If you ever needed proof that a sustainable wedding needn’t sacrifice on stunning, this dreamy shoot at The Freedom Hub should do it. Captured by I Love Wednesdays, the ethereal scenes feature unique floral installations by Sydney eco florist, Saint Fleur and ethical bridal fashion from The Barefaced Bride.

Saint Fleur’s creative director, Bethan Waterhouse, tells us the purpose behind the shoot was to inspire couples to think about the positive impact their choices can make. “These days we’re more conscious than ever about making ethical choices – cutting out single-use plastics, slow fashion, supporting charitable causes with our purchases. And we believe it’s important that couples have the option to make ethical choices when it comes to their wedding. With this in mind, we planned this beautiful styled shoot with a collection of vendors big on thoughtful consumption and sustainable practices. We wanted to show that ethical can be stunning too.”

The shoot was held at The Freedom Hub cafe, a spacious warehouse-style venue decked out in a glow of festoon lighting. More than just a space with a great vibe, The Freedom Hub is supportive of a great cause. All the profits of events held here support people who have experienced modern day slavery or human trafficking within Australian borders (yes, sadly, an underground problem that still exists in many ways).

The stunning gowns worn by model Kenzie come from The Barefaced Bride, a boutique filled with carefully curated, once-worn gowns, perfect for the thoughtful bride wishing to keep her footprint small. The Barefaced Bride owner Melanie Bowman says, “We believe that modern-day brides can make smarter, savvier and more sustainable choices when it comes to buying a wedding dress… We have strived to create a unique and conscious shopping experience for mindful brides who share in our values and want to leave less of an impact on the world and our environment.”

And when it comes to the organically sprawling florals styled by Saint Fleur, all were sourced from local Australian flower growers, reducing the larger footprint that imported blooms clock up and supporting local small business flower farms. Bethan explains, “Saint Fleur is a sustainable florist-stylist, embracing the no-floral-foam movement to reduce plastic landfill and harm to local wildlife. Instead, in this scene the hanging floral installation – filled with dried hydrangea, weeping magnolia, sorghum, roses and tulips – was constructed foam-free with chicken wire and a dried-out branch. Similarly the wild botanical pillar, surrounded by blush and latte eco candles, was constructed with a reusable wire structure and water-filled vases and buckets.”

Bethan finishes with these words. “We hope these beautifully captured images will inspire your readers to both think about the positive impact their choices can make, and also inspire them to replicate a similar dreamy romance to their wedding day.”