A bride ditched tradition and wore secondhand outfits for her sustainable Hindu-Christian wedding

Pavan MahalAug 6, 2024, 20:33 IST

Nivi Achanta and Ben Mallory spread out the events of their Hindu-Christian wedding over a weekend and planned everything around "mindful sustainability."Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

Nivi Achanta and Ben Mallory got married on August 25, 2023.
Achanta told Insider she struggled to plan a sustainable wedding while honoring Indian customs.

Sustainability was a big part of Nivi Achanta and Ben Mallory's relationship from the start.

Achanta and Mallory met through mutual friends in 2016 while they were attending UC Davis. They officially started dating in 2018, and were together for five years before getting engaged in July.

In college, they both made a conscious effort to adopt sustainable habits, whether that was biking to campus, buying produce from farmers markets, or working toward being zero-waste. Today, Achanta works as founder of the Soapbox Project, which provides "bite-sized action plans" to help people take steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle, according to the website.

So it's no surprise that sustainability was a big priority for Achanta and Mallory when it came to wedding planning. From secondhand outfits to rent-and-return florals, the couple set out to minimize waste, travel, and costs — and make mindful choices that felt special to them as a couple.

Ben Mallory proposed to Nivi Achanta with a new bike in July of this year.

Mallory's passion for both cycling and sustainability led him to propose to Achanta with the bike.Nivi Achanta

When it came to wedding planning, Achanta and Mallory knew they wanted to celebrate sustainably.

Achanta's mehndi artist channeled the wedding's core value of mindful sustainability with a design of planet Earth on her palm and a bike for Mallory.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

The couple planned to have a Hindu-Christian celebration, with their wedding events spread out over a weekend in August.

The couple welcomed their guests with a game night that included Jenga, Polaroid photo books, and pizza.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

The couple struggled with honoring some of the more extravagant Indian wedding traditions, which Achanta said are part of a bigger problem.

Achanta and Mallory shortened their ceremony to an hour and a half, a bold choice given some Hindu weddings can last between four and seven hours.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

Sustainable outfits were important to the couple — even if it meant breaking tradition.

The Adidas sneakers Achanta wore at her sangeet were advertised as being made with at least 50% recycled content.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

Achanta said there's a stigma around used clothing at Indian weddings. Despite that, she really wanted to buy secondhand fashion for her nuptials.

Achanta wore a new outfit for her Hindu ceremony, but the rest of her looks were bought secondhand.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

Indian fashion rental startups have never really taken off, adding to the problem.

The couple decided not to translate the Hindu ceremony. They had their friend, a performance artist, tell the story to their guests.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

Achanta said it was easier to buy a white bridal dress secondhand than an Indian bridal outfit.

Achanta said her Christian wedding dress was an easy purchase.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

The outfits weren't the only sustainable aspect of the couple's wedding, though. They also chose their venues with waste management in mind.

The couple had an outdoor dinner reception after their Christian wedding ceremony.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

However, some mindfully sustainable choices were limited by budget.

Achanta and Mallory wanted to create their own traditions at their wedding.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

Achanta aimed to limit food waste as much as she could.

Achanta and Mallory wanted to work with a nearby women's shelter to donate any excess food from one of their events.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

A more mindful choice for their wedding florals was a no-brainer.

The couple was excited to work with vendors who shared their passion for sustainability.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

Achanta is optimistic about a future with more sustainable Indian weddings.

The couple had a karaoke night reception after their Christian ceremony, marking the end of their wedding weekend.Stavan Shah, Vision Infinie by Stavan

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