Sustainable wedding planning | An interview with Samantha from Willow & Rust
My name is Samantha and I am the owner of Willow and Rust Weddings, a sustainable wedding planning and styling company. I specialise in beautiful and unique outdoor sustainable weddings and events. Combining my love of weddings, my desire to be more sustainable and help couples to have less environmentally impactful weddings and my love of all things vintage, Willow and Rust was born.
At the moment it is just me, which means a very personal service. However, I do have a little helper in the form of Coco my Cocker Spaniel puppy. She is in charge of adding cuteness and giving out cuddles and is a great model in photoshoots! #dogsatweddings
I love to create contrasts and juxtapositions, for example a beautiful table setting with
china plates and cut glass, nestled in an area of woodland surrounded by trees and nature. This is where the name Willow and Rust came from, the idea of mixing nature with vintage and reclaimed décor.
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The first wedding I ever planned and styled was my sisters, which was nerve wracking as I obviously wanted to get it exactly right for her, but also it was my first. However, there was nothing better than seeing her reaction, the tears in her eyes, when they walked into the reception and saw what I had created. I knew I had got it exactly right.
I always have my couples best interests at heart and I am dedicated to making their dreams a reality. I offer a range of services and packages from full planning, to styling and even prop hire. My packages can be tailored to suit each couple’s needs. Sustainability and the environment are always at the top of the list. It is important for me that couples see that they don’t have to compromise on their vision for the day in order to be more eco-conscious. A wedding can be just as beautiful, unique and Insta worthy whilst still being sustainable.
The trend for the next year and probably beyond is definitely going to be more Intimate Weddings and Micro Weddings. After the uncertainty of the last year couples are reluctant to plan huge events, plus our priorities have changed, we
have come to cherish those close to us and appreciate the smaller things in life.
People are realising that their day can be just as special, if not more so, if it’s spent with close family and friends. It also means budgets can be smaller or distributed differently. For example, couples are choosing the more luxurious menu option for their smaller guest list, or perhaps splashing out an amazing floral installation. I recently put together a Micro Wedding shoot at a local private venue called The Boathouse in Nottinghamshire, and it was honestly the best one I have ever done. There was more time to concentrate on the smaller details and we could have fun with setting. The ceremony took place on a jetty out into the lake surrounded by amazingly blue water and the day ended with the Bride and Groom toasting marshmallows over the fire-pit surrounded by candles.
2020 was a difficult year for the whole of the wedding industry and the start of 2021 hasn’t been great so far! But it will get better and at Willow and Rust, I am ready. I have lots planned for the coming year, from new and exciting inspirational shoots, new packages, the addition of a hire catalogue for our props and tableware, plus I have just launched my new network for couples and suppliers, The Eco-Conscious Wedding Network. At the moment we have a Facebook group which anyone can join and there will be lots more happening throughout the year as the network grows. Plus, I hope as the year goes on, we will have lots of weddings!
2021 we are ready for you!
You can find more Coco as well as Willow & Rust on the following platforms:
Website: www.willowandrustweddings.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/willow_and_rust
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillowandRust
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillowRust
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/willowandrust
Additionally you can find more sustainable wedding resources in our Green Wedding guide.