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| Eugenie wedding: How I also went plastic free on my big day | Eugenie wedding: How I also went plastic free on my big day |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The venue, food and drink, music, the dress, hair and make-up... a happy couple's checklist can go on and on. | |
| And Princess Eugenie has added another factor into the equation - her wedding has to be plastic free. | And Princess Eugenie has added another factor into the equation - her wedding has to be plastic free. |
| The Queen's granddaughter, who is marrying Jack Brooksbank on 12 October, told British Vogue that the couple's house was anti-plastic and "Jack and I want our wedding to be like that as well". | The Queen's granddaughter, who is marrying Jack Brooksbank on 12 October, told British Vogue that the couple's house was anti-plastic and "Jack and I want our wedding to be like that as well". |
| So how realistic is it? As Lindsay Miles discovered, there are quite a few things to take into consideration. | So how realistic is it? As Lindsay Miles discovered, there are quite a few things to take into consideration. |
| It's just one day, why bother? | It's just one day, why bother? |
| "A wedding is such a significant day that it's even more important to be true to your values than on any other day," says Lindsay. | "A wedding is such a significant day that it's even more important to be true to your values than on any other day," says Lindsay. |
| "You can't go back on your values just because you're getting married." | "You can't go back on your values just because you're getting married." |
| Lindsay, 36, a writer from Kent, and her Australian husband Glen, 38, first tried living without plastic in 2012. | Lindsay, 36, a writer from Kent, and her Australian husband Glen, 38, first tried living without plastic in 2012. |
| What started out as a month-long challenge has turned into a way of life for the pair, who live in Perth, Western Australia. | What started out as a month-long challenge has turned into a way of life for the pair, who live in Perth, Western Australia. |
| "I'm more the driver than he is but we both got involved at the same time," she says. "I'm the one that puts in more work but he agrees with all the values." | "I'm more the driver than he is but we both got involved at the same time," she says. "I'm the one that puts in more work but he agrees with all the values." |
| So going plastic free for their wedding, in 2014, was a no-brainer. | So going plastic free for their wedding, in 2014, was a no-brainer. |
| Where to start? | Where to start? |
| Plastic finds its way into weddings in many forms: food storage, drink packaging, decorations, flower delivery - that's just the start. | Plastic finds its way into weddings in many forms: food storage, drink packaging, decorations, flower delivery - that's just the start. |
| For Lindsay, who blogs about living without waste, trying to make her special day plastic free came first ahead of any other wishes. | For Lindsay, who blogs about living without waste, trying to make her special day plastic free came first ahead of any other wishes. |
| "We said we want to be plastic free 'how can we do that', rather than saying, 'We want to have roses, we want to have canapes, can we do that plastic free?'" | "We said we want to be plastic free 'how can we do that', rather than saying, 'We want to have roses, we want to have canapes, can we do that plastic free?'" |
| They wanted "memorable" but didn't want to break the bank. | They wanted "memorable" but didn't want to break the bank. |
| Simplicity was also key. "For me, simple means no fuss - and devoting whole weekends to projects was out," says Lindsay. | Simplicity was also key. "For me, simple means no fuss - and devoting whole weekends to projects was out," says Lindsay. |
| Involving suppliers from the outset was the most effective way of making the plastic-free magic happen, she says. | Involving suppliers from the outset was the most effective way of making the plastic-free magic happen, she says. |
| "It's really about having conversations with people and explaining why you want to do it. People are willing." | "It's really about having conversations with people and explaining why you want to do it. People are willing." |
| But it is also about taking matters into your own hands. | |
| "If you get stuff delivered to you, that's when it comes in packaging. For us, it was making sure on the day - we went to all the deli, the bakery et cetera because that way we could guarantee there was no packaging." | "If you get stuff delivered to you, that's when it comes in packaging. For us, it was making sure on the day - we went to all the deli, the bakery et cetera because that way we could guarantee there was no packaging." |
| Eco wedding - how they did it | Eco wedding - how they did it |
| Any compromises? | Any compromises? |
| Lindsay accepts that achieving a 100% plastic-free wedding also meant relying on other people. | Lindsay accepts that achieving a 100% plastic-free wedding also meant relying on other people. |
| For their wedding, they hired a pizza oven and used a local deli to provide the fresh ingredients - without plastic packaging - but did they know what went on behind the scenes? | For their wedding, they hired a pizza oven and used a local deli to provide the fresh ingredients - without plastic packaging - but did they know what went on behind the scenes? |
| "It's possible he had some plastic that I didn't see… whether he got a packet of salad in a plastic bag, I don't know." | "It's possible he had some plastic that I didn't see… whether he got a packet of salad in a plastic bag, I don't know." |
| The wedding's eco-friendly credentials were counterbalanced by the air miles required to fly her family - albeit just four people - to Australia. | The wedding's eco-friendly credentials were counterbalanced by the air miles required to fly her family - albeit just four people - to Australia. |
| "In hindsight, I should have fallen in love with the guy in the village - but I didn't," Lindsay jokes. | "In hindsight, I should have fallen in love with the guy in the village - but I didn't," Lindsay jokes. |
| "I fell in love with a guy in Australia, so it's one of those things you have to compromise. My parents, my sister and brother flying out for a wedding - it's a one-off." | "I fell in love with a guy in Australia, so it's one of those things you have to compromise. My parents, my sister and brother flying out for a wedding - it's a one-off." |
| They did, however, decide to have the wedding as local as possible in the city of Perth, rather than the countryside, to reduce driving distances. | They did, however, decide to have the wedding as local as possible in the city of Perth, rather than the countryside, to reduce driving distances. |
| How difficult for Eugenie to achieve? | How difficult for Eugenie to achieve? |
| Wedding planner Katrina Otter says working with the right people is key, as some of the more "old-school suppliers" are less keen to adapt. | Wedding planner Katrina Otter says working with the right people is key, as some of the more "old-school suppliers" are less keen to adapt. |
| "Make sure you have the right team on board - work with a team willing to do it or one where it's already part of their ethos." | "Make sure you have the right team on board - work with a team willing to do it or one where it's already part of their ethos." |
| But she adds: "The bride and groom might not know where plastic is involved - such as cutlery often comes wrapped in cling film." | |
| No royal wedding is complete without a vibrant floral display. | No royal wedding is complete without a vibrant floral display. |
| And, traditionally, a key part of those has been the floral foam - the bricks of green, spongy foam that provide a foundation for floral arrangements, as well as a water source. | And, traditionally, a key part of those has been the floral foam - the bricks of green, spongy foam that provide a foundation for floral arrangements, as well as a water source. |
| Katrina says finding an alternative to the non-biodegradable plastic material has become a big issue for the industry and many florists are looking to do it another way. | Katrina says finding an alternative to the non-biodegradable plastic material has become a big issue for the industry and many florists are looking to do it another way. |
| The florist who created the displays for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding, Philippa Craddock, says she didn't use any floral foam for their big day. | The florist who created the displays for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding, Philippa Craddock, says she didn't use any floral foam for their big day. |
| The number of couples requesting plastic-free weddings is on the rise, says Katrina, although it remains a small proportion. | The number of couples requesting plastic-free weddings is on the rise, says Katrina, although it remains a small proportion. |
| Another issue to consider for any bride - especially one who is having live TV coverage - is the hair and make-up. | Another issue to consider for any bride - especially one who is having live TV coverage - is the hair and make-up. |
| Kate Arnell, who blogged about her zero-waste wedding, in 2014, says she found it tricky to find plastic-free make-up and hair products. | Kate Arnell, who blogged about her zero-waste wedding, in 2014, says she found it tricky to find plastic-free make-up and hair products. |
| "Now, there are a lot more available and I have since swapped to plastic-free alternatives," she says. | "Now, there are a lot more available and I have since swapped to plastic-free alternatives," she says. |
| Although whether Princess Eugenie will be opting for Lindsay's bicarbonate of soda and vinegar concoction on her hair is yet to be confirmed... | Although whether Princess Eugenie will be opting for Lindsay's bicarbonate of soda and vinegar concoction on her hair is yet to be confirmed... |