Sustainability at Swans

Post Written by: Katherine Olmstead (Under the Rose Florals), Barbara Densmore (Certified Life-cycle Celebrant), Joyce & Nico (Couple)

It can be easy to get caught up in the wedding checklist - all the things you feel you have to do in order for the wedding to really count, you know? But what if during the planning process you took a step back from that list and asked: what actually matters most to us? What will make this a great celebration, not just for us, but for our friends too? What do I care about? What should I do to ensure this celebration truly reflects me?

That’s exactly what Joyce and Nico did. Instead of focusing on the things they felt they had to do, they put their time and effort into the things they wanted to do, and created the most amazing, unique, and memorable experience in the process.

First dances with parents? Forget that - how about first karaoke with parents!? Long speeches that go into the night? How about some short toasts and then a game of Kahoot?! Posed photos that just don’t feel right? Nah - let’s go get a coffee and recreate that hilarious photo from high school!!

These two have an incredible story that was showcased throughout the day by an amazing team of vendors. The best part is: this was a super-sustainable wedding with super low waste! This post features insight from the couple themselves, the incredible florist (Kinder Weddings member Under the Rose), and the amazing celebrant (Kinder Weddings member Barbara Densmore). Hosted in March at the beautiful Swans Hotel in Victoria, BC, this was truly a day to remember! Photos throughout this post were provided by Gabby Lee of Islands Edge Images.

Planning for Sustainability: A Conversation with Joyce and Nico

Sustainability was a priority for you throughout your planning process. Why did you place a strong emphasis on celebrating sustainably and minimizing your waste?

I would say it's because our wedding doesn't exist in a bubble. Just because we're getting married, doesn't mean the climate crisis is suddenly put on hold. I knew that I would prefer a day that doesn't create waste unnecessarily. People often talk about how their wedding is their "dream day", well my dream is to have a party that doesn't create more waste than necessary. While it's not about being perfect on every front, we wanted to make it a priority where it was possible.

Were there things you found challenging to plan sustainable options for?

All of the tangible items were easy to do; buying our outfits locally, sourcing local and foraged florals, or buying take-out containers to eliminate food waste. The more challenging aspect was thinking about how we could offset the air travel since the majority of our guests were flying from out of town. What made sense for us was to keep the guest list as short as possible to ensure there wasn't unnecessary travel to our wedding.

What were some of the creative solutions you found to do things in an eco-friendly way?

We loved using The Dish Library from Zero Waste Emporium. We rented mugs and cutlery, but ended up only using the mugs. We were aiming for that house party vibe so drinking out of mis-matched mugs made the experience very cozy. Plus it was completely free. Supporting free programs like this ensure more initiatives like this can happen.

Our top priority while shopping was to consider how & where products are manufactured - and their impact to the environment when they are inevitably sorted for waste. Wherever we can, we purchased locally made products and looked for goodies that said "made in Victoria"; as well as choosing products that had the least impact when it's thrown out. I.e., using loose tea leaf with compostable and reusable stainless-steel infusers. As well as paper cutlery instead of plastic cutlery. Compostable take-out containers as opposed to clear plastic ones. Organic decor & flowers while avoiding the use of confetti and glitter.

We had also thought about using washable cloths instead of paper napkins; but opted for the latter.

Sustainable Floral Beauty (in March!): Reflections from Katherine Olmstead, Under the Rose Floral Artistry

Creating floral décor for Joyce and Nico’s wedding at Swan’s Hotel in Victoria, BC was an absolute joy. It was a celebration rooted in sustainability, nostalgia, and local seasonality. Their commitment to a fully eco-conscious wedding gave me the freedom to explore alternative mechanics and honour the natural land that offers us so much beauty. Having worked with Joyce at the Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga, I was able to incorporate familiar botanical elements like Queen Anne’s lace and solidago (a.k.a. goldenrod), flowers I knew would be memorable for both Joyce and Nico. As a quirky nod to our past efforts managing invasive species, I tucked a few parsnips (yes, the vegetables) into some of the arrangements and it ended up being a playful touch that tied all the pieces together. Trendy tip: food in florals is in!

The palette was a radiant blend of yellows, pinks, blues, greens, and soft peach, brought to life with foraged moss to help retain moisture. Hidden cucumbers were used as short-term water sources in some of the more whimsical, tucked-away designs, like the floral accents nestled in the wooden hutch of the venue’s charming kitchen.

Joyce and Nico also provided silk flowers, which were seamlessly integrated into the arrangements, adding both volume and reusable longevity while maintaining the organic aesthetic. Locally grown cherry blossoms became a central motif, especially in the outdoor ceremony arch, and in perfect harmony with the day, they were in full bloom as the couple exchanged their vows. The apartment-style venue invited a wide range of floral expressions, from wildflower-inspired to lush statement pieces, and even playful touches like garden boots brimming with blooms to greet guests at the entrance. It was a celebration we all loved bringing to life.

All of the vessels used for the floral installations were from our florist’s inventory and mechanics such as chicken wire and tape were used to make the design foam free but still interesting.

Creating a Memorable Ceremony: Reflections from Celebrant Barbara Densmore

The design was created using the inventory that was available on Vancouver Island, not only in the interest of sustainability but also to keep in mind that a real-life couple would want to keep their delivery costs to a minimum. Party Mood (Duncan, BC) provided the majority of the rentals and Designer Weddings had the beautiful green velvet backdrop that would tie everything together for our ceremony. As an added bonus we were also able to include Crowfoot Collective’s asparagus candles that were modelled off of the actual asparagus grown at Lockwood Farms!

To add a little more flair to the day we had a live calligrapher who created menus for the couple on paper made of potato starch and gold leaf – all edible and easily compostable too. Another unique touch were the shallot place cards – something that can be easily sourced and written on with the skin acting as a barrier between the edible part of the shallot. We also commissioned her to create mirrored signage for special items like the dessert menu and signature cocktail.

The same calligrapher was also on site to create name tags with scraps of paper she had left over from another project. This was for the purposes of the conference but could also be applied to a wedding where perhaps not everyone knows each other. She meticulously wrote everyone’s names in under an hour – a special and unique touch that guests will not forget for a long time to come.

The Video

Final Thoughts from Joyce and Nico:

Did you find you needed to change or compromise your vision for your day in order to make sustainable choices?

Luckily, no. I feel like the sustainable choices are there if you are looking, thinking creatively, and are open-minded to doing things a little differently.

You two didn't do everything "traditionally" - was there anything you wish you did (or didn't) do differently?

We had an idea to use an expensive perfume on our wedding day so we can associate it with a unique smell. In the end, we completely forgot about it and not quite sure what to do with the perfume bottle now. In hindsight, we didn't probably need to buy it in the first place - but we'll try to use it as much as we can now that we have it.

Looking back, what was your favourite part of the day?

Joyce: My favourite part was doing karaoke with all my friends. It solidified the fact that doing non-traditional wedding activities is the right choice if it makes you truly happy.

Nico: Being able to MC our own wedding made the entire event more memorable and fun - especially since we're surrounded by our close friends to share puns and jokes with. Despite being front-and-centre all the time, it made me feel really comfortable and relaxed from start to finish.

Venue: Swans Hotel, www.swanshotel.com, @swansvictoria
Food & Beverage: Food for Thought Catering, www.foodforthoughtcatering.net, @foodforthoughtvictoria
Photography: Gabby Lee of Islands Edge Images, www.islandsedgeimages.ca, @islands_edgeimages, and Jordana Lynne, @jordannalynnephotos
Videography: Paper Heart Films, www.paperheartfilms.ca, @paperheartfilms
Florals: Under the Rose Floral Artistry, www.undertherose.ca, @undertherose.ca
Cake: Fox and Monocle Bakery, www.foxandmonoclebakery.com, @foxandmonocle.cafe
Officiant: Barbara Densmore, www.barbaradensmore.ca, @barbaradensmorecelebrant