How Liz put her (carbon) foot in it

Her week-long nuptials were a big, fat, not-so green wedding, exclusive survey shows. By Geoffrey Lean and Rachel Beebe

Sunday, 11 March 2007

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Liz Hurley's long-haul wedding has produced a carbon footprint so large that it would take the average British couple more than 10 years to contribute as much to heating up the planet as she and Arun Nayar have done in little over a week. It would take a typical Indian couple a massive 123 years.

A special study, by an Oxford-based footprinting consultancy, suggests the celebrations will release around 200,000kg of carbon into the atmosphere.

The consultancy, Best Foot Forward, reckons this is an underestimate. The couple are not giving full details of the festivities because of a contract with Hello! magazine, but last night environmentalists condemned their "conspicuous carbon consumption".

The nuptials ended on a sour note when a fistfight broke out between journalists and security guards as the couple arrived at Meherangarh Fort, Jodhpur, northern India, for their final wedding feast. The couple's two-night stopover in Mumbai earlier in the week hit problems after the authorities tore down part of a venue built to host the wedding party as it impinged on a popular beach.

The marathon marriage began a week before, with a small civil ceremony in the 15th-century Sudeley Castle on Friday 2 March, and the couple repeated their vows in front of 250 guests in a blessing at St Mary's Church in the castle grounds. After two days of "quiet" celebrations in the Cotswolds, the couple flew last Monday, with 24 guests, in a chartered Learjet to Mumbai. After partying there, they and 250 guests flew in seven chartered jets to Jodhpur, northern India. But at the wedding at the Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel, the head priest refused to perform the ceremony because Ms Hurley has a child with the US film producer Steve Bing, while Mr Nayar is divorced. Today, the newlyweds flyto the Maldives for their honeymoon.

Best Foot Forward says the biggest polluter is the Learjet, which will emit more than 70,000kg on its 12,000-mile round-trip. Accommodation in India adds18,605kg, and food and drink 18,000kg. Flying in flowers produces 28,250kg, and flying three chefs to India adds 2,377kg. Guests and staff travelling to Gloucestershire released 30,000kg. The bride's flight to Milan for a dress fitting added just215kg.

The total of 207,849kg assumes the couple take the Learjet to the Maldives, while their guests return to Britain by scheduled flights. If the couple just fly first class, the total drops to 173,578kg, as the impact would be shared among more people.

Fitting the dress

Where else does one go but Versace in Milan, darling? At least it was a scheduled flight: 215kg CO₂

Getting to Gloucestershire

Sir Elton arrived in his personal helicopter. Not many guests came by National Express: 30,038kg

The English ceremony

They borrowed a castle. But there was heat, light, food and drink to provide: 5,196kg

Getting to India

The bridal party went by Learjet. The rest went by airline, then boarded hired planes: 66,461kg

The Indian festivities

Flowers and chefs were flown in. The press, uninvited, were thrown out: 17,143kg

The honeymoon

Liz and Arun leave Jodhpur and take the Learjet to the Maldives: 70,113kg