Jordan White is the creative director at Lackadazee, a sustainable local fine jewelry company. She also runs a lifestyle blog called A State of Ruin. Jordan and her partner will be married this August. Here are her tips on making the most of your day.
Attire
“You may drop between $5,000 to $20,000 on something ethical, sustainable and new. There is so much pressure on brides to be perfect and have this dramatic, emotional reaction to their wedding gown. And to me that’s really silly. I got my dress from a designer (Leanne Marshall) based in New York. It was way out of my price range, but luckily the maker had a sample sale with a dress close to my size that she sent wrapped in extra fabric from her studio. Elizabeth Crum, a local designer, is altering the dress and adding those pieces. She also works with heirloom pieces — she can turn your mom’s dress into a bridal jumpsuit, if that’s what you want. There are also a few local places that do consignment.”
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Flowers
“State & Arrow Design Co., which also runs Forage (in Germantown), is good with giving back to the community. The owner locally sources flowers, and she doesn’t use the green block of foam. Some things to consider: Does your florist know if the flowers are locally sourced? Do they need to be flown out? Are they in season? Do the farmers use pesticides and chemicals in the process? I have seen State & Arrow do flash sales Sunday morning after a large wedding. They will make tiny arrangements with leftover flowers and glass jars and donate the money to local nonprofits. You can also donate your flowers.”
Registry
“We felt uncomfortable listing places we typically don’t shop because most of our money goes to local small businesses. But then I found The Knot, where you can create a registry with places from anywhere online, or have (monetary gifts) go to nonprofits. There is an option for a honeymoon fund, which is great because then guests are reinvesting in your lives.”
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Food
“We’re having a chef come who is serving a five-course dinner. He talked to us about the things that are in season and choosing local farmers and supporting the local resources. Also, the University of Louisville has a compost site that’s open to the public, and you can collect all the scraps and take them over. If you can, donate your leftovers to food banks.”
Decor and other details
“I am using dishware instead of plastic. It’s harder for people with larger weddings, but you can rent dishware, and there are tons of small businesses online where you can get compostable serveware. If you want to do confetti but don’t have the money or don’t want to waste resources, you can hole-punch leaves. And if you’re going to print your menu, make that your party favor. Print it on seed paper and give it to your guests to plant when they get home. Or give plants as favors. And there are online sites where you can buy decor elements resale. Or choose a venue with natural decor. For invitations, you can find recyclable paper or send e-vites.”
Photos are of Jordan White, aka State of Ruin, modeling in a shoot she directed.
Shoot Details:
Photographer: Brizzy Rose and Emma
Dress and veil: Elizabeth Crum Bridal
Vintage decor rental: Queen City Vignette in Cincinnati
Flowers: Sarah Brown, With Love Flowers
Jewelry: Lindsey Bishop, Lackadazee ethical gemstones and recycled gold and silver
Tie: Beautiful Idiot Clothing in Charlotte, North Carolina
This originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2019 issue of Louisville Bride. To subscribe to Louisville Magazine, click here. To find us on newsstands, click here.
If you are interested in submitting your wedding to Louisville Bride, please email louisvillebride@loumag.com.
An earlier version of this article said that White was the manager of operations at the New Blak. It has been updated to reflect her current job.
