The Wild Fork share with us their thoughts on the important subject of sustainability on your wedding day.
There is no denying that climate change is real, and with the media coverage of the subject ever increasing there is a huge movement of people trying to do the right thing. From small steps at home to enforcing rules in the workplace, we’re learning how to right our wrongs and do what we can to reduce our impact on the planet’s climate change.
Weddings are described as ‘the big day’ or ‘the best day of your life’ and so it can seem as though one day is a small blip in the world of sustainability. One day of not focussing on your impact on the environment is not going to make a significant difference, but actually, the wedding industry is enormous! If everybody thought a little more about how their one big day can be that little more sustainable, it could make a huge difference.
There is no denying that climate change is real, and with the media coverage of the subject ever increasing there is a huge movement of people trying to do the right thing. From small steps at home to enforcing rules in the workplace, we’re learning how to right our wrongs and do what we can to reduce our impact on the planet’s climate change.
Weddings are described as ‘the big day’ or ‘the best day of your life’ and so it can seem as though one day is a small blip in the world of sustainability. One day of not focussing on your impact on the environment is not going to make a significant difference, but actually, the wedding industry is enormous! If everybody thought a little more about how their one big day can be that little more sustainable, it could make a huge difference.
Seasonality
To us, seasonality is key, and that is why you don’t see a long menu list to choose from. By choosing produce that is in season not only can we be confident it’s going to be at it’s prime and the most tasty product, but it will also be locally sourced with minimal food miles.
We work with our clients to understand their needs before our creative chefs craft a fully bespoke menu using the finest ingredients of the season. Rather than choosing from a set list of menus, ask how your caterer can include seasonal produce.
We work with our clients to understand their needs before our creative chefs craft a fully bespoke menu using the finest ingredients of the season. Rather than choosing from a set list of menus, ask how your caterer can include seasonal produce.
Foraged & Wild Food
Agriculture is a contributing factor toward climate change through both emissions of greenhouse gasses and the conversion of forests and natural landscapes to agricultural land.
Swapping some farmed produce with wild and foraged foods can help to reduce your wedding’s impact on the environment. We have a wonderful connection with deer management across Berkshire and so wild venison appears on many of our autumnal wedding menus.
Other items to look out for include blackberries, wild garlic and game birds, but ensure your big day is in the correct season otherwise you cannot ensure these British delights have been not been farmed.
Swapping some farmed produce with wild and foraged foods can help to reduce your wedding’s impact on the environment. We have a wonderful connection with deer management across Berkshire and so wild venison appears on many of our autumnal wedding menus.
Other items to look out for include blackberries, wild garlic and game birds, but ensure your big day is in the correct season otherwise you cannot ensure these British delights have been not been farmed.
Know your meat
Emphasis on your wedding being the best day of your life means people assume that you should offer what we deem as the most lavish and ‘special’ ingredients for your guests. For some reason, this means meat, and that our fresh and delicious vegetables have often been overlooked.
However, now that there is a huge rise in vegetarian and veganism, we’re hoping to see an increase in vegetarian options being chosen throughout canapé selections and the wedding breakfast.
Our head chef Anthony appreciates the flavours, textures and beauty of the humble vegetable and is often experimenting with exciting new combinations to point our clients in a less meat-filled direction! This season we’re making the most of the creamy and intriguing celeriac in purées, as crisps and warming soup shots for an autumnal canapé.
However, now that there is a huge rise in vegetarian and veganism, we’re hoping to see an increase in vegetarian options being chosen throughout canapé selections and the wedding breakfast.
Our head chef Anthony appreciates the flavours, textures and beauty of the humble vegetable and is often experimenting with exciting new combinations to point our clients in a less meat-filled direction! This season we’re making the most of the creamy and intriguing celeriac in purées, as crisps and warming soup shots for an autumnal canapé.
Think drinks
As caterers, it isn’t just the food side which sees opportunity for reducing our environmental impact. Your wedding drinks are surrounded by tempting and low priced one-use items which perhaps seem like an easy and fuss-free option, until you consider the environmental connotations.
Know your true disposable paper straw – the patterned, colourful variety that often catch our eye may not be fully recyclable, so it’s advisable to check the packaging!
Consider your soft drink option! You’ll be focussing primarily on your traditional bubbles or swanky cocktail arrival, but overlooking your soft drink option can leave you frantically throwing litres of plastic pop into your shopping trolley. Glass bottles add so much to your arrival drinks, circulated on trays with pretty paper straws. Although the supermarket has a limited selection of one portion glass bottles, ask your caterer what selection is available to them! We often can provide glass bottles of all your retro favourites, as well as flavoured lemonades and exciting new tonics.
Know your true disposable paper straw – the patterned, colourful variety that often catch our eye may not be fully recyclable, so it’s advisable to check the packaging!
Consider your soft drink option! You’ll be focussing primarily on your traditional bubbles or swanky cocktail arrival, but overlooking your soft drink option can leave you frantically throwing litres of plastic pop into your shopping trolley. Glass bottles add so much to your arrival drinks, circulated on trays with pretty paper straws. Although the supermarket has a limited selection of one portion glass bottles, ask your caterer what selection is available to them! We often can provide glass bottles of all your retro favourites, as well as flavoured lemonades and exciting new tonics.