Laura Frecon is the CEO of Verte Luxe, a space dedicated to eco-friendly products for nearly every aspect of your life.
With, 5 Easy Tips To Having The Sustainable Wedding Of Your Dreams, Laura gives insight into the state of sustainability within the fashion industry. She also reveals some of her personal favorite eco-friendly items.
Tip 1: Repurpose and Achieve a One-Of-A-Kind Look
For most of us, our gowns will only be worn this one time. That’s why it’s great to consider repurposing a gown by hiring a good seamstress to re-make an existing gown and creating your own design. You will be reusing existing materials and creating a one-of-a-kind gown that is your very own. Also, look to eco-friendly wedding gown designers like Celia Grace and Lindee Daniel. These designers are using sustainable materials and fair trade practices.
Tip 2: Don’t Be Wasteful
Think about donating your flowers and leftover food after the event. You can search for venues who support local farm-to-table cuisine and donate to a food bank when the wedding is over. There are amazing floral companies such as Rebloom, who take your wedding flowers and repurpose them by donating to hospitals and nursing homes or reselling them at a lower cost to other events.
Tip 3: Send Out Eco-Friendly Invitations
Print invitations, programs, and menus on seed paper. Seed paper is a biodegradable material that sprouts into flowers when planted in soil. Botanical PaperWorks has a whole line of custom goods on plantable paper, so it’s perfect for your wedding and garden.
Tip 4: Use Nature as Your Décor
For décor, use the beauty that surrounds you when designing the look of your wedding. Consider an outdoor venue that will cut back on energy costs by saving the need for lighting. Look to local farms for your flowers and use the scenery that surrounds you rather than bringing in excessive décor. Work with sustainable event planners and designers in your area and always go local with your food, wine, and flowers to cut back on your carbon footprint.
Tip 5: Think Eco-Friendly Registry
Register for items that will support your mission and keep sustainability a priority. As your guests browse through the registry, they may even become inspired to make a lifestyle change!
Q+A
What was the turning point in your life that caused you to not only want to live an eco-friendly lifestyle but also inspired you to bring it to the sector of weddings?
I grew up on a farm and orchard in Pennsylvania. The love for our land and our planet was always a focus in my family. I carried this passion for caring for our earth with me and in college became the head of the Environmental Committee at my University. Years later, while working on a movie in Australia, I got engaged. I was trying to plan an eco-friendly and sustainable wedding at our orchard in Pennsylvania while working in Australia.
I would spend hours searching the I
Fashion brands are moving in the direction of becoming more sustainable. In a recent letter to the CFDA (The Council of Fashion Designers of America), Dana Lorenz announced her withdrawal from the fashion fund. At the end of the letter, Lorenz stated: “As a side note, the Fashion Fund is irrelevant unless it is entirely made up of sustainable designers.”
What are your thoughts on the current state of sustainability within the fashion industry, and do you believe this new perspective is resonating with consumers in an impactful way?
Though I am pleased about the strides that we have made in regards to ethical, sustainable, and fair trade fashion, we have a LONG way to go. There is still so much greenwashing in this industry.
A fast-fashion brand can say that they are eco-friendly because they are using organic cotton, but then they are sending their work to sweatshops in India where people are making pennies a day. This is NOT ethical or sustainable. I do think we have made progress, but we need to look to smaller brands who are genuinely working with artisans, using natural and eco-friendly materials and are paying those workers a fair wage.
What are some misconceptions around sustainability that you find people are unclear?
Marketing is a funny thing. Just because something says it is “sustainable” does not actually mean that it is. We as consumers need to do our research. We need to look into the brands who are producing our products: where are they coming from, how and where are they made, what materials are being used, how are their workers treated.
I am proud to say that Verte Luxe personally vets every brand on our platform. We have talked extensively with each brand and are completely transparent in who they are and what they stand for.
Weddings are an extraordinary and magical event to experience. What are some of the best concepts you’ve seen executed that delivered on a high note, all while remaining environmentally conscious?
Use the beauty of your surroundings to create the design and décor of your dreams. If you are getting married outside, embrace the fauna that surrounds you. Design your florals and décor to make sense for your environment and can be found locally. Source local food vendors in the area to reduce your carbon footprint. Look at local farms and wineries for catering.
For your gown, think about repurposing an existing gown and designing it to be your very own. If you are interested in buying a new gown, look to designers who are using hemp or bamboo silks, natural fibers, and recycled tulle. My gown was a combo of repurposing my mother’s wedding gown and giving it a modern flair with tulle made from recycled plastic bottles. For your wedding registry, think of registering for experiences over things. In planning your honeymoon, look towards conscious tourism and eco-excursions, such as Green Maya Tulum for a once in a lifetime experience.
What are some of your favorite products that you cannot live without that are environmentally friendly?
I am obsessed with the shampoo and conditioner from Sud Source. Not only is this conditioner great for all hair types (especially my crazy curly mane), but they have their very own refill program!
I also love the body oils from Lau Botanicals. Completely natural and organic, they are handmade on the island of Kauai and feel like a vacation every time you use them.
The Global Trunk has these beautiful festive pillows that I add to my house for a little pop of fun and color.
I could go on, and on…my favorite thing in the world is finding new and exciting eco-friendly products to fall in love with!
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