How green is your wedding?

Harsha Puthussery and Nikhil Mulakkal hosted, what they call, a 100% green wedding reception for their friends and family in Thrissur in May 2023. And people are still talking about it. “Especially my dress,” laughs Harsha, “which was made of upcycled textile waste.” It was not easy to find a designer who could relate to her sensibilities, says Harsha, but she finally zeroed in on Hannah Liz Jacob in Mumbai, who created a unique dress out of fabric waste. “I got the dress just two days before the function, but I was happy,” she says.

The open-air event, which was held at Eco Garden resort in Cheruthuruthy, had sustainable decor, which included lanterns made of jute, bamboo baskets, a backdrop done in screwpine mats and mango leaves instead of flowers. The food was served in edible plates and the glasses used were steel. “We exchanged tulsi garlands so as not to order flowers,” she adds. She wore handloom for the main function and the invitation cards were made out of recycled water hyacinth fibre, by a Kerala-based student startup. Harsha and Nikhil also ensured that the food waste generated was managed responsibly.