Bride Kathryn & groom Colin surrounded by their guests in Oran Mor's auditorium

Real wedding: T in the Park…

T in the Park led to Party at the Oran Mor As huge fans of live music, Colin and Kathryn certainly did their research when it came to choosing a band for their special day. Sadly there were no wedding…

Real wedding: T in the Park…
Charlotte & Jack exiting the church, as their guests throw confetti

Real wedding: Camaraderie…

Camaraderie was the order of the day By sheer coincidence, serving soldiers, Jack and Charlotte, chose a former serviceman to marry them. In a previous life, humanist celebrant Robbie Sharpe served in the Royal Air Force and, although they ultimately…

Real wedding: Camaraderie…
Photo of Andrew & Callum after they're married, taken in the grounds of Enterkine House

Real wedding: Love is love…

Love is love in the heart of Ayrshire As strong supporters of local businesses, it was a no-brainer that Andrew and Callum would choose to get married at a venue local to them. They were both wowed by the recently…

Real wedding: Love is love…
Holding a handmade gift wrapped in brown paper and string and decorated with dried flowers

Are wedding favours still a thing?

There’s no compulsion to provide favours at all. More and more couples are opting to ditch them entirely, with some opting to donate to a charity instead.  However, if you’d like to offer favours, try to make them something that…

Are wedding favours still a thing?
Biodegradable invitation with biodegradable envelope and sustainable decorations

Biodegradable stationery

Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to find stationery that’s printed on recycled paper or uses alternative materials, such as vegetable inks. Seed paper is a biodegradable material that sprouts into flowers when planted in a pot of soil.  You could…

Biodegradable stationery
Outdoor setting set up for wedding ceremony with white chairs for guests creating an aisle

Choosing a more eco-friendly venue

Perhaps the easiest way to make your special occasion more eco-friendly is to choose your venue wisely, particularly giving consideration to the location. For example, minimising travel there and back, ensuring it is accessible by public transport, or putting on…

Choosing a more eco-friendly venue
Outdoor barn style venue decorated with reclaimed barrels and lights

DIY decor

No matter how beautiful your venue is, you might want to decorate it to set the backdrop for your ceremony and reception. The most commonly used elements (besides flowers) are signs, centrepieces, mirrors, picture frames, and candles. Some venues might…

DIY decor
Fresh local produce including potatoes and tomatoes in a brown recyclable paper bag

Fair food and drink

Ask your venue or your outside catering company to consider seasonal, local, organic and fairtrade ingredients. Also source any wine, beer and other drinks from suppliers that are as local to your venue as possible. The more local, the smaller…

Fair food and drink
Colourful wild flowers

How to buy sustainable flowers

Commercial flowers are less sustainable than you might first think. They are often airlifted in from around the world, contributing to air pollution, and vast amounts of pesticides are used in their cultivation. So why not consider getting back to…

How to buy sustainable flowers
Eco-friendly symbols

Sustainable ceremonies

Thinking about how you can make your ceremony and celebration more sustainable and eco-friendly?  As humanists, we believe that we have just this one life. We have a responsibility not only to our fellow human beings but also to other…

Sustainable ceremonies
A digital camera capturing a wedding couple

Sustainable photography

Most photographers nowadays use digital technology to capture your special day, so you will avoid the damaging chemicals used in the development of conventional photographs. Ask yourself whether you need all or any of your photographs in a physical album….

Sustainable photography