Vegan-Friendly Bridal Gown by Silviyana Weddings; florals by Sincerely Vave’

The dust has settled and I’m back from my trip to Los Angeles, CA, from the Worlds First Vegan Bridal Fair! And wow, what a whirlwind!  The Kind Bride and Verte Luxe led the way in putting on a boutique bridal experience complete with all the deliciousness and beauty possible! Also, the Bel Air Tree House of LA were our gracious hosts for the event. And we had over a dozen vendors in attendance for the landmark event!

I wanted to share some of my key takeaways from the event!

If you can dream it…

It is true, “When you can dream it, you can see it become a reality…” If you told me a year ago that I would be walking down this journey towards a “green business,” I would have said, “WOW! Is that something I CAN DO?” But I have dug deeper into the business. I have discovered the ideals that drive me in life ought to drive me in business. So, that means, if I can live a “green” (inspired to be plant-based & non-toxic) life, then why can’t my business be a “green business?”  Why can’t I work with people who share similar ideals? The answer is, ” When you can dream it, you can see it become a reality.”

Gentle activism starts with me…

You know I started sharing my story when our family faced some challenging situations and loss.  As a result, I faced criticisms and lost depth of friendship and some friends all together. Further, it is not easy to walk the road less traveled (whether you are vegan, vegetarian, gluten/grain/sugar-free, zero-waste, organic living, etc. The journey is not easy). But, we have committed ourselves to this journey and guess what? There are others who HAVE listened. And there are folks who HAVE done the research and also friends who have made informed decisions in their life, health and for the well-being of their pets, children & the environment. And guess what? Those changes started with me, our story, and being brave enough to share it.

Awareness leads to…

Now that we are on the other side of the initial loss and challenges. And now that I know what I know, I can’t help but advocate for the things that I am passionate about.  As I have mentioned, this has spilled over into my business life. While it may be difficult to be aligned with my ideals on every possible level, I am doing what I can to live in harmony with my convictions.  My mindful living has led me to a place of desiring to empower and supporting others on their journey. Thus, I’ll be chatting more about exciting initiatives coming your way soon. Ultimately, my goal is to share, educate, empower and support individuals.  Specifically, I want to support couples planning their “green” wedding. Likewise, I want to bring like-minded green wedding professionals together with the same aim.

Shifting the industry

I firmly believe that as we (speaking of brides and grooms to be and other vendors in the wedding industry) become more aware and empower ourselves and others – we can create the DEMAND for a shift towards a more “green” wedding industry. The time is now. We can have a strong voice when unified in our ideals. And whether that means you are passionate about a vegan wedding, zero-waste wedding, eco-friendly or sustainable wedding or ethical wedding, you should be able to realize your wedding vision. This certainly means you can plan an ethical wedding in all of its beauty, without compromise.

My commitment to you

At the Vegan Bridal Fair, I was asked about my logo – “What did the two circles mean?” I was happy to share that they represent my commitment to my clients, to creativity and to my ideals. This plays out in my next steps in my business as I’m completing several certifications! (A wedding planner course, a certification training for green weddings in particular). Further, I am researching the requirements in my state for running a certified green business. My desire is that my passion for green living will translate to my business of serving clients who are planning a “green wedding.” So, you may have never met a “green wedding photographer” or a “vegan-friendly photographer” before. But that is about to change!

Planning a “green wedding?”

If you are planning a “green” wedding, it would be my honor to serve you! Please stay tuned to my blog and to my Instagram! And for those who are interested in connecting and learning more about my photography giveaway, please send an inquiry my way! I can’t wait to support you on your journey! And also, if you haven’t read Daniela Degrassi’s official blog about the Vegan wedding event and all the fabulous vendors in attendance, click to read all about it!

Finally, here are a few of my favorite images from the Vegan- Bridal fair! I love this dress by Silviyana Weddings, bridal florals by Sincerely Vave’, jewelry by Kata Banko Couture and all the amazing styling done by Amethyst Event Productions.  And a special thanks to my friend Daniela Degrassi for allowing me to share about what makes Photography “Vegan” (or not). For a recap of my presentation, check out my blog post!

So…until next time… Keep calm and go green…

Lovely Florals by Sincerely Vave’

Lovely styling by Amethyst Events

Lovely Styling by Amethyst Events; Dress by Silviyana; bridal boho-florals by Sincerely Vave’

Lovely Team with Amethyst Events & a  stunning centerpiece

Lovely Jewelry by Kata Banko Couture