6 ways to reuse corks for your wedding reception

Choose to re-use! It's the best way to save money as well as resources. Here we are sharing some innovative ideas on what to do with those corks you have collected over the years to make your wedding more memorable!

By creating a slit length ways in a cork and leveling off the bottom, you have the perfect place setting holder.

Add an eye hook, key ring and your wedding date to a cork for a nice keepsake for your guests. 

Using two vases and adding corks between the two with a candle to illuminate it all will add a special and economical touch to your table centerpieces.

Cut the corks into small discs to create wine glass labels. Use small letter stamps to add your own personal touch.

Glue corks to an old piece of board or into a picture frame and use it as a pin board to stick the seating assignments for a rustic presentation.

Add that extra special touch with a heart or by gluing corks to cut out letters to represent your initials.

If you are looking for corks for your natural wedding contact us at eco@biome.com.au we might have some to share with you.

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Wedding fashion with compassion - finding the perfect shoes

Have you been searching for the perfect wedding shoes for your natural wedding? Are you finding it hard to find an ethical pair that is made with compassion?

How about these beauties made from cork embroidered in white cotton?  The inner is made from breathable anti-allergy microfiber. These shoes are ecological, and manufactured in Portugal with a CO2 free manufacturing system. The Insole is paperboard agglomerate and microfiber lined. 

Ethical grooms shoes are also available. These shoes are not leather but are made from waterproof and breathable Microfiber, antibacterial,  washable (up to 60º), light and extremely tough. The lining is made from breathable anti-allergy microfiber, the same ecological, CO2 free manufacturing system has been used in the manufacturing. The insole is made from paperboard agglomerate and they are microfiber lined with the sole being 40% recycled rubber.

Whatever your style, NAE (No Animal Exploitation) shoes provide shoes that are made with compassion.

For more ideas and ethical products to help you plan your natural weddings visit Biome's Green Wedding pages for more inspiration.

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Green catering

We are all aware of how much waste a large event like a wedding can create.  Now there is no need to feel guilty when you entertain.  Whether it be for an elegant natural wedding or a rustic family BBQ at Biome Eco Friendly Stores you can find many choices that will suit your style and budget.

The Wasara range (pictured above) is perfect for a natural wedding with 100% biodegradable and compostable single use tableware that is produced sustainably from bamboo, reed and bagasse pulp. The delicate appearance resembles a fine porcelain. It makes an ideal green catering disposable option for posh parties, picnics natural weddings and green events.

At Biome Eco Stores you will find small, medium and large plates, bowls and cutlery.

Prices range from $11.95-19.95 for packs of 10 pieces.

View the Wasara green catering range at www.biome.com.au

Green Bean eco friendly dinnerware is a collection of stylish single-use products for serving food that is made of  Balsa wood. It has a smart contemporary look and feel, and comprises of plates, cutlery, skewers, party picks, chopsticks and cones. The Green Bean green catering range is disposable, biodegradable and compostable. green catering prices are available when you order over 100 of each item although 1 month lead time may be necessary.

At Biome Eco Stores you will find small, medium and large plates,  small, medium and large bowls, cones, serving cups and cutlery. Prices range from $7.50-19.95 for packs of 10 pieces.

View the Green Bean green catering range at www.biome.com.au

These budget friendly Palm leaf plates are made from the naturally shed palm leaf sheath. These biodegradable plates are sturdy, leak proof and can withstand hot and cold temperatures, including baking food and microwave. The rustic nature of these plates and bowls make the perfect addition to any green catering event, family picnic or BBQ or any occasion when you are catering outdoors. They can be washed and used again for a limited time depending on how they are used and they make the perfect alternative to plastic and paper plates anywhere, anytime. When you're done you can just pop them into the compost heap instead of sending them to landfill.

Biome Eco Stores stock dinner plates, small side plates and small round bowls (as pictured above). Prices range from $12.95-15.95 for packs of 25 pieces. 

View the green catering Palm leaf plates at www.biome.com.au

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Eco Friendly wedding dress

Eco-conscious brides-to-be will know that when planning a natural wedding, there are several issues to address, but the wedding dress will most likely be one of the biggest considerations on their list.

Here are some fun and somewhat green wedding dress ideas from natural brides who have taken the plunge down the aisle.

This 'natural bride' is a fashion designer. She and her 'natural groom' had joked over the years that they’d get married once they collected enough bread tags to cover a dress, a feat which prompted family and friends to join in the collection to speed things along. The multicolored green wedding dress was made of 10,000 bread tags collected over ten years. 

Treating the tags like scales, she created an overlapping pattern, which also disguised the stitching. The 10,000 plastic tags were sewn with her sewing machine onto a cotton base fabric with a corset underneath. All in all, the fifteen pound green wedding dress only cost $36 but took her hundreds of hours to make. Each tag bears a “best by” date, bringing back memories of their time together over the years. Now that's commitment!

Talk about popping the question!

This Canadian bride wore an eco friendly wedding dress made out of 13 feet of bubble wrap as she walked down the aisle. The green wedding dress used over 13 meters of re-used packing material that was put together by pupils and parents from her school for a fashion show featuring recyclable materials. This green wedding dress is made from sheets of carefully stitched bubble wrap, attached to an inner cloth lining, and finished off with white foam packaging material.

The bride remarked "There was quite a lot of popping as I walked down the aisle, I was very nervous, but having the bubbles to pop, really helped calm my nerves".

 Wool you marry me?  

Little Bo-peep would be jealous of this dress.

When this breeder of rare sheep, decided to get married in a green wedding dress made of the wool from her beloved Lincoln Longwool sheep, she wanted "to prove that wool is not just something for knitting baby booties, and that native breeds can have just as big a presence today as in the past."

This green wedding dress took a spinner and dressmaker 67 hours to make. "But it was worth it", said the groom who wore a wool waistcoat. In keeping with the theme, she had a shepherds crook, and the ring cushion was made of fleece. They are obviously a tight-knit couple.

Follow the paper trail

This amazing green wedding dress was made with only toilet paper, tape and glue inspired by "Gone With the Wind" and Japanese Origami.

It's clear to see that you can be as creative as you like when creating your green wedding dress but the most popular choice when planning a natural wedding would be to find a pre-loved dress.

Don't forget to create your eco friendly gift registry at Biome Eco Stores so you are sure to receive eco friendly gifts that you actually want and that are useful to you.

For more info on how to create an eco friendly wedding dress visit www.naturalweddings.com.au

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