Eco-conscious weddings are on the rise as couples become more mindful of how their celebrations impact the environment. With travel restrictions easing and vaccinations available, many are buoyed by the prospect of celebrating their big day in far-flung, beautiful destinations, but with more intention and personalisation.
An island nation like Mauritius is ideal for a sustainable lifestyle, and what makes it even better is that going down the sustainable route does not mean sacrificing on quality. Hiring local is not only a great way to support the local community but also shine a spotlight on homegrown talents to sustain a circular economy.
Bespoke bridal gowns from repurposed fabrics
Meet Mauritian wedding dress designer, Daphne Ducasse. She creates bespoke and sustainable gowns using materials amassed over the years in her workshop or fabrics that are readily available in Mauritius. Leftover fabrics are repurposed to make one-of-a-kind accessories to minimise environmental impact.
Daphne grew up watching her grandmother creating beautiful wedding dresses, she loved seeing the joy on the brides-to-be faces when trying on the gown of their dreams.
“It was the craftsmanship, the delicate fabrics, the intimacy with each bride, and the endless possibilities to create something new each time that made me realise this is what I want to do with my life,” said Daphne.
After graduating from a fashion art and design school in Paris and Cracow, she launched her made-to-measure brand, Daphné D., that encapsulates her values to respect the art, artisans and the women who wear her clothes. Beyond carefully designing for low environmental impact, the core of the brand is for women, by women. By creating employability and valuing fair treatment for her team, she empowers the locals of Mauritius.
Repurposed wedding dresses
Gone are the days where wedding dresses are worn once and vacuumed-packed for the rest of days. Daphne also specialises in repurposing pre-loved bridal gowns as cocktail dresses to give these single use dresses new leases on life. Her bespoke gowns can also be designed and conceptualised from the start for easy assembly and disassembly into unique pieces that can be worn for a long time.
This exclusive collaboration between Daphné D. and LUX* Resorts & Hotels in Mauritius is dedicated to providing unique experiences for the discerning LUX* guests whilst affirming the group’s commitment in caring for the environment and the local community in which it operates.
Zero waste celebrations
Certified by The PLEDGE™ on Food Waste, a Singapore-based third-party audited certification and benchmarking system on food waste designed to improve organisations‘ bottom-line, LUX* Le Morne repackages leftover food to send to a neighbouring school for underprivileged children so they can improve their nutrition intake, hence improving their concentration during classes. Food that cannot be distributed are used as compost in the resort’s 30,000 square metre garden space.
Guests can also opt for a vegetarian or vegan menu from the Keen on Green concept, launched across the group this Veganuary, where produce are locally sourced and prepared with healthier methods.
Loving the rustic theme? The gardeners from LUX* Grand Gaube gather dried flowers and twigs from the resort’s grounds to build the floral arch for solemnisation or vow renewal ceremony. All floral bouquets are sourced from small florists to support local businesses. Flowers can be repurposed after the wedding by sending them to a nursing home or a non-profit organisation that the resorts work with to brighten up someone else’s day.
Signages and placards are lovingly hand crafted by LUX* Belle Mare’s Junk Art team using shells, dried flowers, driftwood or any recycled materials found on the island.
The newly opened LUX* Grand Baie offers chauffeur-driven wedding car in a fully electric BMW iX to and from Port Louis.
To tailor a dream destination wedding, vow renewal ceremony or sequel wedding with a bespoke bridal creation by Daphne D., contact Ms. Kareen Rault, Sales Manager at The Lux Collective, at kareen.rault@theluxcollective.com or visit www.luxresorts.com.
For the latest updates and promotions, follow LUX* Resorts & Hotels.
