The eco problem

On the face of things fresh, cut flowers are ‘naturally green’, so I understand their draw to the eco-conscious couple. And besides, the smell of real flowers can really help to make you feel special on your big day (unless you have an allergy!) Of course, bouquets are one of those things brides (and their maids) often want to keep/preserve - a form of eco-friendly practice in itself. And when it comes to buying a few fresh bouquets for you and your maids to carry down the aisle (if that's what you choose), let’s be honest, as a one-off purchase that isn’t really going to… well, cost the earth. 

But when it comes to running this business, I supply large numbers of floral arrangements on a regular basis, meaning my decision-making is a little different to yours. Repeatedly buying (largely the same) flowers week-in/week-out, would have a significant environmental impact over time. Unless I bought all my flowers in season and locally grown (which would massively limit what I could offer and increase my costs / charge to you), providing flowers for all the events I dress would have a very significant environmental impact.

But even if I did want to use real flowers, there are a few other behind-the-scenes matters to factor into decision-making:

• • • Pest control (necessary when large quantities of a single species are commercially grown in a confined area)

    • Water consumption (the kind of flowers most people want for a wedding need a lot of water to form those picture-perfect blooms) 

    • Greenhouses (they need heating, lighting and water)

    • Machinery (driving large, industrial farming machinery around consumes a lot of energy) 

    • Transportation (to ensure they arrive in prime condition, flowers are often transported in refrigerated containers and, sometimes, by air rather than sea/land)

Even the way cut flowers are arranged poses problems for eco-friendly practice. Unless you specifically request fresh flowers to be arranged in vases or bowls of water (perhaps using chicken wire or flower 'frogs' to hold them in place), most florists default to using florist foam. And that is made from polyurethane or styrofoam. Yup! Plastics!. Single use plastics that don't decompose well, leading to microplastics entering the environment. Worse - they include toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and phenol which can leach out, contaminating soil and water sources. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can harm aquatic organisms and disrupt ecosystems.

So, taking everything into consideration, for me, here at ReStyle, fresh flowers quickly become the less environmentally-friendly and sustainable option. 

The ReStyle solution

For these reasons, the flowers I supply are all, unashamedly, artificial – not that you’d tell from looking at them! Yes, that means they inevitably include some plastic components. Yes, they have been manufactured in a factory somewhere. And yes, they have had to be transported (but generally by land/sea rather than air and without the need for refrigeration). 

BUT …  once they arrive with me, the flowers I buy last literally decades (I look after them carefully!) meaning they can be returned and reused many times over. So when particular arrangements fall out of fashion (as they will, eventually) flower stems that are still in good condition can be reused and repurposed in different combinations into new arrangements. All of which means that, overall, the artificial option becomes the greener option albeit, perhaps, initially counterintuitive.

And when it comes to floral foam, I have devised my own eco-friendly alternative product using mostly natural, plant-based materials. Whilst this product does include the use of some plastic-based materials, the amount of them I need to use is minimal and, once made, the product can be carefully stored to reuse many times over before it needs to be replaced. I continue to experiment with alternatives that might remove the need for plastic-based products entirely. 

Worried about having the same floral arrangements as everyone else? 

Please don’t let that bother you – I’ve got that covered. Whilst some event dressers use a limited range of pre-made, bought-in floral arrangements, here at ReStyle I make all my own arrangements to order. So if you're looking for an unusual mix of colours, or specifically want to add-in (or eliminate) a particular flower or foliage stem from anything you've seen online (here or elsewhere), I can work with you to create what you're looking for. This means that, whilst I may use the same flowers many times over, no two finished arrangements need look the same (unless you specifically request me to recreate something I've done previously for another couple).   

Disappointed you’ll miss the scent of fresh flowers? 

Again, I’ve got that covered for you. I have some wonderful, convincing ‘flower shop’ scent that I add into the arrangements for you unless you request otherwise. Paired with the realistic-looking flower and foliage stems I use, your guests really will find it hard to spot the difference!  

The eco problem

If you wish to use your own wedding stationery, that’s fine – just arrange to leave it at the venue or get it to me in time, and I’ll attach it to / display it on your choice of signs. But did you know that many of the wedding stationery products supplied as standard are non-recyclable? Yes, they're paper and card - so you might think they'd automatically be eco-friendly. But, sadly, that may not be true. 

The specialist finishes typically applied to much wedding stationery (especially pearl, foil, glitter, etc.) require the use of plastics, rendering otherwise recyclable products non-recyclable. And, of course, decorative items such as beads, diamantes, sequins and ribbon buckles/sliders (not to mention the ribbons themselves) are usually made from plastics too - often discarded after the event (I know - it's sad to think of it, but true!) 

In particular it's worth noting that foam boards (currently so popular for signage!) are a real problem for eco-friendly practice. That's because they are actually made from a core of compressed polystyrene foam (yes - that horrible, white packaging stuff!) sandwiched between two layers of paper, card ... or plastic. Worse still, if you try to remove the vinyl lettering from them, it's most unlikely you'll be able to avoid tearing, scratching or damaging the surface, rendering them a form of single use (or very limited use) plastic. 

While we're on the subject of vinyl lettering, of course the clue is in the name - vinyl lettering. Plastic strikes again! When you see those beautiful letters with a lot of open space around them, it may not look like a lot has been used. But it all has to be cut from a sheet. And the larger the lettering, the larger the gaps around them ... so the more waste, sticky-backed plastic ends up in the bin. 

The ReStyle solution

Where possible and in line with your needs, I encourage couples to use standard, reusable signage. Pre-printed table numbers and common tables names are a good example of such an opportunity. Also ceremony signage such as reserved seating, 'unplugged ceremony' and 'take a seat either side'.  

With most of my packages, there is the option for you to have personalised stationery included at no additional charge. That includes:

• table names/numbers

• seating plan

• place settings

• order of the day

• other signage for around the venue (confetti, cake, etc.)

As standard, I use high quality, recycled and recyclable paper and card stock in a range of beautiful colour options. You are free to choose and combine those as you wish. Rather than use plastic-based finishes, I will work with you to add interest and beauty in other ways. And after you’ve finished with them, I positively encourage your venue to return them to me so I can recycle them for you (setting one or two aside as keepsakes for the memory box, of course!) 

However, if you really do want to add some glitz and glam to proceedings, ReStyle can offer other, specialist finishes (pearlised, foiled, glitter, etc.) Sadly, due to the inclusion of plastics, none of those can currently be recycled. But if you really do want that look, there’s no need to let that bother you too much; you can always choose a style that minimises the volume used. By minimising waste in this way (reduce), you’ll know you’re still doing what you can to help protect the environment.

I do offer vinyl lettering on mirrors and signage boards - it would be a poor show if I didn't! But the way I arrange things means the main (larger) words and decorative details don't get changed each time - only the smaller areas containing your names, dates, and venue details. In this way, I can keep the amount of vinyl used to an absolute minimum - a really good example of the 'reduce' principle of eco-friendly practice. All the same style, just organised differently to minimise the eco-impact.

The eco dilemma

Natural linens avoid the use of manmade fibres (plastics), so they seem the eco-friendly option, don't they? However, they are more difficult to launder and more susceptible to creasing during transport. So, it's not quite so straight forward and obvious.

Ultimately, my primary reason for existing as a business is to ReStyle your chosen venue so it looks beautiful for you on your special day. Natural fibres such as cotton and linen often don’t transport, handle and drape as well as other options. They also take longer to dry when laundered.

The ReStyle solution

Being natural fibres, cotton and linen would, initially, appear to be the most eco-friendly options here. However, it is not just the material content and initial purchase that is an important consideration. Whilst fabrics are purchased once, they are laundered many times over. Thus, the (repeated and ongoing) impact of laundering becomes the bigger factor in my decision-making.  

So, whilst my fabrics may not be made of natural fibres, this is one of those areas where the return and reuse elements of recycling are important: striking the right balance between conflicting ecological matters really is a complex business!

Please also see laundry (below) for further information.

The eco problem

All fabrics need to be laundered on a repeated and ongoing basis. Commercial laundering is one of the biggest (if ‘hidden’) areas of environmental impact. 

Washing

Aside from the additional impact of making two separate and dedicated journeys to transport linens to and from your venue, commercial laundering businesses consume huge amounts of water and energy. They also tend to use detergents that are harmful to the environment. Furthermore, the industrial scale and processes mean that fabrics are often marked and torn or burned in the process (believe me - I've seen it all myself, first hand!) And the manufacture, distribution and replacement of linens consumes additional resources. 

Drying

Commercial laundries dry all their linens in huge tumble driers. Again, this consumes large amounts of energy. It also poses a further risk of damage to the delicate fabrics you want and expect to see in your venue. 

Ironing

It's tempting to imagine a person stood at an ironing board, gently pressing linens one by one. Sadly, in a commercial laundry the reality is very different! Linens are pressed between a pair of large, rotating drums, typically heated by a constant stream of steam. Not only does this consume large amounts of energy, linens are fed through the drums at speed. They may not enter the rollers flat or even straight, meaning folds and edges can get worn or torn. Any edges of linens that don't get taken into the central part of the rollers may get caught in the mechanisms at the side, where they risk getting torn or covered in hot grease which becomes embedded and (at best) very difficult or, (at worst) impossible to remove.

Thus commercial laundering is a big no-go.

The ReStyle solution 

Being a small, family-run and home-based business, I can do things differently. Rather than send my fabric items to a commercial laundry, I do them all myself, meaning I can control (and minimise) environmental impact. Including an element of manmade fibres has a significant, important and positive impact on the (ongoing and repeated) environmental impact of laundering.

Washing

All my fabric items are washed at low temperatures and (quite literally) by hand, using eco-friendly detergents. 

Water and detergent consumption is minimised as I can wash / soak multiple loads in the same water. After all, the majority of them are unlikely to need anything more than a quick freshen-up.

Drying

Due to the sheer amount of energy used, tumble-drying is a complete no-go for me (in fact, I don’t even own a tumble drier!) Wherever possible, I hang everything outside to dry on the line. When the good-old British weather isn’t playing ball (!) I hang it inside instead, on lines and racks where it dries naturally. 

Due to the inclusion of manmade fibres, the linens I provide wash and dry faster and easier, making this approach much more feasible given the number of items I need to wash. 

Ironing

Crisp, neatly presented fabrics also require ironing. Rather than the big, industrial, power-hungry rollers used by many commercial laundry companies, my fabrics are pressed by hand. Using a small, domestic-grade iron, my energy consumption is minimised. And, again, the use of manmade fibres speeds up the process, meaning the iron doesn’t need to be on, using power, for as long as it would if I used, say, pure cotton or linen.

So, all in all, whilst you and I can’t control what your venue does with its laundry, by choosing ReStyle, you can rest assured that the fabric choices you’re making are right for both you and the environment.

The eco problem

Increasingly, wedding venues are putting restrictions on the use of traditional, living flame candles, requiring LED alternatives instead. In some cases, couples simply prefer to use LED candles for reasons relating to personal preference and/or safety. 

Traditional, living flame candles are commonly made from petroleum-based (paraffin) wax. 

LED candles need to be powered by batteries. Batteries use environmentally-hazardous chemicals which have to be mined / manufactured and disposed of safely. Whilst pillar and taper candles can be powered by rechargeable (AA or AAA) batteries, LED tea lights are more problematic. 

Most commonly-available and affordable LED tea lights use button batteries and, although it is possible to get rechargeable alternatives, their power rating is too high. This reduces the lifespan of the lights (and the plastics they're made from). It also poses a safety risk, meaning disposable batteries are currently the only option.  

The ReStyle solution

Here at ReStyle  I can offer you a wonderful range of candle options, should you wish to have candles at your event.  

Traditional, living flame candles

When it comes to living flames, here at ReStyle I have carefully selected the best possible eco-friendly options for you. 

To minimise petroleum usage and associated emissions, whilst offering a nice white/off white colour, I choose soy candles over paraffin or beeswax wherever possible.  This works really well in tea lights and is, therefore, a great solution - my default, in fact. 

Unfortunately, neither soy taper candles or soy pillar candles offer the burn duration necessary for a full-day event and are therefore not such a great solution. So, instead, I have sourced some beautiful, soy candle sand which can be used in any glass vessel of your choosing. When combined with soy coated cotton wicks this makes a fantastic option with an extremely long burn duration – perfect to see you through the full day, the evening party and beyond! 

However, if you prefer the look of traditional pillar candles, I can still provide paraffin wax candles, and I take the view that, because they burn so slowly, the eco impact is, actually, still very low.  

LED candles 

Whether you’re choosing LED flames due to your venue’s restrictions, or for your own safety concerns, ReStyle has you covered! Battery powered, flickering taper candles and pillar candles are all available for you. The batteries are all rechargeable, so you can have peace of mind that they’ll last the duration of your event. Of course, this also reduces the toxic waste generated by standard, alkaline batteries. Win, win!

Unfortunately, whilst the LED tealights look great, as noted above, they are powered by button batteries. It is possible to buy rechargeable button batteries that will fit them. However, their voltage is not compatible with the tealights and would pose a safety risk if used as well as reducing the life span of the product. 

For this reason, if you wish to use LED tealights, you should be aware that I would have to use disposable batteries. I continue to research alternatives and will update this information when I am able to identify and source an eco-friendly solution.

The eco problem

Wedding miles

When booking your suppliers, what tends to happen is that multiple different suppliers travel to the same place, each in their own vehicles. And, in many instances, that means four journeys (there and back to set up / there and back to take down).  

Premises

Many (but, admittedly, not all) suppliers run their business from separate business premises. And whilst it may be great to be able to walk into a fancy showroom to see their wares, it does mean those premises need to be heated (to prevent stock damage). It also means they have to travel to and from the premises on a regular basis.  

Large, diesel hungry vans

Many of those suppliers need to use larger vehicles to transport their large and bulky products. And that often means they drive large, diesel-hungry vans.

The ReStyle solution

Reducing wedding miles

By getting as much of your decor as possible from a single supplier, you can do a lot to reduce the mileage and carbon footprint of your event.  One supplier, one set of journeys. 

Bonus: This creates an opportunity for you to save cash. Whilst delivery charges may not be specifically or separately detailed on your quotes from other suppliers, they are (have to be) included in the overall charge to you. Here at ReStyle, once you book your decor with me, many of those 'extras' will already be included. And if you want any  more, I can add-in them in at a greatly reduced rate - because I'm already traveling to the venue, I don't need to factor in any extra delivery costs.  

Premises

Here at ReStyle, I have carefully sourced or created products that dismantle, pack and store small and efficiently. This means I can store everything in a spare room at home without the need for separate business premises. As the room is already being heated anyway, I don't have to run any additional heating systems to keep my treasures dry and in good order (many items rust or deteriorate if not stored in temperature-controlled conditions). 

Working from home also means I don't have to travel to/from a separate storage facility or showroom - I simply stroll through when I need to. 

Bonus: For you, this means I come to you to show you what products I have. During our consultation, as you don't need to drive home afterwards, that means you can relax with a glass of your favourite tipple if you like and really enjoy the immersive experience of playing with my treasures and planning your decor. 

Large, diesel hungry vans

Being able to store everything small and efficiently, also means I can transport everything in a modest, energy-efficient, family car. You won't find any large, dirty diesel vans polluting the environment here at ReStyle!