This Couple Had An Eco-friendly Wedding On A Tiny Island!
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There's one thing we can tell you- you might have never seen a wedding like this before! Everything about this wedding was super unique- right from the location, to the eco-friendly measures taken to even the bridal outfit, which was a 37 year old family heirloom. Yep, Tim and Aranya had a wedding which was not just super thoughtful, but pretty too, and we loved each and every idea they implemented!
Yup, that is how simple and offbeat the decor for their intimate wedding was! Just check out their adorable wedding video!
So here are all the deets!
The Love Story
Tim and Aranya met in the most unlikely of places - a hostel in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2011. They were both there to volunteer at a sustainability NGO and hit it off immediately. Fast-forward to 21 December 2019, and they got married in Aranya's hometown of Guwahati in Assam on their 8th year of togetherness in her grandparents' home.
The Wedding
It was deeply important to the bride and groom to have a wedding that was as sustainable as possible – not only was it a nod to the way they met, but it was also the most practical thing to do in a world of wasteful weddings and overconsumerism. Furthermore, being a proud daughter of the soil, Aranya wanted to showcase the best of Assam's unique culture to friends and family that had flown in from all over the world; this meant that it was critical for Aranya to support only local suppliers to manage all events (under the design direction of Aranya's sister who coordinated the entire wedding). And, what better way to introduce Assam to guests than on a cruise to a private sand island on one of the greatest rivers of the world – the Brahmaputra river? Besides, no one could turn down a spot of India vs Australia cricket on the sandy beaches!
Australian elements from the groom's side were also incorporated: like serving the couple's favourite gin from Four Pillars - an artisanal distillery just 1 hour outside of Melbourne; and using edible flowers from a renowned region known for its fresh produce (and wine) - the Yarra Valley of Australia - in the cocktails.
The Eco-friendly measures
The decor for the wedding was tasteful and elegant - all designed to thoughtfully represent Assam's simple, agrarian culture that's rooted in a respect for nature.
- Single-use plastic and artificial flowers were banned from the entire wedding.
- Drinks were served in glasses, biodegradable plant-based cups or clay matkas.
- Food was served in plates and bowls made from areca nut, banana leaf or ceramic.
- Only fresh, seasonal flowers from local nurseries were used, including white orchids on the mandap (a way to honour the bride's late grandfather's favourite flower) and marigold confetti in banana leaf bowls
- Design elements were borrowed straight from nature, like pineapples, plantain stalks and green coconuts
- Wedding invitations designed and printed locally on recycled paper.
- Rewearing of clothes for the bridal outfits
- These elements were tied together by reusable and recycled fabrics, bamboo and symbols of Assamese culture like the Xorai (a bell metal stand that portrays great respect), Kol Gos (plantain tree)and Nao (traditional wooden boat) – all of which were used to highlight the natural beauty and cultural richness of Assam.
The Bridal Outfits
The theme of sustainability also extended to the bride's outfits. In a world where people buy clothes to wear only once, Aranya was adamant on not buying anything new or designer made, choosing instead to rewear what already existed and support Assam's incredible weavers for the final outfit. The bride wore her mother's 37-year old Benaras saree for the Sangeet; a beaded pastel saree for the Mehendi and Pani Tula ceremony (the Pani Tula being the Assamese version of a Haldi) that Aranya had bought on a whim a few years ago but had never worn; and finally the pièce de résistance was a unique mekhela chador (a traditional Assamese two-piece saree) made of Muga – a golden silk found nowhere else in the world other than the Brahmaputra river valley – which remains the truest emblem of Assam.
The Muga mekhela chador was even more special to Aranya as it was entirely designed by her mother – bearing centuries-old indigenous Assamese motifs of lota phool (flower and vines, which was yet another nod to sustainability) – and hand-woven in her mother's looms for over 1.5 months. The bride purposefully chose to wear mainly family heirlooms belonging to her late grandmother, mother and aunt, with the exception of one unique Assamese headpiece which was hand-beaten by one of the last remaining artisans of the old school of Nagaon goldsmithing. For Aranya, there was no greater joy than getting married to the love of her life, Tim, in her mother's hand-woven creation and family heirloom jewellery - this bore far greater meaning to the bride than any designer piece(s) could ever do.
Truly a wedding like you've never seen before, right?
Vendors: Bridal outfits - Custom-designed by @konyakstore; Venue - Ships by @assambengalnavigation; Photography- @8fold.stories; Videography - @8fold.stories and @alchemypixels