Plans are going well for The Great Big Green Wedding Fayre, taking place in Liverpool on September 5/6th.

We can’t believe the wealth of different green businesses that have jumped on board, everything from peddle powered rickshaws to recycled jewellery, vintage tea parties to classical musicians!

We have also been pleasantly surprised by a number of traditional wedding suppliers who have been keen to find out what they need to do to ‘Go green’.

I spoke to a reporter recently who asked if the event would be “All hemp dresses and veggie food?” Well, as a matter of fact we wouldn’t say no to a hemp dress and we do have a veggie caterer- but the great variety of alternative things that will be going on are giving the event a festival feel and I defy any ‘mainstream’ bride not to get the urge to break the mould and go for the fun of being peddled to the ceremony or the romance of a night under canvas, or indeed the bargains to be had at in charity shop bridal section!

A wedding celebration or civil partnership should express your unique view of the world  – not conform to what is expected, too often couples seem to follow an unspoken rule book when it comes to their own special day.

We green girls already know this, but we urge you to share this idea with your friends: Try something a little different for once!

The Great Big Green Wedding Fayre takes place at Crosby Hall Educational Trust, Liverpool on 5/6th September.

Highlights include a catwalk show courtesy of Oxfam Bridal; complimentary tea & cakes; live music; free pamper sessions with The Bodyshop at Home; the chance to win some great green hampers from friends like Lovelula; presentations by Katie Fewings from Ethical Weddings and Greg Valerio from CRED jewellery AND a green goody bag to take home (plus the odd rickshaw ride!)

Tickets cost 6.00
Please reserve yours by contacting Jemma
jemma@biggreenwedding.co.uk or tel: 07824 860 682

www.biggreenwedding.co.uk

Now autumn is in sight I thought it would be a good time to share upcoming green events for the next few months…

Ludlow Green Festival

29th and 30th August – Ludlow, Shropshire, UK
A weekend festival of stalls, music and activities to raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing us all.
Find out more about Ludlow Green Festival

Llanfyllin Workhouse Green Fayre

29th and 30th August – Llanfyllin, Wales, UK
A family friendly weekend with green arts, crafts and music.
Find out more about the Green Fayre at Llanfyllin Workhouse

The Great Big Green Wedding Fair

5th and 6th September – Liverpool, UK
For eco couples looking for ethical and green wedding traders
Find out more about the Great Big Green Wedding Fayre

Ozone Day 2009

16th September – International
Led by the United Nations Environment Programme. The theme this year is “Universal participation: Ozone protection unifies the world”
Find out more about Ozone Day

Eco-Fest 2009

19th – 20th September – Derby, UK
Raising awareness about environmental issues in a fun two day family festival.
Find out more about Derby Eco-Fest 2009

Tree-Athlon 2009

19th September – London, UK
27th September – Leeds, UK
4th October- Manchester, UK
Join in the 5km fun run to raise funds to plant trees in the cities.
Find out more about Tree-Athlon

Festival of Life

26th September – London, UK
Workshops, stalls, music, talks and activities to promote healthy living for the body and planet
Find out more about Festival of Life

Big Green Home Show

23rd – 25th October – Swindon, UK
For self-builders and home-improvers to find out how to make their homes more sustainable.
Find out more about the Big Green Home Show

More Local Events

For many more dates for localised events throughout the UK visit the following websites:
Greenfinder
Ecological Living
Green Events – London

The first Eco Chic Weekly of 2009, its a short one this week but very sweet.

Enjoy!

Green Cotton
A Year in Review for our Eco-Fashion Blog

Victoria Everman
Review and exclusive giveaway of all-natural flower essences sprays by Nectar Essences

Green Grechen
What Price “Green”? How much is too much to pay for eco-friendly products?

Alternative Consumer
Designer Marchuska – a healthy new direction for fashion

Green Girls Global
Our very own Green Girls to host the Eco Chic Wedding and Home Show

I think the day after Valentine’s Day is as good a day as any to let green girls know about a green wedding competition!

Ethical Weddings member and environmentally committed videographer, Jennifer Sabini Evans of BeanTime Productions is offering six hours of her time to 4 US couples who are having a Green Wedding in 2008!

To be in with a chance to win this package valued at $1200 all you need to do is email a description of your green wedding event (including the date and location) to Jennifer, along with a photo of you and your other eco-loving half.

And as if that wasn’t enough, since the competition was first announced, Jennifer has managed to round up a few more prizes for the lucky brides-to-be:

• a t-shirt from Naked Cotton
• a pair of jeans from Delforte
• the chance to be published in Bean Time Production’s first coffee table book entitled: ‘Forget White Go Green!’ (Free copy of course)
• a guest star spot on XM- Broadminded (channel 155) – where Jennifer will soon be Broadminded’s ‘Green Broad’!

So the search is on for the most creative, authentic green and organic wedding:

“It’s simply beautiful to see more couples not only making a commitment of love to each other but to love the Earth as well.”

The contest has four deadlines, one for each season. Winning couples will be announced through the BeanTime Productions website.

The contest submission deadlines are as follows:

• Spring 2008 Brides – 21 March 2008
• Summer 2008 Brides – May 2008
• Autumn 2008 Brides – August 2008
• Winter 2008 Brides – November 2008

So good luck with the competition – but remember, it’s just for fun! We don’t want brides to start feeling bad if their wedding doesn’t work out quite as green as the next couple’s. Green guilt is so not a good look on your wedding day. Do what you can and have a fab day!

Take care,

Katie
Ethical Weddings