Sustainable Wedding Alliance: A Commitment to Eco-Friendly Wedding Flowers
My Journey Towards Becoming an accredited Member of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance
Sustainability has always been at the heart of what I do in floristry. As I continue to evolve Hibiscus Floral Design and look for ways to deepen my commitment to the planet, I’m always looking to take my efforts even further. I first learned about the Sustainable Wedding Alliance during a carbon literacy course I attended at Crockwell Farm. Their mission and values resonated with me instantly and I knew this was the next step for my business. So here I am, documenting my journey toward becoming an accredited member of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance.
What is the Sustainable Wedding Alliance?
The Sustainable Wedding Alliance is more than just an organisation—it’s a movement aimed at driving meaningful change in the wedding industry.
They work with businesses throughout the wedding sector like mine to ensure sustainability isn’t just a checklist, but a core part of how we operate. It’s about transforming business practices to balance the needs of people and the planet, all while creating beautiful, ethical weddings.
Why I’m Joining the Sustainable Wedding Alliance
I’ve always tried to have sustainability at the heart of Hibiscus floral design and share my journey with growing to be greener openly like in this 2022 blog post. I joined Sustainable wedding alliance as a member in June 2024 and am super proud that I feature on their conscious wedding couples supplier directory. At the moment I’m currently working toward becoming an accredited member of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance. This involves my business being audited from top to bottom. This journey is about more than just receiving accreditation though; it’s about being aware of how I’m working at the moment and reshaping my floral design business to have a lower carbon footprint and align even more with the sustainable practices I value so much.
The Alliance's focus on education, support, and accreditation provides a clear roadmap for developing long-term sustainable strategies, whether it's reducing waste, cutting down on transportation emissions, or using eco-friendly materials. These are principles that I’ve already started to integrate, but the Sustainable Wedding Alliance will give me the tools to refine and enhance these efforts. Not all the suggestions in their roadmap are feasible right now. For example, they suggest electric transport which for my business needs at the moment isn’t a good fit due to their limitations, but it’s certainly something i’ll keep in mind as the technology evolves.
Sustainability and Weddings
One of the aspects I’m most excited about is the opportunity to connect with like-minded suppliers and venues who share the same passion for sustainability and weddings. Being part of this community will allow me to learn from others, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects that push the wedding industry toward a greener future.
The Carbon Literacy Training for Wedding Professionals, offered by the Alliance, is another key part of my journey. This course provided an in-depth understanding of the climate emergency and gives wedding professionals the tools they need to reduce their carbon footprint. Completing this training not only gave me the knowledge to make impactful changes within my business, but also helped me confidently educate my clients on how they can make more eco-friendly choices for their weddings.
The idea that I’ll soon be joining over 70,000+ certified “Carbon Literate” individuals and organisations, including industry leaders like the NHS and Patagonia, is incredibly motivating. Becoming certified will reinforce my commitment to sustainability and give my couples the confidence to know that I have a deep understanding, passion and implementation for creating and working alongside green weddings.
What This Means for You and Your Sustainable Wedding Flowers
As I work toward my accreditation, my focus remains on offering sustainable wedding flowers that reflect both beauty and environmental responsibility. The principles championed by the Sustainable Wedding Alliance—such as fair trade practices, low-impact floral design, and waste reduction—are values I’m already deeply committed to. However, this partnership will allow me to fine-tune my processes even further, providing you with the peace of mind that your wedding flowers are not only stunning but also ethical and sustainable.
Joining the Sustainable Wedding Alliance is about more than just elevating my business; it’s about ensuring every wedding I design leaves a positive impact on both your special day and the planet. Through this partnership, I’ll continue to find new ways to minimise waste, reduce emissions and promote the use of local and seasonal flowers, all while ensuring that your floral brief is brought to fruition.
Stay tuned for updates on my accreditation journey and the exciting new changes that will come from my membership in the Sustainable Wedding Alliance! Read more about our mission to create sustainable wedding flowers at Hibiscus Floral Design here.