Our Story

OUR PURPOSE

At Less Stuff – More Meaning, we’re working to create new wedding traditions. We’re more than an online resource or a directory; we’ve been driving cultural change and eco-ethical awareness in the wedding industry since 2016. 

DIY weddings have been around for years, but an Eco-Ethical Wedding takes this one step further, asking how can we minimise our impact on the earth, and how can we give back to our greater community? In essence an Eco-Ethical Wedding becomes a celebration of the love two people share between each other and all humans.

Whether you’re having a 5k or a 65k wedding, we are blessed and have enough to share. Wouldn’t it be amazing to create a new wedding tradition where on a couple’s to-do list was celebrant, photographer, dress, flowers and contributing to a cause you feel passionate about.

Wedding world-changers!

Learn more about planning a Mindful Wedding by listening to our interview on the Future Steading podcast.

 

 

WHAT IS A SUSTAINABLE OR ETHICAL WEDDING?

We are often asked “what does an eco-ethical wedding look like?”

We believe that it can vary between each couple, determined by what is most meaningful to them. What we do know from the couples we speak to, is they have big hearts for the world around them, and their wedding becomes an extension of these values.

We like to think a mindful wedding entails:

Consuming mindfully with care for our earth and peopledash_blackHaving an appreciation of the beauty in simplicity and a return to more minimalist weddingsdash_blackFrom a place of gratitude giving a little something back

 

OUR VALUES

Together with our couples we feel alive with purpose, knowing we are contributing positively to this worlddash_blackWe believe in the power of business for good
dash_blackWe strive to be of service to our couples and give back to our chosen causes One Girl and Greenpeace. We carbon offset with Greenfleet.dash_blackTo promote more equality in our global village, gently, firmly, decisively in our everyday decisionsdash_blackWe acknowledge that we are co-learners alongside our couplesdash_blackWe communicate with authenticity, positivity, compassion, respect and search for deeper meaningdash_blackWe value the healing nature of kindness, listen to our intuition, make heart-centred choices and work in the spirit of collaboration
dash_blackTo laugh and enjoy creating our living, to put the music on and dance with the people we love, aim to build more connection, and choose gratitude

OUR STORY

Founder, Sandra Henri, has been a wedding and family photographer for more than ten years, now specialising in small, intimate weddings.

Through her time in the industry, Sandra has witnessed a trend towards consumerism and extravagance that she feels has detracted from what’s truly important – both in marriage and the world at large. Meanwhile a mid-life “opportunity” took hold, leading Sandra to fulfill a long held dream of volunteering in Africa as a photojournalist. Unsurprisingly, Sandra returned from her experience in Malawi with a whole new lens and life direction.

The stark contrast between these two worlds stirred Sandra’s passion for social change. Inspired by couples who were scaling back and giving back through their weddings, Sandra felt drawn to inspire a new wedding culture around ethical weddings.

Over time, and with countless contributions from others, her philosophy of Less Stuff – More Meaning has grown into the development of Australia and New Zealand’s first eco-ethical wedding hub.

For a little more of our story, take a peek at our Webinar for The Good Green.

 

WHO WE ARE

KAT WRAY

Wedding Changemaker + Current Custodian

Photographer, designer, mother to two boys, a dog named Edie and a brood of chickens.

“I’ve always been passionate about inspiring and helping others to live an eco-ethical lifestyle as well as community based volunteering. Joining Less Stuff More Meaning as a member (with my photography business) felt like I had found my people. I have a strong need for creating and nurturing community ~ so being the custodian for Less Stuff More Meaning is the perfect space for me.”

Kat came on board as custodian in 2022.

SANDRA HENRI

Founder of Less Stuff, More Meaning

Photographer, dreamer, Mother of two spirited boys and one delightful fur baby.

“Malawi and me. It had been my life long dream to volunteer in Africa and after two weeks of living purposefully, creating, being surrounded by success stories and hearty Malawian laughter, feeling 100% alive and inspired, I returned to Australia. LSMM was my way of bringing this feeling home. Whilst I have stepped out of the wedding industry and returned to my Occupational Therapist roots, I’ll still be quietly connected to LSMM behind the scenes and love to watch it connect vendors and couples with the same values”

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