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Fair trade weddings

With Fairtrade Fortnight fast approaching, we are again taking a look at ways in which we can make fair trade a part of our weddings.

In 2007, to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, we took on a challenge to find a fair trade item related to a different aspect of wedding planning for each day of the fortnight. Read about our Fairtrade Fortnight Wedding Challenge.

This year, we want to hear from you about the fair trade products that will be putting in an appearance on your wedding day, from making your own fair trade wedding cakes to working some serious aisle style in fair trade jewellery. Or if you've already celebrated your wedding, we'd love to see any pics showing a fair trade wedding in action!

To get the ball rolling, we've dug out a few photos from our 2005 wedding...

Fair trade favours with Divine chocolate eggs and fair trade wedding cake courtesy of the groom!

Fair trade chocolate eggs as wedding favours

Ethical and green weddings on a budget

After: 'Ethical weddings? Green weddings? What's that all about?' the next question is nearly always:

'But won't that cost a fortune?'

And in our Ethical Weddings survey, the thing that you said would most put you off waltzing down the aisle in green wedding style was... you guessed it: cost.

So it's definitely high time for a few tips about keeping those eco wedding and green civil partnership costs down.

When you think about it, a green wedding or civil partnership should by its very nature be cheaper than a conventional one as you hunt out ways to cut down on the not so eco-friendly but expensive items such as transport and cut flowers.

Be friends with your budget

Before you do anything else, draw up that budget. Decide what you want and can afford to spend - and stick to it. While we hear that the average couple is now spending a cool £20k on their wedding plans, most of the brides and grooms we speak to are setting their budgets under £10,000. If they can do it, you can too! Don't forget to give yourselves a contingency too - just in case there are any last minute expenses.

Wed for less

One of the main expenses for any wedding is the venue, so if you don't have the luxury of a big garden to host the event at home (and sadly most of us don't!), why not try your local village hall or a farmer's field to pitch a marquee? This way you don't get yourself tied up in a costly wedding package and can keep an eye on items where spending can get out of control.

Think wine - buy wholesale from local English vineyards or find fair trade and organic wine online.

And don't get frantic about wedding flowers - what about a pot plant on each table rather than the traditional cut flowers, you'll save money and you can give them to your guests as gifts at the end of the night!

With a bit of forward planning you should also be able to cut down on travel - and carbon emissions and expense at the same time - between the ceremony and reception venue. If you're having a civil ceremony or civil partnership you could go one better and hold both events in the same place.

Charity shop chic

Find beautiful ethical fashion friendly wedding dresses at very reasonable prices from charity shops, a number with dedicated bridal departments, and vintage boutiques, or why not get a local dressmaker to customise mum's wedding dress to suit your tastes ? Save even more by making it yourself if you're feeling particularly brave... And if you're really after value for money while saving the environment at the same time, make it a dress you can wear again. In the olden days, brides chose as a wedding dress a gown that would serve as their party dress and Sunday best until the proverbial death parted them from it!

Green wedding invites

If wedding invites are the target of your green wedding cost cutting exercise, you could either get creative online with an e-invite or make them yourself on recycled paper and card; try ethicalsuperstore.com for a selection of recycled stationery.

Eat ethical weddings

The one bit of your ethical budget where you might find yourself paying a premium is in the wedding catering. If you are opting for organic food, you would expect to pay a little more for this. However, if you have been able to keep costs down in other areas or you don't have a lot of guests, you should be able to squeeze it into your budget.

Talk to a number of different wedding caterers, ask lots of questions and see what they can achieve on your budget. It may be that a combination of organic and locally-sourced produce with fair trade tea and coffee is the way forward.

Of course, another option for the alternative wedding is to get family and friends involved in the catering. The general rule seems to be the more hands-on you can be, the cheaper it is and the greener it is!

Get creative

So to summarise, don't be put off by the idea that an ethical or green wedding is an expensive wedding. With a little creative thinking and some support from friends and family, an ethical bride on a budget has nothing to worry about!

Charity shop wedding dresses

How do you recycle, save money and give to charity all in one wedding shopping trip? Go for a charity shop wedding dress of course!

Usually with only one previous owner, these wedding dresses are generally in pretty good condition and can be nipped and tucked to fit your curves.

Here are a selection of UK charity shops with dedicated bridal departments. So let's go shopping!

EACH - East Anglia's Children's Hospices

They say: "We've had some truly beautiful gowns donated, some of them are designer one-offs so any local Brides would do well to come and have a look! I think it is great that these gorgeous dresses are going to be used again and will benefit our charity at the same time."

Brigitte Young - Manager
13 Short Wyre Street
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1LN

Tel: 01206 574754

Little Havens Hospice

They say: "The Wedding Haven is based within the Havens Hospices Charity shop on Alexandra Street in Southend-on-Sea.

The Wedding Haven is separate to the charity shop section and aims to give the same experience to brides-to-be as other high street specialist shops including appointment-only visits.

To complement the wedding experience, Havens Hospices also offers other such initiatives as wedding favours, Gift Catalogue and Challenge Honeymoons, all of which benefit the charity too."

To make an appointment at The Wedding Haven or to donate items please call: 01702 338 965

To find out more on the Havens Favours, Havens Honeymoons or Gift Catalogue please call: 01702 220 350

Oxfam

They say: "To make the most of your visit, please call the shop beforehand to make an appointment and feel free to ask questions about the sizes and styles available. When you visit, a trained assistant will be on hand to help you (with no hard sell!), and you will be able to view and try on the dresses in comfort."

Bracknell
96 Broadway
Bracknell
RG12 1AR
Tel: 01344 427698

Bradford
54/58 Darley Street
Bradford
BD1 3HN
Tel: 01274 306700

Cambridge
20 Burleigh Street
Cambridge
CB1 1DG
Tel: 01223 329841

Chippenham
5 The Bridge,
Chippenham,
Wiltshire
SN15 1HA
Tel: 01249 447061
Please telephone for an appointment

Coventry
300 Walsgrave Road,
Walsgrave,
Coventry
Tel: 024 76 448909

Eastbourne
17 Terminus Road,
Eastbourne,
East Sussex
Tel: 01323 640731
Please telephone for an appointment

Heswall
258/258a Telegraph Road,
Heswall,
CH60 7SG
Tel: 0151 342 8416

Leicester
22 Market Street,
Leicester
Tel: 0116 2556455

Poole
136 High Street
Poole
BH15 1DN
Tel: 01202 674086
Please telephone for an appointment

Southampton
76/78 High Street,
Shirley,
Southampton
SO15 3NE
By appointment only, please call Sue Hutchings on 07969 668939

St Ann's Hospice

They say: "The first floor of the shop in High Street, Cheadle has been transformed into a dedicated bridal department complete with a large changing room, relaxed viewing area with special lighting and soft furnishings perfect for those all important wedding advisors."

3 High Street
Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1AX

Tel: 0161 428 5949

Open Monday to Saturday
9.30am to 4.30pm

Sense

They say: "The Sense shop in Kingswinford and the Margate shop both stock a wide range of pre-owned wedding gowns and bridesmaids' dresses, plus an extensive range of mother of the bride attire, new items and accessories.

With donations being received and re-sold all the time, it's not uncommon to discover a real gem of a designer or vintage outfit that would make that special day truly exceptional."

Sense Charity Shop
21 Market Street
Kingswinford
West Midlands
DY6 9JS

Tel: 01384 402564
Trading Hours: 9am - 5pm (Mon - Sat)

Sense Charity Shop
126 High Street
Margate
Kent
CT9 1JW

Tel: 01843 297666
Trading Hours: 9am - 4:30pm (Mon - Sat)

Tenovus

They say: "We stock an extensive range of nearly new bridal gowns, beautiful bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride outfits, and fantastic hats and accessories - all at wonderfully reasonable prices. So you can look a million dollars without spending it!

The bridal department is set on it's own floor with a spacious and private dressing room. You can book an appointment to suit your schedule and have the whole department to yourself to try on as many outfits as you want, in complete comfort and privacy."

Call Sue or Sheila for more information on: 01179 427744

Or visit us at

The Bridal Department at Tenovus
181 Gloucester Road, Bishopston
Bristol BS7 8BG
(on the A38 opposite the old swimming baths)

Find a charity shop near you

If you don't live near a charity shop with a dedicated bridal department, it's always worth having a scout around your local charity shops as wedding dresses do pop up all the time. The Association of Charity Shops helps you to locate your nearest charity shops Select the 'bridal' option to find out which ones might have your dream dress!

Donate your dress

After the big day, if you think your dress is going to be gathering dust at the back of the wardrobe, why not donate it back again? Charity shops are desperate for your donations and if it was your dream dress, chances are it will be another bride's too!

Katie and her sister - Copyright Mason and Field Photography

How to have an ethical wedding

Ok, before we begin, let's take a few deep breaths...

This is standard procedure to prevent the spluttering that the words ‘ethical' or ‘green' coupled with ‘wedding' can induce when said to a bride already in the midst of frenzied wedding planning fever...

"Green?! Ethical?! I've got to find a half-decent caterer and a venue for 120 people on a fast fraying shoestring budget, keep Aunty Jean away from Aunty Joan, move house the week before the wedding, and you expect me to think about being ethical? And won't that be hugely expensive anyway? Everyone knows going organic is twice the price..."

As I said, deep breath... the key to planning a greener, more ethical wedding is recognising that you can't be perfect, and anything you can do is great - I'm thinking of Edmund Burke's quote:

"No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little"

Or to put it in the words of a certain trying to be green grocer: "Every little helps"!

You also need to decide what is important to you as a couple. One of the reasons we often say ethical weddings rather than green weddings is that we're trying to help people consider not just the environmental but also the social impact of their decisions. Do you want to support workers in developing countries by buying fair trade wine or offer an English tipple and cut down on booze miles? The choice, I'm afraid, is yours.

In fact, I've found that the whole planning process for this type of wedding can be loosely fitted around three little words:

Beg, steal and borrow

Admittedly, it's not sounding too ethical so far, but stay with me.

Beg...

...for help from family and friends - though to be honest they'll probably be thrilled to get involved. It makes everything that bit more personal (cakes, dresses, food, invitations), cuts down on costs and gives you more control over where everything comes from and how green it is.

...for understanding from your suppliers - explain to your caterers, your venue, your dressmaker what you're trying to do and it's more than likely they'll be on your side. If nothing else, you'll have given them something to think about...

Steal...

... a moment to yourself to think, whenever you can; you'll need it. My least ‘ethical' moments occur when I'm out of time: grabbing an over-packaged (not to mention over priced), food mile filled sandwich in the mad dash to catch the train; jumping into a taxi because I didn't leave time to walk.

So much of planning an ethical wedding is simply a case of thinking before you act. Think where you spend your money, and if you actually need to. Think what you can do without, what you can make yourself, what you are buying just because tradition dictates.

... ideas. Get on to the Ethical Weddings Forum (http://www.ethicalweddings.com/forum) and share ideas with other brides and grooms or get top tips from couples who've been there before in our Real Ethical Wedding section (http://www.ethicalweddings.com/blog) I was kicking myself when I read some of the chat in the forum - why didn't I think of using my mum's old dress? These tips can help you save money and save the planet!

Borrow...(or hire)

...anything you can! After all, it's traditional, ‘something borrowed...' It may be a big day but it is just one day so why buy new if you can borrow a friend's dress, your mum's necklace, hire suits, tablecloths, crockery and cutlery...

One bride on Ethical Weddings is even borrowing friends' and neighbours' plants to decorate her venue!

Following these simple ground rules, it's clear that there is no reason why a green and ethical wedding should be an expensive wedding; although this seems to be the perception of many. In our Ethical Weddings survey, when asked what would be the thing that might put them off having an ethical wedding, nearly 44% said 'cost'.

Granted, organic food does generally come at a small premium, but the word 'wedding' comes at a bigger premium so it's sometimes a good idea to avoid mentioning the 'w' word if you possibly can.

Now that's settled, here are a few tips to help you get a greener, more ethical....

Venue

The most important thing when choosing your venue is to ask questions. Ask if they're recycling, conserving water, using renewable energy, supporting local suppliers and then even if they aren't right at this moment, you'll have given them something to think about for the future. Try if possible to find a reception venue close to the ceremony venue (or have both events in the same place) and near public transport to cut the carbon from all your friends and family travelling to share your day.

Dress

Ethical and eco-fashion is a growing concern among the undergraduates in the fashion colleges. Seek out a student and test their creative powers to fashion you a totally unique wedding dress from eco-friendly fabrics - and for maximum greenie points, make sure it's something you can wear again too. If you want ready-to-wear, check out the charity and vintage shops - if the dream find isn't a perfect fit, a few snips and stitches and it soon will be!

Wedding breakfast

Make friends with your local suppliers to source different items such as cheese, cold meats, and local ales, and serve them up as a buffet or pack them into picnic hampers for a relaxed summer's wedding (weather permitting!). You can have lots of fun sampling all the local produce too.

Gift List

If you're setting up home, try one of the new green lists to furnish your nest with fair trade and eco-friendly items. It's also a sneaky chance to introduce your guests to some gorgeous green products. They might choose one for you and then realise they'd like one themselves!

If you have all you need, the charity wedding gift list is the obvious option. Your guests can fulfil their urge to give, and your chosen charity reaps the benefits. Everyone wins!

Honeymoon

If you regularly holiday abroad and are concerned about carbon, why not honeymoon closer to home, taking time to savour the delights on your doorstep.

If venturing further afield, don't forget the train: France in a couple of hours then high speed connections into Spain, Italy, Germany... Or ferry it to Belfast, Brittany or Bilbao.

If you do take to the skies (carbon offsetting of course), make that flight count by going somewhere your tourist money can really make a difference to the local people and environment, being directed into conservation efforts and community development.

And last but not least...

Oh yes, I almost forgot the most important one, have a fabulous day and enjoy the rest of your great green life together!

Green wedding style - dress to impress

All eyes will be on you, so you're probably looking for something a bit special but you're also thinking about the ethical and green credentials of your outfit too.

Why not take a look at the range of wedding dresses in your local charity shop. Some even have entire branches dedicated to wedding dresses, many of which are shop seconds rather than second hand.

And if you can't find exactly the right fit, ask a local dressmaker to adjust it for you.

Win ethical brownie points for reusing and recycling and for supporting a charity. You can even donate the dress back again when you've finished with it!

In the same reusing and recycling vein, cast your eye over the swathes of gorgeous vintage wedding dresses that are flooding the stores online and in style-conscious streets and feel like a bride from a more romantic era.

If you're having your wedding outfit made just for you, whether it's your mum making it, a friend, or a dressmaker, consider ways in which you might be able to wear it again after the wedding, perhaps by opting for a two piece, a trouser suit, or a dress that can be adjusted or dyed. If you ask your dressmaker nicely, they might include this as part of the service!

Think also about how you can minimise damage to the environment in your choice of fabric - thanks to innovations in the fashion industry your options are increasing rapidly from organic cottons, to bamboo-based textiles, to vegetarian silk.

Some of our designers and dressmakers also offer a recycle / reuse option by taking two or more old dresses, perhaps your mum's or your grandmother's, and combining them to create a stylish new and completely unique wedding dress.

More and more online stores are offering ready-to-wear fabulous fair trade dresses and designer eco-wear, with US sites in particular extending this to the wedding market, although the UK is beginning to follow suit as you will see among our selection of suppliers.

Maybe the dress of your dreams is closer than you think. Before you start out on the great dress hunt, see if friends or family have a dress hiding at the back of the closet that might do the job perfectly, especially for a more informal wedding or if money is tight. You never know until you ask!

And don't forget, you can always hire a dress just as you can a suit. If you are only going to wear it the once, why not?

If dresses aren't your thing, take a tip from the green grooms and think about getting a smart suit that you'll be able to wear time and time again. Or jeans and t-shirt, bikini and shorts, whatever you feel comfortable in!

Everyone will tell you how important the right lingerie is to show you at your very best in your wedding attire. And now just for the ethical bride designers are developing ranges using sustainable fabrics such as hemp and organic cotton as well as making pretty knickers out of old ugly dresses!

Accessories, as every self-respecting fashionista knows, can make all the difference to an outfit. What they might not know is that they are also an excellent way to make a difference in someone's life.

The fair trade market is full to the brim with beautiful, handcrafted items from necklaces to bracelets, brooches to hair clips, to transform your wedding attire while transforming the lives of workers in the developing world being paid a fair wage for their skills.

Don't forget those closer to home either. Check out the work of local jewellers and crafts people for unique bespoke wedding items such as tiaras using recycled metals and stones.

Our selection of suppliers has some stunning examples of fair trade and artisan accessories.

Of course, your wedding accessories could always be your "something borrowed"...

When you are choosing your wedding shoes, please make sure they are comfy or you have a pair of trainers to change into later in the day. Your feet will thank you for it!

To be ethical but stylish, try some of the bespoke vegan footwear stepping up to the mark. For men, the range of vegetarian and vegan formal footwear is wider and easier.

If you're having bridesmaids, invariably, the best option is to get them to choose their own wedding outfits. If you have a colour theme, ask them to choose their outfit in that colour but in a shape that suits their figure; if a dressmaker is making them, give them a say in the design.

You can point them towards vintage shops, fair trade options or charity shops but above all, try to find something they will wear again - or that they can sell on ebay!

For the groom, your wedding could be your chance to invest in a stylish, tailor-made suit to last you for the rest of your life - what could be more sustainable than that? Even better choose a suit for life made from old suits as some designers are now doing. Throw on a fair trade organic shirt and accessorise with fair trade cuff links and tie.

The other obvious wedding choice is to hire which has the beauty of recycling while being cost effective and hassle-free.

Although what we're waiting for is a suit hire company using organic or recycled fabrics, donating its profits to charity, or employing young people with no visible prospects as apprentices a la Jamie's Kitchen...if you know a company who is, or you're thinking of doing it, tell us about it!

Alternatively, you may already have the perfect suit - in which case why waste good money and fabric on another?

But don't feel you have to have a suit for your wedding. Part of Ethical Weddings is about not being restricted by convention and tradition so if you want to walk up the aisle in a pair of shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, go for it - as long as your partner agrees of course (we're not that crazy!).

Ethical and green wedding venues

The fairytale castle, the flowery bower, the grand stately home, the ramshackle barn...

Once you've said ‘yes', it's not long before you're deciding where to say ‘I do'.

At the best of times, finding the perfect venue to make those vows and celebrate with friends and family is not an easy task.

You have to consider capacity, debate distances between ceremony venue and reception or venue and home, have back-up plans for poor weather, give a thumbs up to the food, and of course love the look and feel of the place.

But if you're one of the ever-growing numbers of green brides and grooms hoping to tie the ethical knot, the list doesn't end there. You're also on the hunt for that elusive eco-factor - the venue that cares.
So how can you find a venue with a conscience?

When it comes to the crunch, it could be about any number of things but it comes down to what's important to you. We're going to take a peek at a few possibles though the options are limited only by your imagination...

The charity choice
If you're looking for a venue that's giving something back why not consider one of the many charity-owned venues for hire across the UK. The price you pay for the hire of the hall can go towards the work of that particular charity.

There's no need to suffer for your attack of altruism either. Many of these buildings are stunningly beautiful and make a perfect backdrop for your wedding.

The green machine
This well bio- fuelled machine is an eco-build extraordinaire. Powered by renewable energy, preferably generated on site via a wind turbine and solar panels, insulated to within an inch of its life, collecting and reusing grey water, recycling, re-using and composting as a matter of course, growing their own organic fruit and veg, and patronising local suppliers, you name it, these venues have got it. And don't even dream of leaving your towel out to be washed every day!

The more you support this type of venue (currently the exception rather than the rule), the more others will have to follow suit, encouraging change throughout the industry.

The romantic ruin
The romance of decay... The old theatre that has soaked up generations of tears and laughter, but is now on its last crumbling legs, the battered barn, timbers that have stood for centuries, now seemingly unloved and uncared for...

In a similar way to the charity option, your fun money can help to restore a building to its former glory, and your happy event gives it its raison d'etre. You reap the romance of a candlelit ruin, friendly ghosts watching from the rafters, and future generations get to enjoy the building brought back to life as a theatre or community hall perhaps.

Just make sure you've had your health and safety checks done before choosing a romantic ruin!

The great outdoors
A risky one this, especially in the UK, but if you really want to get back to nature, why not pack hampers full of organic and fair trade goodies (and brollies) and head out into the countryside with a select few guests who are on your wavelength. You could take one of Britain's scenic railways to get to your destination so if the clouds make good their threat you can always celebrate on the train!

The shell of dreams
Your local village hall (supporting upkeep of community amenities), a barn in the middle of nowhere, a yurt, a marquee, your own home (if it's big enough!)...

You choose the shell and then fill it to suit your ethical tastes. Bric a brac from charity shops to decorate the tables, flowers grown by your mum and dad and your friends, pine cones collected from the nearby woods, organic candles in every corner, an organic catering company to take care of the food - or go ‘pot luck' and ask everyone to bring a dish for a buffet, an acoustic set by a local band.

This venue is your blank canvas, you are free to paint on it in any shade of green that takes your fancy!

Any other suggestions? Tell us what you're looking for, or what you went for in our Ethical Weddings Forum.

A girl’s best friend? The blood diamond debate

So who is a girl’s best friend when it comes to weddings? According to the marketing it isn’t your chief bridesmaid, it’s that shiny sparkly bit of carbon commonly known as a diamond.

But diamonds inevitably lead to a dilemma for the ethical bride: how do you avoid conflict or ‘blood’ diamonds?

The United Nations definition of conflict diamonds is: ‘…diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.’

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, set up in 2002 after 2 years of negotiations, was intended to wipe out the trade in conflict diamonds. According to its website, it is: ‘…an innovative, voluntary system that imposes extensive requirements on Participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process is composed of 45 Participants, including the European Community. Kimberley Process Participants account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.’

However, this is not a complete solution – note the dreaded word ‘voluntary’ for starters. And as one diamond supplier, DiamondHunt.co.uk, say on their website: ‘One of the main faults with the KP is that there are no requirements for individual mines to be monitored by own governments. […] Therefore it will be relatively easy for a determined RUF [Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front] controlled mine to continue to mine conflict diamonds then simply smuggle them into the mine of a non-conflict country. These conflict diamonds would then be certified as coming from the non-conflict area and away they go.’

Two years after the KP had been set up, Amnesty conducted their own investigation and found that: ‘New survey shows diamond shops can't assure customers that stones are not conflict diamonds’. Click here for the summary of their findings.

And of course nothing is ever simple. DiamondHunt.co.uk declare that: ‘‘All the diamonds on our http://www.DiamondHunt.co.uk database come from cutters who source their diamonds from De Beers mines only. This way we can guarantee our diamonds are CONFLICT FREE.’

De Beers, however, is currently the target of a high profile boycott by Survival International over the eviction of the Central Kalahari Bushmen to make way for diamond mining.

Director of Survival International, Stephen Corry, believes: ‘It is not OK for people to wear diamonds by De Beers until the Bushmen are allowed back to their ancestral lands.’ And not forgetting Boycott De Beers!

Despite this doom and gloom, it is possible to find jewellers stocking ethically sourced diamonds. Here are a few companies who are really passionate about the ethical element of their jewellery. In many ways, this passion is one of the best assurances you can get that your diamond is ethically sourced.

Brilliant Earth (based in the US) introduce their new collection ‘…of the finest quality conflict-free diamond jewellery founded on the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. All of our diamond jewellery is certified to be conflict-free, environmentally responsible, and untainted by unethical labour practices.’

HK Jewellery, with branches in Weston, Hertfordshire and Cambridge, declare on their website: ‘We have always been passionate about using conflict free diamonds and ethically mined gemstones and together with the British Jewellers' Association and our diamond suppliers put a lot of effort into ensuring that the diamonds that we use are not sourced from areas of Africa controlled by forces rebelling against the legitimate and internationally recognised government of the relevant country.’

Stephen Einhorn, based in London, state on their website that: ‘Our aim is to run an ethically responsible company. All our fine jewellery is handcrafted to the highest standards in our London workshops using ethical labour and materials.

As we are particularly concerned about where our materials come from we only use ethical Diamonds and refuse to use “Conflict Diamonds” which are inexorably linked with human rights abuses and conflict in many parts of Africa.’

Dejoria believe that: ‘… you should always insist that the diamonds used in diamond engagement rings, diamond eternity rings, diamond rings or diamond jewellery be "conflict-free".

‘After all, not only do conflict diamonds wreak untold misery upon innocent and defenceless people (and all ethical diamond jewellers need to make a stand against this) but we recognise that our customers need the assurance that the diamond they are buying - a symbol of their love for another person - is a legitimate, genuine, conflict-free gem.’

Dejoria also ploughs back a percentage of the revenue they generate from sales into worthwhile projects in the countries where the diamonds are mined such as education and health projects.

The Diamond Jeweller assures its customers that: ‘…all the diamonds used in our diamond jewellery are "conflict-free", whether it be in our diamond engagement rings, diamond eternity rings, diamond rings, diamond pendants, diamond earrings, diamond bracelets, diamond necklaces or diamond cufflinks. After all, a diamond is a beautiful symbol of love which must not be tarnished by a dark history.’

Touch Wood Rings. Or forgo the diamonds altogether! Touch Wood Rings (based in Canada) contacted us about their services: ‘We believe that wearing a wooden ring speaks volumes about your commitment to the environment and to the concept of simple living. Give someone you love a Touch Wood Ring as a socially and environmentally responsible alternative to precious metals and gemstones.’ Check out Al's review of his Touch Wood Ring here.

Thames Wood Jewellery features 2000 year old Roman Oak taken from the first port facilities built in London by the Romans around 63AD. Stephen Einhorn state that: “We are the exclusive owners of this unique wood, which is in effect being “recycled” and used in our fine jewellery and is rarer than a Diamond. If you want to skip wearing gold you can also opt for titanium instead.”

If you are heading off on a diamond hunt, don’t forget to go primed by your Global Witness / Amnesty buying guide and armed with their handy downloadable 2-page leaflet with the key questions to ask.

Be my ethical guest

As increasing numbers of couples stop to count the cost of their wedding – to the earth as much as to their bank balance - wedding magazines and websites are starting to devote space to environmental and other ethical issues.

A quick Google search reveals dozens of sites dedicated to helping the happy couple make socially responsible decisions about their wedding day, from the purchase of an ethical engagement ring to romantic destinations that avoid clocking up the air miles.

But what about the guests? You might already try to ‘do your bit’ and feel disappointed that a friend or relative hasn’t paid a moment’s thought to ethical issues. Or you might have been invited to a carbon-neutral wedding – and haven’t a clue what it means.

Or, as is so often the case, your lifestyle and the event you are planning to attend may be an ongoing compromise between ideals and reality.

Whatever your situation, there is always something you can do and, as the saying goes: ‘every little helps.’ Even if you do just one thing, you will be making a difference to the planet.

1. RSVP
If you were asked to reply by email – why not?! It saves paper and the cost of transporting your letter to its destination. If you really want to send a card, choose one made from recycled materials, or a fairly traded one. Of course, you could also send an e-card rather than a straightforward email. The money you save by not buying a card and a stamp could go on the couple’s present, or to a charity collection box.

2. What shall I wear?
Charity shops might not be your usual cup of tea, but it’s worth keeping an open mind as often (especially in more affluent parts of the country) they can be a goldmine of designer or unusual one-off items. But there are other options too: M+S have a strong ethical policy, and even if you don’t find anything to wear there, you could always take a break in one of their cafes which sell only fair trade tea and coffee. Some Fairtrade outlets, like Traidcraft, sell a small selection of clothes as well as beautiful accessories like scarves, jewellery and bags.

3. How am I going to get there?
Of course, it depends how far away the venue is from your home, but consider the options. If several of you are going from the same place, could you hire a minibus? Or share cars? Or use public transport? If the venue is abroad can you get there by train rather than flying? If you live in London or the South-East, hiring an electric car is an option, but not unfortunately for people in other parts of the country.

4. They’re getting married in the middle of nowhere!
As I heard someone comment about my own wedding, although I doubt the inhabitants of a market town between Leeds and Bradford would agree! But if the venue is in a part of the country that you don’t know, why not make a weekend of it and visit the local tourist attractions while you are there. It will help the local economy, especially if you visit small, independent shops…and you might discover a hidden gem!

5. Where shall I stay?
Staying in local B+Bs rather than big hotels helps the local economy, and if you can find one that serves Fairtrade tea and coffee, or uses energy efficient lightbulbs – so much the better!

6. What shall I get them?
This is the biggie. There are so many options now for ethical giving that the hard part is choosing! If the couple have specifically asked for Fairtrade, or environmentally friendly gifts, then the easiest way is to do as requested! There are many beautiful and original gifts that can be bought (online or in an independent retail outlet) that make a difference, either to some of the world’s poorest communities or to the preservation of the environment. The couple may have asked for contributions to a specific charity or to a charity gift list. If they have, and you still feel you want to give them something ‘to remember the day by’, why not buy a small fairly traded present and make a slightly smaller contribution? If the couple have asked for big-store items, you could always buy something smaller and make an unusual addition – planting a tree in their married name, for example! If the couple have a good sense of humour, a ‘condom kit’ (the money goes to providing contraception advice in Africa) from Oxfam Unwrapped can be a humorous present to remember!

7. I think it’s easier to give them money and let the couple choose what they want
So it is…but how about suggesting that the couple put that money into an ethical investment fund, which buys shares in companies that make a positive contribution to the community or environment. Socially responsible savings and investments are becoming more mainstream nowadays, and (hopefully!) the investment will do well –at the same time as doing good.

8. Yes, but I don’t want to choose something from a list. I want to do something different!
Fine! How about making up a hamper of Fairtrade products – not just the staples like tea and coffee, but wine, pasta, rice, honey and jam would make a tasty addition to any kitchen! Or if you want to be really unusual you could make up a box of environmentally friendly cleaning products from Ecover and throw in some energy efficient lightbulbs!

9. On the day itself…
Tissues made from recycled paper, biodegradable confetti and digital cameras (not disposables!) would all help to save the planet.

10. It’s their anniversary already!
A year has gone and it’s time to send them a card to celebrate. How about a beautiful Fairtrade one? And the present? Well, traditionally on the first anniversary paper gifts are given, so how about some recycled paper products – or a book about ethical living?

Green is the new white - when it comes to tying the knot

Anyone who is considering saying “I do” in the next few months might want to consider following in the footsteps of South West Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Manager, Neil Warren, who ties the knot this summer.

The couple, determined to practise what Neil preaches in South West England, where there are now over 200 businesses signed up to the Green Tourism Business Scheme, have planned their nuptials with the colour green in mind.

Here are some of the ideas Neil and his fiancée came up with for their big day:

1. Cutting their carbon to church – Neil is taking advantage of the church’s proximity to a canal and arriving with his Best Man, Master of Ceremonies and Head Usher by Canadian canoe. (This is on the promise to the bride that there will be no capsizing!)

2. Alternative Accommodation – Neil is recommending plenty of local, independent accommodation to friends and family. One recommendation is Larkbeare Grange – a five-star, Silver Green Tourism Business Scheme award winner: “It’s great to recommend places to stay that will not only offer high quality but a flavour of the local area.”

Fruit juices, coffee, tea, red wine and, even most of the ingredients of the wedding cake will benefit producers around the world. Neil adds: “Having been fortunate enough to stay with a Costa Rican coffee farmer and his family and seen first-hand the difference that fair trade makes, it’s great to feel that our big day could benefit them too. I’ll even be wearing my fair-trade socks!”

4. Eat the View – A reception venue was chosen for its commitment to using local food suppliers which stretches all the way through the menu – even a West Country cream tea for dessert, West Country fudge (as an after-dinner alternative to chocolate) and, to finish, a West Country cheeseboard. The happy couple have arranged for this to be washed down with fruit juices, white wine and even some “Devon Bubbly” (Ashridge Vintage Cider) for the toasts.

5. Travelling Lightly – With guests gathering from near and far, and a honeymoon to follow, the miles soon mount up. To minimise the impact, the carbon emissions have been estimated and will be offset through Climate Care. And rather than jet-off, the train will take the strain for the honeymoon (although the destination remains top secret!).

For more information on hotels, B&BS, party venues, restaurants and attractions in South West England that are accredited by the Green Tourism Business Scheme, and ideas for green holidays in the South West, visit www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/feelgood

Wedding planner: 6 - 12 months step by step

Forget any ‘rules’ of weddings! Trying to stick to convention can make things very hard and is unlikely to make you happy – do it your way. What follows are suggestions, nothing more!

Forewarn your nearest and dearest of your intentions for an ethical celebration. Explain what this means and why it's important to you – get them on side from the start.

Do a quick skills survey – ask friends and family: could dad make the cake? could gran do the flowers? Get people involved – and don’t forget your own talents too!

Do an inventory of any wedding paraphernalia you already own (or can borrow) to see where you can make cuts on cash and consumption. Wear your mum’s wedding dress? Use ribbon from a friend’s wedding?

The more questions you can ask suppliers the better. Even if they aren’t doing all they could be now, they may well do in the future if enough people ask them why not!

If an engagement ring hasn’t presented itself yet, but is desired (!), have a think about your options. If you’re going for a diamond, ask the supplier if they can show it’s conflict free, and what they know about the social and environmental conditions in which it was obtained. Read more in A girl's best friend?

Or think about an antique ring, one passed down through the family, or crafted by a friend or even yourselves at one of the ring workshops around the country.

If you want to cut out mining all together, there are beautiful wooden rings to choose from too.

If you’re hiring a wedding planner, get them on board now and make sure they’re sympathetic to your ethical wedding plans, lots are these days.

Formal weddings can be paper heavy so relax yours and save some trees by getting people to save the date by email, phone or in person.

Do you want a church or civil ceremony? If church, think about getting a reception venue as close to the church as possible. If civil, can you have ceremony and reception in the same venue to save all that travelling about?

Meet with your registrar or vicar to get all the legal arrangements sorted out early on.

Also start to think about what type of ceremony you want. It should reflect who you are, your values and your beliefs. Explore the options – this is the most important part of your day.

Of course even if your ceremony and reception venues are close, your guests will still have to travel to get to you so try to find somewhere near public transport and where they can stay overnight.

Remember to ask your venue lots of questions about where their food comes from (if they cater too), what they do to be eco-friendly from using a renewable energy supplier to recycling, and the social side of things, supporting a charity, using fair trade products and so on.

If you’re hiring a caterer, ask them how much of their food is sourced locally, how much is organic, whether they can supply fair trade products such as tea and coffee, and how they deal with leftover food. Make sure you get chance to sample their menu before you book and check their vegetarian options are up-to-scratch if you’re not going totally veggie. Maybe they have links with a local vineyard too for some biodynamic bubbly…!

Talking of bubbly, it’s probably a good idea to think about what you’ll be drinking early on. Check with your venue if you can bring your own drinks in which case you can go for local, organic or fair trade wine, real ales from a local brewery, or cider – a must if you’re in the west country! For soft drinks, try organic fruit juices and make sure there’s a jug of tap water on each table. If you have to go with your venue’s drink list, see what you can persuade them to stock that stays within your ethics and your budget!

Choose your wedding party wisely. Bridesmaids who understand where you’re coming from, groomsmen who’ll be supportive.

Get them excited about a green wedding and involve them in decisions and they’ll make sure you don’t carry the wedding planning burden alone.

Involve other friends and family members in the service by asking them to do a reading, sing or play. They’ll be thrilled to be asked and will feel more a part of your day.

Keep it small and personal and it’s easier to keep it green simply by virtue of not shifting all those guests around the country.

But it’s your day and they’re your friends and family – if you have a lot that’s not your fault! Besides this will probably be the biggest party you ever throw and is one of the few times that you're actually able to get everyone together. Make sure the people you want to celebrate with are there and you can cut the carbon in other ways.

And more guests might mean raising more money for charity through a charity gift list, or more people made aware of green issues by attending your green wedding…who knows?

Fair trade fabrics, charity shop chic, vintage bride or a bespoke eco-style creation? Time to start trying on dresses…

If it is bespoke you’re after, commission sooner rather than later to give you plenty of room for adjustments before the walk down the aisle.

It’s also not too soon to start thinking shoes (you need to make sure they go with your outfit). Comfy but beautiful and ethically made, there’s the challenge!

If flowers are part of your plan, get thinking now. To grow them yourself, you’ll probably need to get digging a year in advance. If a local farmer’s going to grow them for you, they’ll need plenty of notice too. But if you opt for pot plants, unusual arrangements of fruit or perhaps just a single fair trade flower stem, you’ve got a bit more time to think about this one.

For the bridal bouquet you could pick flowers from your garden on the day, carry fabric flowers, a pretty delicate bag, a single stem, whatever you’re comfortable with. Don't feel you have to carry anything at all.

It's so important to get this one right as a bad photographer can ruin your day! Go on word-of-mouth recommendation or try one of the photographers in the Ethical Weddings directory, knowing they share your aims for an ethical wedding. Make sure you see examples of their previous work.

Remember too that most people have digital cameras now meaning the days of disposables on tables should be in the past saving you money and all that plastic from going to landfill!

Best to book a band now if that’s your plan. Go local if possible, acoustic options such as a ceilidh are always popular or maybe your band’s amps work on peddle power! Alternatively, you could get all your musical friends to bring an instrument and have a jamming session on the night!

Wedding planner: 4 - 6 months step by step

Keep it close to home, cutting carbon and discovering the delights of your own back yard or take a long train trip with lots of interesting stops along the way.

If you're jetting off, make sure when you get to your destination that your holiday is benefiting local people, minimising any negative environmental impact, and even perhaps helping to fund conservation and energy-efficiency efforts.

Often you’ll find a family member only too willing to help out with this one. Persuade them to throw in organic and fair trade ingredients and you’ve got yourself an ethical wedding cake!

Many suppliers are now offering an organic option too if that takes your fancy. Also consider whether your cake could double as dessert.

Don’t like cake? Go for one made up of local cheeses, or do without altogether, it’s your wedding!

If all your guests are computer literate, get emailing. If you can’t do without the paper invites, now’s the time to get crafty if you’re that way inclined with recycled and tree-free papers, or to share your vision with an ethical wedding stationer who can create an invite that becomes a beautiful memento of the day.

You may also want orders of service, table plans, table names, place settings and thank you cards – decide what you need and what you can do without.

Consider how you’re going to make your venue suitably lovely. Perhaps it’s so beautiful it needs no further refinement, or maybe you’ll want candles for the tables, or flowers or fruit.

You may also want to provide wedding favours for your guests. You don't have to opt for the traditional 5 almonds, think about fair trade chocolates, seeds to plant, or a token representing a gift to your chosen charity.

The groom and groomsmen do have it easy really. All the options are fairly eco-friendly. Hire a suit and you’re re-using, use one you already have, or buy a bespoke one that will last a lifetime – providing you stay in shape of course!

If you need transport during the day, consider something fun and low carbon like a rickshaw or horse and cart. And if you want to shift all your guests in one go, why not hire a vintage bus? It’ll look great on the photos!

Wedding planner: 2 - 4 months step by step

Stop for a moment if you’re feeling stressed and remember why you're getting married - to celebrate your love and show your commitment to each other.

Go for a nice long romantic walk together and forget all about planning for a while.

Fix a time to meet up with your registrar or celebrant to work out what you want in the service. If you’re going for personalised vows, it’s probably a good idea to start thinking about them now.

Same rules apply as for engagement rings, where does it come from, how was it made; you need to be comfortable with it if it’s going to stay next to your skin for the rest of your life.

If you’re setting up home, this is an excellent opportunity to show your guests the great green goodies now available for an eco-home.

Alternatively, if you have all you need, set up a charity wedding list so someone else can benefit from your celebration.

Keep in touch with your venue and caterer to check how things are going, discuss any difficulties to make sure everything goes smoothly on the day.

They’ll probably be only too happy to help but it’s always nice to be appreciated!

Think about pressies they can really enjoy rather than flowers that will more than likely wilt on the day. Theatre vouchers, a donation to a charity close to their heart, or a meal out at a restaurant all make great gifts.

And for your bridesmaids and groomsmen, why not get something they can wear on the day like a necklace or tie. Then every time they wear it they’ll think of your happy day!

Wedding planner: 1 - 2 months step by step

Now’s the time to finalise that guest list so that you can get invites out 6-8 weeks beforehand. Ask people to reply by email if they can – not only are you saving paper, it’s easier to keep track of who’s coming too.

Start thinking about how you’d like your hair and make-up on the day – and whether you’ll do it yourself or get someone to do it for you, if you think your hands will be shaking too much!

And you’re spoilt for choice these days with the range of organic and cruelty-free beauty products on offer. Perhaps it's time for a little pampering while you sample a few with your friends?

Are you changing your name? Only you can make that decision but if you do, you’ll need to tell a few people about it: bank, DVLA, passport etc. Make a list and check it off as you go.

Wedding planner: 2 weeks before step by step

Have a good look at your guest list and arrange your seating plan. Think about who's going to be on the top table or if you even want one. Aim for a good mix of people on each table to get them talking but make sure everyone has at least one person they know on the same table if possible. Talk to friends and family too, they'll know who shouldn't be sitting together!

Of course, if you're having a more informal reception, you can always just let your guests sit where they like.

When you've made your decisions, let your reception venue and caterer know the final number of guests and give them a copy of your seating plan.

If you're having speeches at the reception, make sure everyone who's giving one is comfortable doing so and is happy about what they're going to say (or is confident improvising on the spot!).

Check all bookings are confirmed (venue, caterer, band, dress etc.) and that everyone is sure about what they're doing and at what time.

Make last arrangements for your honeymoon - if flying, do you want to contribute to a carbon offsetting scheme?

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