How green is your wedding?

When her wedding was fixed with Abhinav Bargur, Jayashree Arun Kumar was sure that she wanted to do something different for the big day. The Bengaluru born and bred graduate from the Global Academy of Technology says, “Prior to the wedding being fixed, I had attended an event that generated so much plastic and waste. Abhinav and I talked about wanting to host a green wedding in a bid to do our bit for the environment. Through our wedding, I wanted to motivate people to have their own green wedding. I wanted to show that this kind of a wedding was possible too.” It was her uncle and her mother who took the entire idea forward, supportive of the couple’s views.

With over 3,000 guests for two days of rituals, how did they manage to do it? “We went ahead with only one thought - no waste should be generated. There is an alternative to everything and it’s something that everyone can do,” Jayshree avers. She and her family got in touch with an event management company that specialises in green events for the event. “We had posters all over the marriage hall with directions and instructions. We did not have plastic bottles, instead, we arranged for washable steel cups. Dustbins were placed everywhere. Cotton bags instead of plastic and cotton napkins that can be reused were brought in,” she says, adding that her guests co-operated throughout.

Talking about the reaction she received from friends and family for her green wedding, she shares, “On the wedding invitation that was made from recycled paper, we had added a note saying that it’s an eco-friendly wedding. Everyone was so happy with the idea that we got their whole-hearted support.” Jayashree, who will soon move to Ireland, admits that initially it was difficult. “We had the notion that plastic is a necessity for celebrations. But after discovering the alternatives to it, it was a piece of cake,” she says, adding that though they had to spend a little extra, in the end it was worth all the money. A keen photographer and a passionate astronomer, Jayashree urges couples who are getting married to try their hand at hosting a green wedding because it adds to the positive vibe on the special day.