Dubai – This year, the Earth Day’s theme ‘Invest in Our Planet’ is about engaging the partnership of businesses, governments and global citizens to commit and accelerate action against climate change towards a collective green future. With sustainability as a core DNA and designing zero waste celebrations, The Lux Collective brings together wanderlust couples from all over the world for wedding moments and romantic experiences that will last a lifetime, as it helps people Celebrate Life – in a mindful way.
With the quest for purposeful travel post-Covid, sustainable weddings are on the rise as couples plan their celebrations with sustainability as a key focus. Many couples are drawn to having a dream wedding in far-flung beautiful destinations, curated with more intention and personalisation.
In Mauritius and the Maldives, wedding couples can enjoy the romance of travel while embracing a sustainable approach, without comprising service and quality. Supporting local is not only a great way to support the community but also shine a spotlight on homegrown talents to sustain a circular economy.
Located on one of the island’s most coveted beaches of the north, the newest flagship LUX* Grand Baie, Mauritius offers a spectacular setting with a modern take on luxury paired with extraordinary experiences. Built in harmony with nature by local architect Jean-Francois Adam with Kelly Hoppen CBE in London who designed the spaces, the resort organises tailor-made beach wedding ceremonies and private celebrations at its contemporary Asian restaurant Ai KISU or at the rooftop Bisou with panoramic sea views. It offers the option of chauffeur-driven wedding car in a fully electric BMW iX to and from Port Louis and a customised wedding menu based on LUX* signature Keen on Green cuisine.
Situated at the foot of Le Morne mountain (UNESCO Heritage Site) and only 15 minutes from the Black River Gorges, the serene beachfront resort LUX* Le Morne, Mauritius embodies contemporary tropical island lifestyle paired with immersive experiences. Certified by The PLEDGE™ on Food Waste, a Singapore-based audited certification and benchmarking system to improve organisations’ bottom-line, the resort repackages leftover food for underprivileged school children to improve their nutritional intake. 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 Group’s wholesome Keen on Green concept, prepared with locally sourced produce and healthful cooking techniques.
The gardeners from LUX* Grand Gaube, Mauritius gather dried flowers and twigs from the resort’s grounds to build the floral arch for solemnisation or vow renewal ceremony. The eclectic retro-chic resort has two tranquil beaches and gourmet dining destinations including the award-winning INTI Peruvian restaurant and Bodrum Blue Turkish restaurant. Here, all 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 to brighten up someone else’s day.
At Tamassa Bel Ombre, Mauritius, set on a dazzling white beach with a turquoise lagoon, community and environment go hand in hand to keep carbon footprint low and help local farmers flourish. Wedding decorations include re-use of bamboo, dried coconuts and palm leaves from its gardens, which are then composted. Seashells are returned to the beach to reduce impact on the ecosystem of its protected lagoon. In addition, the bridal spa treatment will rejuvenate with locally-made bio products.
At the chic adults-only and sustainability-focused Mauritian hotel SALT of Palmar, Mauritius wedding couples are immersed in the heart of Mauritian life and given the opportunity to connect directly with locals via the Skill Swap programme – to take guests to people, not just places, at this colourful and artfully designed resort. The newly-weds are invited to plant a tree together as a symbol of their love and can partake in the “Little Extras” initiative to visit and donate a meal to 75 handicapped children of L’aventure Technical School.
In the Maldives, LUX* South Ari Atoll is the winner of Most Sustainable Wedding Resort – South Asia by LUXlife 2022 Global Wedding Awards. It hosts one exclusive wedding daily to give each couple the deserved attention. Ensuring the co-existence of destination wedding and luxury, couples can say “I Do” in paradise and celebrate the special day worry-free of its impact in beautiful nature. Purchasing a wedding package also funds the education of an underprivileged child and a visit to the children’s shelter. Alternatively, guests can choose to support the oceans and restore marine ecosystem with the marine biologist by adopting a coral frame.
The Lux Collective aims to impact and change the lives of individuals across the globe where it operates, one sustainable wedding at a time.