Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - September/October 2020 (Issue 27)

Our regional experts share their top tips HOT TOPIC SUSTAINABILITY IS KEY Meet the expert: Rebecca John-Simms is an experienced marketing manager working exclusively with ethical brands in the South West to create positive and sustainable changes in society. Like many other couples this year, Rebecca and her new husband, Neil, were forced to cancel their April wedding due to Covid-19, instead choosing to hold a smaller ceremony in July. They didn’t compromise on their theme which was a sustainable wedding supporting local and ethical businesses. A decision which led to them being the world’s first wedding couple to use plastic-free PPE. What top tips do you have for creating a sustainable wedding? Rebecca says: For Neil and myself, sustainability is all about conserving an ecological and economic balance and avoiding the depletion of natural resources. While planning our wedding we were mindful of the impact on our local community and on the environment. Choosing to support local businesses, especially after lockdown, is a great way for couples to encourage a sustainable local economy. One example is that most wedding flowers are flown in from Holland so instead, pick local growers with one perk being that you’ll get the opportunity to visit flower farms, gathering plenty of advice and inspiration. We supported West Country growers by working with award-winning Devon-based florist www.flowerconsultant.co.uk to create our stunning arrangements featuring a selection of seasonal cottage garden blooms, herbs and wild flowers supplied by www.theflowertree.co.uk Recycling and reusing are important concepts to adopt in a sustainable wedding. Couples can invest in garments made from eco-friendly materials that can be worn again after the big day. I chose a wedding suit which I look forward to wearing again. Our bespoke wedding rings were designed by Falmouth-based contemporary jeweller Mirri Damer who creates pieces using precious stones and metals that honour the raw beauty of the Cornish landscapes, www.mirridamer.com Getting married just as the country was emerging from lockdown also meant that we needed to think about personal protective equipment. We found an ingenious company making plastic- free, recyclable and home compostable pieces equipment that’s recyclable and home compostable that became a fun part of our day, www.reelshieldflip.com Many venues are happy to work with couples in creating a sustainable wedding. The Llawnnroc Hotel in St Austell, Cornwall were very supportive of our theme. They have worked hard to reduce the amount of plastic used in their venue, opting for glass water bottles, traditional glassware and reusable teaspoons. Deer’s Leap Retreat in South Molton, Devon, create a supportive family focused environment for each celebration against the spectacular backdrop of its natural landscape, www.deersleapweddings.co.uk 62