Planning an eco-friendly wedding is easier than you might think. If you are reading this, and are planning a smaller wedding, then you have already taken your first important step towards a more sustainable wedding day.
At The Pilgrims Rest we want to help you reach your green wedding goals. A play on a well known poem, we follow our own little mantra:
“Something Old, Something Renewed, Something Borrowed, Something Tofu!”
Something Old:
The Pilgrims Rest is certainly old as this grand old lady celebrates her 600th birthday next year. It is safe to say that any embedded carbon footprint from when she was built is long gone. More recent work (400 years ago, so not exactly new build) was when some oak from a wrecked ship was used to construct the dining room ceiling.
Something Renewed:
The Pilgrims Rest has been designed to be beautiful without the need to hire props and furniture. We have furnished the venue with antiques and vintage pieces, and have created two stunning changing rooms (at opposite ends of the building), keeping everything under one roof. Added decoration in the form of our seasonal looks is included in the venue hire - designed to make the building sing. Nothing is thrown away; Instead decorations are carefully stored, and updated, as the seasons change.
Something Borrowed:
You might have your grandmother’s necklace, or a borrowed veil to borrow on the day. If not, we have lots of things you can borrow; Vintage decanters and wine buckets; champagne baths and drinks dispensers; candlesticks and lanterns; furs and boho rugs to name a few, are all available for you to use - at no extra charge.
Something Tofu (!):
Tofu isn't everyone's idea of a perfect wedding menu although there is no doubt that not putting beef on your menu is a greener choice. But don't panic, luckily Sussex has some amazing farms and small producers. Do ask your chosen caterers what they can source that is locally grown, rather than shipped from overseas. And don’t forget, by having a smaller guest list, you have already made a huge leap towards having your eco-friendly wedding day.
Our mantra it appears to be a little too short to cover everything, so here are a few extra “Green somethings” which will help to make your wedding more sustainable.
Wedding waste:
Keeping wedding waste down to a minimum. Aiming for a zero waste wedding is an excellent way to help the environment on your big day. Whether you choose have a hog roast or a tofu curry, don’t forget food waste is one of the biggest wedding waste offenders. A plated meal is always a good choice, but if you prefer the idea of a buffet, an en-famille meal or a grazing platter, then speak to your caterer and ask their advice about leftovers. and how they can deal with them. Which takes me on to recycling:-
Recycling:
Bar and catering staff should manage any recycling on the night. Even better, they will also take it away when they leave and ensure it is recycled correctly. At The Pilgrims Rest we have no financial arrangement with any of our suggested suppliers but we are pretty ruthless who is added to our Tried, Tested and Trusted list. To improve wedding waste we now ask that caterers do not drop off food and leave. No matter how good their intention on the run up to the wedding, the last thing your bridesmaids and family want to do is head to the kitchen in their new dresses and scrape plates. Having a couple of waiting staff who can tidy up, recycle and pop the leftovers in the fridge means your family can enjoy them the following day and you will nailed your zero waste goal.
Flowers:
We have designed The Pilgrims Rest to be stunning all year round meaning you need few (if any) flowers. If you love fresh flowers then try to avoid those that are imported and buy locally grown ones. East Sussex has some great florists, some of whom have their own cutting gardens. Often they can grow flowers for you at the fraction of the price of imported ones, without their associated carbon footprint. Really fresh flowers that smell amazing.
Location:
Consider the proximity to public transport and how your guests can get to the venue. The Pilgrims Rest is a short walk to the train station with trains going via Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells to London and St Leonards and Hastings in the other direction. For those who don’t want to make the last train home there are lots of places nearby to stay.
Accommodation:
Staying within walking distance means no need for taxis, so local accommodation is important. Luckily, Battle has lots of great places within a few minutes walk of the venue - from Air bnbs to hotels. Great for anyone making a weekend of it plus no-one has to be the designated driver.
At The Pilgrims Rest we want to help you reach your green wedding goals. A play on a well known poem, we follow our own little mantra:
“Something Old, Something Renewed, Something Borrowed, Something Tofu!”
Something Old:
The Pilgrims Rest is certainly old as this grand old lady celebrates her 600th birthday next year. It is safe to say that any embedded carbon footprint from when she was built is long gone. More recent work (400 years ago, so not exactly new build) was when some oak from a wrecked ship was used to construct the dining room ceiling.
Something Renewed:
The Pilgrims Rest has been designed to be beautiful without the need to hire props and furniture. We have furnished the venue with antiques and vintage pieces, and have created two stunning changing rooms (at opposite ends of the building), keeping everything under one roof. Added decoration in the form of our seasonal looks is included in the venue hire - designed to make the building sing. Nothing is thrown away; Instead decorations are carefully stored, and updated, as the seasons change.
Something Borrowed:
You might have your grandmother’s necklace, or a borrowed veil to borrow on the day. If not, we have lots of things you can borrow; Vintage decanters and wine buckets; champagne baths and drinks dispensers; candlesticks and lanterns; furs and boho rugs to name a few, are all available for you to use - at no extra charge.
Something Tofu (!):
Tofu isn't everyone's idea of a perfect wedding menu although there is no doubt that not putting beef on your menu is a greener choice. But don't panic, luckily Sussex has some amazing farms and small producers. Do ask your chosen caterers what they can source that is locally grown, rather than shipped from overseas. And don’t forget, by having a smaller guest list, you have already made a huge leap towards having your eco-friendly wedding day.
Our mantra it appears to be a little too short to cover everything, so here are a few extra “Green somethings” which will help to make your wedding more sustainable.
Wedding waste:
Keeping wedding waste down to a minimum. Aiming for a zero waste wedding is an excellent way to help the environment on your big day. Whether you choose have a hog roast or a tofu curry, don’t forget food waste is one of the biggest wedding waste offenders. A plated meal is always a good choice, but if you prefer the idea of a buffet, an en-famille meal or a grazing platter, then speak to your caterer and ask their advice about leftovers. and how they can deal with them. Which takes me on to recycling:-
Recycling:
Bar and catering staff should manage any recycling on the night. Even better, they will also take it away when they leave and ensure it is recycled correctly. At The Pilgrims Rest we have no financial arrangement with any of our suggested suppliers but we are pretty ruthless who is added to our Tried, Tested and Trusted list. To improve wedding waste we now ask that caterers do not drop off food and leave. No matter how good their intention on the run up to the wedding, the last thing your bridesmaids and family want to do is head to the kitchen in their new dresses and scrape plates. Having a couple of waiting staff who can tidy up, recycle and pop the leftovers in the fridge means your family can enjoy them the following day and you will nailed your zero waste goal.
Flowers:
We have designed The Pilgrims Rest to be stunning all year round meaning you need few (if any) flowers. If you love fresh flowers then try to avoid those that are imported and buy locally grown ones. East Sussex has some great florists, some of whom have their own cutting gardens. Often they can grow flowers for you at the fraction of the price of imported ones, without their associated carbon footprint. Really fresh flowers that smell amazing.
Location:
Consider the proximity to public transport and how your guests can get to the venue. The Pilgrims Rest is a short walk to the train station with trains going via Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells to London and St Leonards and Hastings in the other direction. For those who don’t want to make the last train home there are lots of places nearby to stay.
Accommodation:
Staying within walking distance means no need for taxis, so local accommodation is important. Luckily, Battle has lots of great places within a few minutes walk of the venue - from Air bnbs to hotels. Great for anyone making a weekend of it plus no-one has to be the designated driver.
