This Couple's Eco-Friendly Wedding Will Inspire You To Have One

Sharanya Sridhar and Susheel worked in the same company when Cupid struck and they decided to tie the knot last year. The couple, interestingly, decided to break the norm and organise an Eco-friendly wedding which resonated with their values and ethics.

Sharanya tells SheThePeople.TV that her husband is a Malayalam Christian from a non-vegetarian family and she is a Tamilian from a vegetarian family. She confessed that planning a wedding to suit both the families was a challenging task because their cultural norms were very different. On the other hand, both Sharanya and her fiancé are not very religious. Therefore, it was their ardent desire to organise the wedding in a way that was a reflection of their lifestyles and beliefs. They also wanted the guests who would be a part of their journey to get to see their authentic side and that's how the planning of an Eco-friendly wedding began.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• A couple decided to break the norm and organise an Eco-friendly wedding which resonated with their values and ethics.
• They sent e-invites for RSVPs and for other guests they sent invites made of seed paper. Seed paper is made up of biodegradable paper and seeds blended together to make textured papers.
  
• The couple also requested their guests to avoid wearing silk and leather at the wedding since they both belong to brutal industries.
• A tree plantation drive was also a part of their wedding ceremonies.

It was a bit difficult for people around them to understand the concept of their wedding initially but as it came together they were very excited about it.

Also read: Manasi Kirloskar Opts For A Simple Wedding: Goals Anyone?

“A lot of wedding invites go into the trash and there is so much cardboard and paper that gets wasted. We decided to send e-invites for RSVPs. Other guests were sent invites made of seed paper as we wanted people to have the excitement of opening a physical invite for the wedding,” she explained.

“Planting trees with our family and friends on our wedding day was one of the most memorable moments for us. We gave our guests seed bombs as gifts. These are small balls mixed with manure and seeds. One can easily toss them off in a muddy area or in their pots and backyards and they grow into a plant.” Sharanya

Elaborating on the concept of seed paper invites, she explained that these are made up of biodegradable paper and seeds blended together to make textured papers. The invitees keep the details, save the date, cut it and up and plant it in their pots which then grow into plants. She shared that everyone found this idea to be very unique and it got them really excited about attending the wedding. The couple also requested their guests to avoid wearing silk and leather at the wedding since they both belong to brutal industries. They also organised a pool party to ensure that people from the families interacted with and got to know each other. They wanted to keep the wedding intimate and meaningful and there were less than 150 guests both sides included. In one of their functions, they also organised a pottery session to give guests an opportunity to connect with earth and nature. They could take the pots they made home with them as a little gift in memory of the function and the wedding.

Seed bombs at wedding

A tree plantation drive was also a part of their wedding ceremonies.  "Planting trees with our family and friends on our wedding day was one of the most memorable moments for us. We gave our guests seed bombs as gifts. These are small balls mixed with manure and seeds. One can easily toss them off in a muddy area or in their pots and backyards and they grow into a plant.", she informed us.

“An eco-friendly wedding eliminates the concept of showing off and trying to make it grand to please others. It is a great way to celebrate nature and everything it bestows on us.” Sharanya

Tree plantation at wedding

On their big day, they went ahead with the idea of reusable artificial flowers and twigs. “Flowers look best on plants and trees,” she averred. The food, which included a traditional Tamil-Malayalam food fiesta, was served on banana leaves. There was no cutlery involved and this gave a very authentic touch to the wedding. The main ceremony was conducted outdoors and was a vow-exchange ceremony. Further, to bless the couple on this auspicious moment, the families and friends threw a mix of bird feed, bajra etc. instead of rice so that birds could feast on it the next morning without wasting the rice. The guests were given bird feeders as gifts which they could put in their balconies and backyards and enjoy the chirping of birds that came there. A lot of their guests sent them pictures and videos of a variety of birds eating from their feeders which was very heart-warming.

Also: Five Indian Weddings That Broke Stereotypes