11 Ways To Have An Ethical Wedding

Find out how to celebrate your love without compromising your values.

1. Don't accidentally buy blood diamonds

Via giphy.com

Adopt a zero tolerance policy to blood diamonds, like Tiffany and

Zoara.

Save the environment (and money) by shopping in antique stories

or (gasp!) on eBay.

Buy from Do Amore – for every ring sold, two people in the

developing word get clean water, FOR LIFE.

2. Trawl second-hand websites and stores

Via mrwgifs.com

Most of us have better things to drop thousands of dollars on than a

dress we'll wear once, right? Well! Save some cash AND help the

homeless by getting your frock from a charity shop. Vinnies now

has an entire section of donated wedding dresses in one of its

Sydney stores.

Other awesome "pre-loved" gowns can be found at I Do Gowns,

Savvy Brides and The Barefaced Bride.

3. Buy a Fairtrade dress

Via tumblr.com

Stuck for dress that matches your values? Consider making a trip to

the US (um, see no. 10 on offsetting your carbon footprint).

Marcie Muehlke searched for a wedding dress matching her human

rights and environmental values but came up short. So, to help other

brides in the same boat she founded Celia Grace.

Her gorgeous dresses are Fairtrade and eco-friendly and for each

one sold, a water filter is donated to a family in need. Tingles!

4. Go eco with your invites

Via tumblr.com

Wanna go eco but fancy sending something a little more special

than an email? Then visit Earth First for a huge list of eco-friendly

stationary suppliers in Australia.

Never used Etsy? DO IT NOW! You'll find an endless supply of

wonderful handmade save-the-date cards and wedding invites.

5. Re-think the wedding gifts

Via giphy.com

Greenhearts' products are ethical and sustainable and profits go to

the communities supplying the goods. They also offset their carbon

emissions. Huzzah!

Another idea growing in popularity is to ask your guests to donate

to a charity of your (or their) choice, such as Amnesty International.

6. Do your guests a favour

Via reactionface.info

Donate the money you were going to spend on bonbonniere

(wedding favours) because, let's face it, no one really needs that

keychain with the cute photo of the two of you in it.

Or, if you really love the idea of giving your guests a gift to thank

them for celebrating with you, there is another option. Make a

donation in their name to Operation Smile, an amazing organisation

that provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other

facial deformities for children around the world.

7. Eat and drink ethically

tumblr.com

Consider going vegan or vegetarian for the day. If that doesn't

appeal to you, then just make sure your suppliers use local produce

and free range meat.

To cut down your carbon footprint even further, buy wine and beer

from the country you are marrying in. Oh, and consider buying

organic or Fairtrade.

And don't forget to recycle those bottles!

8. Brighten someone's day

Via tumblr.com

To cut costs, opt for seasonal flowers as they're likely to be cheaper

because of their abundance.

Other options include recycling your flowers or using artificial ones

which can be just as beautiful as the real thing!

For that extra feel-good feeling, you could give your beautiful

flowers to a local hospital or care home after your wedding day.

9. Over-ordered on the catering?

Via buzzfeed.com

Your caterer should always ask whether you would like to keep the

leftover food from your wedding reception. If you don't want it, the

food will either be given to the catering staff (fine) or thrown away

(not fine).

There are many people around Australia who don't have enough to

eat and that's where you come in. To avoid chucking out perfectly

edible (and probably expensive) food, arrange to donate your

yummy leftovers to a homeless shelter.

For tips on how to do this in your area, check out Give Now.

10. Be wary of paradise

Via giphy.com

Think carefully about into whose pocket your honeymoon dollars

are going. Often, those destinations we think of as paradise can be

hiding human rights abuses so do your research!

If you're having your wedding somewhere exotic or guests are

flying long haul to party with you, start thinking about your carbon

footprint and visit the WWF to find out how to offset it.

Make your honeymoon a 'staycation'. Whether you decide to help

out the cute Ningaloo turtles in WA or mentor awesome Aboriginal
kids in Arnhem, an Australian honeymoon would undoubtedly be

special.

11. Here's a wacky idea: don't get married!

Via thefw.com

Make like David Pocock and Emma Palandri and don't "officially" tie

the knot.

The pair had a wedding ceremony in 2010 but won't sign on the

dotted line until marriage equality exists in Australia.

Despite around 65 per cent of the Australian population being in

support of marriage equality, same-sex couples are still fighting for

the right to have their love recognised in the eyes of the law.

To learn more about human rights issues around the world, visit Amnesty International Australia.

Follow the author on Twitter: @KatieAmnestyOz