The road to sustainable weddings, with RAD Agency

There’s a new duo in town, and they’re taking Canterbury by storm! Just not the kind that leaves you wondering why Mother Nature is so furious at us. We've got something insanely exciting to share with you today. It's all about a game-changing event planning company with a focus on sustainability. Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, founders Kate and Millie are on a mission to leave a lasting, positive impact on the wedding and events scene.

As I set to flesh out the foundations of Christchurch Weddings, there were a few factors that were instant considerations. I wanted to encourage simplicity and intentional decision-making when it came to wedding & event planning, I wanted to build an inclusive, collaborative community, and I wanted to take my role as a planner, the resources and knowledge I have built over the years and put it on show, making it accessible to a global audience.

Little did I know that I was already on a path to develop a considered, earth-lovin’ business, that is Canterbury’s Ultimate Event Planning Destination you love to visit today.

Seven years on, enter < RAD Agency >. Like all epic wedding businesses, RAD was born from a wedding. Not just any wedding - one of an Environmental scientist, Millie. Coupled with local wedding planner, Kate (whom you may also recognise as my other half of Planning Project), these two merged environmental know-how with creative planning genius and open mindset, forging a dream team for eco-conscious couples and businesses!

*Kate and Millie, Founders of RAD Agency. Captured by* *Stacey Cavalier Photography*

Let’s touch on the conceptual stage of RAD for a second, because it’s where CW comes in. Now, upon the dawn of RAD’s birth, Kate and I were speaking daily and she was pitching me a raft of business ideas in the hopes of finding her path, some of which were in motion and others that required either a massive investment, were a laugh or simply just not RAD enough. When I got the call up from Kate to let me know that she and Millie had won a mentoring scholarship with the one and only Brianne West of zero-waste beauty brand Ethique, I jumped to volunteer as tribute and have Christchurch Weddings (and South Society) reviewed. I’m so pleased to announce that we’ve obtained the RAD tick of approval!

Here’s a quickfire round of some social, environmental and economic reasons why:

Being a (mostly) online business operating out of my home office, I save time, travel and costs
Materials are distributed digitally and, therefore require minimal printing
Prioritise video meetings where possible
Provide low-cost advertising that is accessible to all sized businesses
When hosting events, I adopt, where possible, a policy to serve a dual purpose i.e. host a networking evening with a venue or showroom launch; host an open day in conjunction with a giveaway wedding
The number of vendors contributing to a wedding day is kept to a minimum
Repurpose items wherever possible
Encourage hire over purchasing

Fast-forward a few months and RAD have adopted two streams to their organisation; Event Planning and Event Consultation, which both include Weddings. My inner (and outer) planner gets so excited when I come across a holistic, all-encompassing view of events because your wedding will likely be one of countless occasions you plan in your life. RAD’s personal and business event solutions not only offer sustainable event planning that meets ISO 20121 standards and UN goals but also Carbon Reduction Assessments and Calculations. Want to read more? Click HERE.

As for Wedding Planning specifically, RAD offers two solutions. The first is a one-off sustainable planning session which I like to think of as being similar to a consultation. You can add monthly planning packages to suit your needs to ensure that you are fully supported in the lead-up to your day. Secondly, is coordination which includes assistance across the planning phase as well as on-the-ground support during your rehearsal and on your wedding day.

The heart of RAD's philosophy is the triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Profit. You see, sustainability isn't just about disposing of the trash from your occasion, it's about creating a better world for future generations. Kate and Millie are committed to helping you incorporate responsible choices, while never losing sight of what's important for your celebration. They will guide you toward putting ethical and eco-conscious practices centre stage without compromising that WOW factor every couple dreams of.