – who is sharing about their unique gold panning experience for couples. It looks as incredible as it sounds! An opportunity to go as a couple to a beautiful Scottish river with Mark (and perhaps his dog Ronnie!) and pan for river gold that can be incorporated into your wedding rings? Yes please!
As well as sharing details about this unique opportunity to hunt for gold for your wedding rings in the hills of Scotland, at the bottom you’ll find a link to watch Mark take TV Celeb Phil Spencer gold panning.
Jacqueline & Edward is a Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about them here.
Making Memories Panning for Gold
I’m addicted to finding gold. I love everything about it. It represents some of the best moments in my life and I love that we can share that with others. Panning your own gold creates unique and meaningful memories which will stay with someone forever. Being able to capture this memory by melting your gold into our work, whether that be an engagement ring, wedding band or other piece of jewellery, well, that’s priceless and timeless.
What makes gold panning so special?
Imagine the stresses and strains of modern life falling away behind you as you escape to the peace and serenity of the mountains and rivers, off the beaten track. It’s this peace and solitude that I love about gold panning. It’s escaping from the humdrum of modern life to find one of nature’s hidden treasures – gold, whilst immersing yourself in some of the most beautiful places in the UK and beyond.
The ebb and flow of rivers promise access to places rarely seen by most, apart from a small band of hardy characters sporting weathered faces, bushy beards and a wild glimmer in their eyes. Whether I’m on my own or with clients wanting to experience the art of gold panning, the rewards are a’plenty. They are the connection with nature, the remoteness, the separation from normality, the honest hard work, the flora and fauna, the landscape and of course the searching. There really is nothing like the hunt and when you find it, the only thing which surpasses the hunt, is the gold.
Gold panning offers a truly unique and rewarding experience. It allows you to connect with nature and it’s the serenity of the natural surroundings, combined with the anticipation of finding gold my trips create a sense of adventure and tranquillity that few hobbies can match.
Rolling in Rosesare a small-scale British bridal label with a focus on thoughtful design and high-end craftsmanship. They have launched a new collection of wedding dresses and we’re delighted to showcase some of their stunning creations, designed for those brides “who walk to the beat of their own drum.”
They use fabrics that are gentle to the earth, dressmaking techniques that are traditional and refined, and their designs are a blend of the classic and the avant-garde. “We are not fast fashion.”
The new Kirei Collection of wedding dresses and bridal separates from Rolling in Roses is inspired by designer Hayley’s honeymoon in Japan. “I fell in love with how the peacefulness and tranquillity of Japanese design can be seen in everything, from ceramics and print to gardens and architecture. The intention to keep things as simple as possible with no unnecessary or frivolous detail and let the basic form and essence of things speak for themselves.”
If you are looking for modern, ethical bridalwear that doesn’t compromise on style or sustainability, are a vegan bride, or planning an eco-friendly wedding, we are sure you’ll love this new collection.
Rolling in Roses is a Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about them here.
Rolling in Roses designer Hayley Neil
Ethical credentials
Rolling In Roses pieces are distinguished by their standard of workmanship and luxurious eco-friendly fabrics. Hayley and her team are proud to maintain traditional couture techniques and contemporary design, for brides who are looking for an alternative to mass-produced, mainstream bridalwear.
All their gowns are individually made to order by a tiny team of seamstresses in York, where every single piece is designed, drafted, cut, and constructed. This small-scale production means they can always guarantee the exceptional finish of their dresses and achieve artisan quality workmanship with all its divine hand-finished details. No production lines or faceless factories here; each dress is made from start to finish by one expert artisan who knows the bride’s name and wedding date, and who personally takes care of every last detail.
“I’m over the moon to say that 94.8% of the fabrics used in this collection have sustainable certification; whether that’s organic, closed-loop, vegan, biodegradable, compostable, or recycled, meaning our materials are produced in ways that protect the environment, are low-carbon, protect natural resources like forests and water, and are cruelty-free and ethically made. And even the 5.2% of fabrics we use without certification are natural biodegradable fabrics, so we’re incredibly proud.” – Hayley Neil, Rolling in Roses designer.
Introduction to the wedding dresses
Below you’ll find details and photos of our top 10 dresses from the new Rolling in Roses ethical wedding dress collection. If you’d like to book an appointment to view and try any of these dresses, please contact Rolling in Roses directly via their booking page.
The Bureiku Dress
What Rolling in Roses says about The Bureiku Dress: “This striking gown is both showstopping and comfortable. Sophisticated long sleeves extend past the wrist and are crowned by pleats at the shoulder to match the folds at the neck and hip. The fabric has a slight stretch which helps it mould to the body and flatter the figure without restricting movement.”
Made from luxury heavyweight organic Italian crêpe, which is a perfect vegan alternative to silk.
Many of us are feeling the pinch of costs in our daily lives, and planning a wedding is no different. So how you begin to save money without compromising your ethics and quality?
TNWC Recommended Supplier Jaqueline & Edward create ethical wedding rings using natural river gold from the wilderness of Scotland – so romantic! (Adventurous couples can even pan for it themselves). They’ve put together some tips for how you can reduce the cost of their wedding and engagement rings.
Jacqueline & Edward is a TNWC Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about them here.
The best ways to reduce the cost of your Jacqueline & Edward wedding and engagement rings
It’s a common misconception that buying an engagement or wedding ring on a budget means you can’t buy sustainably and ethically.
So, how do you reduce the cost of your engagement ring without compromising on quality and your ethical standards, and how can you save money on your wedding rings and still get a ring you love?
If you are hoping to buy an engagement ring whilst faced with the increasing pressures of the cost of living crisis, and you would prefer not to spend significant sums on ethical jewellery, we have some ideas which might help make these choices easier:
If you’re considering or searching for an alternative to fresh wedding flowers, then Cooper Floral Design’s handmade eco paper wedding flowers might just be what you were looking for. We’re sharing a selection of her beautiful wedding bouquets that combine her delicate tissue paper flower creations alongside dried foliage and flowers. We’ll also be hearing more about how she creates her flowers, including dying the paper herself with natural plant dyes.
Sharon has an incredible skill for creating incredibly delicate and realistic flowers from plant dyed papers, and then arranging them into exquisite bouquets alongside dried foliage, flowers and seedheads. Hers is a small eco-friendly wedding business that I get really excited about.
Cooper Floral Design is a Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about them here.
Bespoke wedding bouquets, buttonholes and arrangements
Sharon of Cooper Floral Design handmakes all of the paper flowers used in her floral wedding creations. These are beautiful, unique paper flowers dyed in a subtle palette of natural colours (read more about this below). She has a real talent for combining her handmade paper flowers into exquisite bouquets, buttonholes and arrangements alongside dried flowers, foliage and seedheads.
Bouquets and arrangements are made to order based on your specific wishes, so time is needed to plan and create your wedding flowers. Most of the bouquets featured here on the blog range in price from about £80 to £150. They will last a long time after your wedding too, and I love the idea that you can continue to receive a lot of joy from displaying the flowers in your home long after your wedding day.
Are you struggling with where to start when considering your wedding suppliers? What are your own ethics and are you concerned about compromising on them for your wedding day?
We have vegan wedding photographer Erika Tanith – one of our TNWC Recommended Suppliers – with us to share her thoughts on some of the things you might want to ask or consider. She’s got lots of recommendations and thought-provoking questions to help you determine how best to choose the wedding suppliers that fit with your personal ethics.
Erika Tanith Photography is a TNWC Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about her here.
Choosing Wedding Suppliers Whose Ethics Match Your Own
Wedding planning is all about choice. The choices we make in our wedding suppliers is how we make a wedding our own. It’s not just about the colour of the flowers, but the artistry that goes into making the bouquet. The style of the cakeis important to the aesthetic of your day, but the taste and the ingredients are also key. Similarly, the suppliers’ values and ethics matter.
So why are your suppliers’ values important and how do you figure out if they align with your own?
Why it’s important
Ultimately, you want your hard-earned cash to go to people who will use that money wisely. If you yourself are someone who diligently recycles then you wouldn’t give money to someone who sends their waste to landfill, especially if that waste were generated at your behest. If you believe in LGBTQIA+ rights, you wouldn’t give money to an openly homophobic organisation.
Our values are a big part of our lives and personalities, so making informed choices on who you have at your wedding is key to maintaining integrity and the joy you’ll feel on your big day.
Indiebride London are a well-established and sought after sustainable UK bridal brand who have launched a new collection of wedding dresses. We are delighted to bring you the full collection, showcasing this beautiful selection of bohemian and romantic ethical wedding dresses.
Indiebride London says “The gowns are designed to be worn with confidence at natural, rustic and bohemian-style celebrations.”
As with each collection at Indiebride London, the dresses are simply inspired by the materials that are available to source at that moment in time, offering an authentic, alternative and honest approach to bridalwear.
Started in 2008, Indiebride London has developed over the years, transforming from a ready-to-wear brand before establishing itself as the go-to bridal studio for heirloom quality gowns with a sustainable edge. Now run by Miina (who began as the brand’s first ever intern, acting as seamstress and production assistant), Indiebride London are renowned for their exceptional quality, handmade dresses, with comfort at the very heart of their businesses.
Indiebride London is a Recommended Supplier of The Natural Wedding Company directory. Find out more about them here.
Eco credentials
From sourcing materials to the alterations, every element of the wedding dress making process is carefully considered and delivered with exceptional customer service. Their exquisite laces, silk, bamboo and Tencel lyocell used throughout their designs are manufactured and sourced locally in the UK. Indiebride London wedding gowns are made-to-order, avoiding any unused dresses held in stock, with any off-cuts actively recycled and reused.
Introducing the dresses
Below you’ll find details and photos of each dress from the new Indiebride London ethical wedding dress collection. If you’d like to book an appointment to view and try any of these dresses, please contact Indiebride London directly via their booking page.
Clover dress
What Indiebride London says about the Clover dress: “Handmade in London, the ‘Clover’ gown features statement triangular sleeves, with a subtly flared skirt that has the most graceful movement imaginable.”
Using lace made in the UK and lined with soft organic bamboo.
This photoshoot is inspired by an eco luxe elopement wedding held against the stunning backdrop of River Cottage. The photoshoot team wanted to embrace as much as possible the ethos of being eco whilst staying in harmony with the wedding venue. It also features a number of our TNWC Recommended Suppliers – you’ll find all the details at the bottom of the post.
As Laura, photographer at Freeformimage Photography, told us, “A wedding a River Cottage will always inspire and enchant.”
Have you heard of a recycled gold wedding ring? I knew that recycled gold was an option for wedding and engagement rings, but I didn’t really know why you might choose recycled gold, over fair trade gold. We recently met with Lilia Nash Jewellery in the Cotswolds to find out more, plus details on how you can get an exclusive 10% discount below.
A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting Lilia Nash Jewellery’s workshop and boutique shop in the Cotswolds. It is the perfect place to go and view Lilia’s beautiful engagement and wedding ring designs, and to meet the talented designer who crafts them.
Lilia Nash Jewellery uses recycled gold for their wedding rings
Lilia Nash Jewellery is a long standing eco wedding supplier on The Natural Wedding Company directory, so I am familiar with Lilia’s timeless designs and her exquisite use of coloured gemstones. What I was interested to hear more about, when talking with Lilia and her partner Steve, was her passion for using recycled gold.
I have to admit, my first thoughts about a recycled gold wedding ring didn’t conjure up the most romantic image. Certainly not what you would immediately image for your wedding or engagement ring. But on talking with Lilia and Steve I found out exactly why you would choose a recycled gold wedding ring.
Top 5 reasons you should buy a recycled gold wedding ring
So here’s Lilia Nash Jewellery’s top 5 reasons why you should choose a recycled gold wedding ring:
Charlie
