“Our planning mantra was ‘reduce, reuse, recycle or remove’. We have dispensed with anything that is insignificant or harmful. We reused elements from the hotel and our inventory for the furnishings, ”explains the couple’s planner Prerika Puri, founder and creative head of To The Aisle. Wherever possible, single-use materials have been replaced with organic alternatives such as bamboo, cloth, dried flowers, jute, recycled paper, and local wood or earth-based products. “We used mango wood trays for the wedding favors because it is more sustainable than traditional wood,” Puri adds.
The families also offset the CO2 emissions from their air travel by planting trees through the NGO Grow-Trees. Plastic waste collection boxes were set up across the venue for later recycling and the groom opted for bicycles for the baraat.
Immersed in the local
The view from a safari
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Another important pillar of the wedding was a full local experience for their 100 guests. An early morning safari in the forest was high on this list, followed by a seated Thali experience in Gujarati. A local flautist performed at the welcome dinner and pottery workshops were organized by the village potter during high tea. “We had him make custom-made kulhads (clay cups) that he could use for some of the events,” adds Puri. Guests were also given a tour of the property’s cottage garden and were able to purchase vegetables from their on-site shop.
Pottery workshop
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Do it mindfully
Social distancing was just as important as sustainability, so all events were held outdoors. The couple skipped the haldi and mehendi considering security protocols. “Instead, we had a DIY mehendi tattoo station,” says Bajpai. In an ongoing effort, the couple are now listing some outfits from their wedding wardrobe on a rental website in an attempt to extend their lifespan.
