Indie Wedding Guide

Outdoor Wedding Series - Early Planning

I love to be outside. When I was small, I would sleep out in our backyard in the warm summer months as often as I could. And when I began planning my 2005 wedding, I had hopes of doing my ceremony and reception outside in the beautiful 19th century garden of our location; unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. There was an absolute deluge of rain the day before our wedding. I am not ashamed to say that as we drove up to the wedding location the night before, my tears were strong competition for the showers outside our car. Freaking out? Ummm, yeah, just a little. Luckily, we had a contingency plan--our location, Le Chateau in South Salem, New York, had an indoor and an outdoor option, so indoors it was. At one point during our vows, I looked down at the floor just as the clouds parted and a ray of sun light shone down between my husband and I.

The following is an excerpt from my book, Eco-Chic Weddings, about things you might consider when planning your outdoor wedding.

"Indoor, outdoor, rooftop, garden. Beach, boat, or the top of a mountain; It seems the list of where to get married is endless. Or perhaps you have a destination wedding in mind—a trend which has seen a 400% over the last 15 years. Wherever you look, consider your reception locale very carefully. Okay, so you may want to do the big event in the beautiful outdoors—sunny skies, lovely breezes, sun-kissed cheeks. Who doesn’t dream of having their wedding outside? Especially is you really are a nature-loving gal. Well, it may sound lovely to have a mid-afternoon wedding in the beautiful backyard of your childhood home, but what will that really cost you and the environment? From tent rental, to parking, to the wear and tear on your mother’s prized rose garden, you might be surprised at the high cost of having a wedding at home. Ovens, dishes, glasses, chairs, tables all need to be rented, which drives the cost up faster than anything else. Likewise, taking that gondola to the top of your favorite Colorado ski top might sound like the perfect way to commune with nature, but what happens once you and 250 of your closest friends get to the top? Well, all of the food, cooking equipment, chairs, tables, lighting, and sound equipment need to be sent up the mountain as well. And believe me, you will definitely be charged a premium for the effort. It is a good idea to be flexible about where you have your outdoor wedding, think about doing it at a museum that maybe has an outdoor garden, or a municipal park that has building on site that can be used for your event. Being outside for your wedding might seem like the ultimate green idea, but the reality is that it can actually increase your eco-footprint, and the cost of your wedding. I recommend choosing a venue with a beautiful outdoor option (hey, you'll save money on flowers) that also has an indoor option. Trust me, my rainy day came, and though it was wet, it was still wonderful."

- Emily Anderson
Eco-Chic Weddings

Wine Talk with Guest Expert, Anu Karwa

Why can wine be one of the nicest things about your wedding celebration.

Wine can be one of the most personal touches at your wedding.

· Does the bride or groom come from a wine-friendly area? Pick a wine from their home state or country.

· Did the couple vacation in wine country? 

· Have they picked a wine to be their new “home” wine? 

· Do they have a special restaurant (first date, proposal spot, dream destination) - pick a wine off the menu. 

· Is the couple going to a honeymoon spot known for its wine (Napa, Australia, France, Italy, Egypt, even India)

 

Create a small tent card with an explanation as to why these wines are special to the couple. Place it in front of the wine or near the bar. This give guests a little insight into the couple.

- Anu Karwa, Swirl Events 

What types of wines are good for weddings? Guest Expert, Anu Karwa

What types of wines are good for weddings :

When picking wine for the wedding, you want to pick one white wine and one red wine that will go well with everyone’s meals and will be widely liked. Don’t pick extreme or non-food friendly wines, eg. a sweet white wine, a big Barolo, red Zinfandel, etc.

 

My picks for wedding whites include: a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (especially the Marlborough region) or a dry Riesling from Washington State or Alsace. For reds, I would pick a Pinot Noir (know as Red Burgundy in France.) Great choices come out of Oregon and the classic region of Burgundy. They’re very food friendly or just as an aperitif and easily please a wide taste range.

 

To save money, skip the regions with big brand names like Napa and Bordeaux. Pick an up and coming region that people aren’t as aware of like South Africa. One of my favorite value picks is wine from Chile or Argentina.

 

My favorite wine tip for weddings involves the Champagne. Champagne is a major wedding expense (since people usually budget 2 glasses per guest.) Instead, pick a Prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy, or a Cava, a sparkling wine from Spain. Both are equally elegant and you can find fantastic bottles for about $12!

- Anu Karwa, Swirl Events

Clara French Ceramiques

It was love at first site when I came across Clara French Ceramiques. I immediately dove in to find more about their exquisite line.

"Clara French is a local artisan run studio creating exquisite handcrafted wedding cake plates and pedestal cake stands for a limited number of weddings each year."

Truly intriguing, Clara French Ceramiques is a team of two sisters Micaela Willis and Bethany Woll. This duo created Clara French, to honor their great great grandmother. A nineteenth century painter, Clara French was the first female artist in their family.

If you are looking for something truly personal, Clara French offers personalized cake plates for every guest. They can work with the color scheme of your wedding with their custom glazing process.

My most favorite part of Clara French is that they offer rent-able pieces. Micaela says, "Renting provides the products/services brides need at a discount and places limited stress on the  environment.  Instead of remaking a product we 'reuse' it, recycling at  it's best!  Also, I think renting is a great option for budget conscious brides, they can 'borrow' a cake stand to create a lavish, colorful center piece at a fraction of it's cost.

Fall in love with Clara French just as I have. Click on the file below for ordering info and more.
Download order_2008_clara_french_ceramics.pdf

- Gabreial
Vintage Indie

Eat Greener food with Emily of Eco-Chic Weddings

If you haven't checked out Etsy's Handmade Wedding Series today's a good day to start. Our very own Emily Anderson of Eco-Chic Weddings is there today with with her article on "Eat Greener Food".

A Bride's Tale for a Winter Eco-Friendly Wedding by Rachel Trigueiro

My husband and I love the winter so getting married any time other than January was out of the question. One of my favorite things about winter is the snow on evergreen trees and the naked deciduous trees with no leaves. There is something about sticks, twigs, and branches that I just love! So, using both evergreens and deciduous trees for decorating and some twiggy branches for centerpieces seemed quite appropriate. What was really special about using the branches and deciduous trees was that they came from fallen trees at my in-laws ranch. Not only was it eco-friendly to use fallen trees for the majority of our decorations, it was quite sentimental for my in-laws, my husband, and myself.

Since our wedding was in January we asked friends if they would save their Christmas trees until our wedding and kindly, several of our friends did just that. So, instead of having to cut down more evergreens, we re-used (recycled) Christmas trees (with NO lights and decorations, of course!). For our cake, we wanted a tree stump in place of a cake stand. So, my uncle was able to cut an 8 inch stump to perfection, also from a fallen tree.

DIY projects give the opportunity for friends and family to get involved HANDS-ON. I had several "wedding work days" for our wedding where I invited several bridesmaids and friends to help my mom and I tackle some projects. These days were so fun and filled with great memories! When it finally came time for the big day, a lot of people were just as excited as I was because they felt they had a huge part in making our wedding a reality. So remember, DIY projects are not only inexpensive, creative and unique; they offer the chance for friends and family to get involved and feel responsible for making your ideas and dreams come true.

Visit Rachel Trigueiro for Events & Creative Design Planning.

Greenward Shop Owners Scott & Simone Share their "Eco-Indie" Wedding

We love this contribution from Greenward Shop owners Scott & Simone. Here they share the many different ways they supported independent businesses and reduced their environmental impact with their wedding.

    * Selected a friend-of-a-friend photographer, an independent photographer working out of San Francisco arsmagnastudio.com

    

Instead of the traditional cake topper, we commissioned a set of handmade birds from Ashley Anna Brown/Fern Animals.

Since we were getting married in October in Vermont and the weather can be a little iffy, we had a friend knit a shawl for Simone and a capelet sweater for Briana, the maid of honor. These are both gorgeous, heirloom pieces that don't scream "wedding!" so they'll be worn for years quite happily.

   Scott found a jewelry designer through a friend that has taught at the North Bennett Street School in Boston's North End. The NBSS is an amazing school that specializes in "old world" craftsmanship. Our designer, Tracey Jenkins, started her own studio--Green Spot Studio and with her help we ended up with unique custom rings that we admire nearly everyday!

We wanted to try to make as many things as possible for the wedding. We knew doing so would end up cheaper, but--more importantly--would result in a unique event.
          o We designed and hand screen-printed (with a Gocco) our save-the-date cards.
          o We designed, printed, and cut our invitations.

We made much of the table settings including the flowers! We spent about a month making individual paper flowers. We thought this would be an eco-friendly option (since floral industry is particularly tough on the environment--pesticides, flowers traveling long distances, etc.).

* For our rehearsal dinner we hired a Vermont caterer who specializes in using local and/or organic ingredients.     

* Our wedding and reception were at a small inn in Stowe, VT. With their help we selected a menu that included local and organic ingredients, including organic wine and beer.

* Since we live in Cambridge, MA and knew that many of the guests would be traveling to Stowe, VT we purchased carbon offsets from Vermont-based Native Energy.

   * Our registry included the option to donate to our favorite organizations like our local NPR station, the Conservation Law Foundation,  the Massachusetts and Freedom to Marry

Thanks again to Scott & Simone of Greenward. Head over to their shop at                         

1776 Massachusetts Ave. Unit 1
                        Cambridge, MA 02140

Can't make it to this Eco-modern shop in person? They just opened up their online shop!

Ways to Go Green on Your Wedding Day, from the I Do Foundation

As an engaged couple, you have immense consumer power as you make all of the spending choices involved in your wedding day. Through your dollars and your preferences, you can make a difference by selecting environmentally conscious options that are good for you and for the planet.

 

1. Make Informed Jewelry Choices: Whatever your ring style or preferences, consider the source of your chosen metals or gems. Jewelers like Green Karat  offer rings made from high quality, recycled metals. In addition, nonprofits such as Global Witness have developed consumer questions you can ask that will help you feel good about your diamond purchases.

 

2. Be Fashionably Green: Think outside the box for your wedding dress, and you may find cheaper, more unique options. How about purchasing a vintage dress that you can tailor to create a style that’s all your own? If you’d prefer a new gown, there are a range of organic fabrics that can make for a beautiful, natural look. And when it comes to your bridesmaids, choose a dress option your maids will want to wear again and again.

 

3. Eat Well: Give your guests a tasty and healthy meal by working with an organic caterer. If you’ll be serving meat or fish, ask your caterer to consider using naturally raised meat or fish choices that are environmentally friendly. Check out the list of approved seafood from the Monterey Bay Aquarium as you make your menu choices.

 

4. …And Be Merry: As your guests raise a glass to toast your commitment, consider filling it with an organic beverage. Organic wines are a hot trend in the wine industry, and Organic Vintners is a great place to begin your search for the perfect pairing for your meal. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic beverage, try Honest Tea for a delicious, naturally brewed organic drink.

 

5. Flower Power: As you picture your perfect flowers, think organic, seasonal, and potted. Most flowers in the United States are imported from South America where heavy pesticides are used, often without adequate protection for worker safety. As an alternative to these traditional production methods, consider an organic source, like Organic Bouquet . Also, work with your florist to find blooms that are in season in order to avoid the financial and environmental cost of transporting out-of-state items. And don’t forget to ask about potted plants that you or your guests can enjoy long after your wedding day.

 

6. Travel Light: Looking for a cool transportation option to get your guests around during your wedding weekend? Check out environmental rentals like Ozocar.com in New York City or EV Rental Cars on the West Coast. Provide travel tips for your guests that include public transportation options and help arrange for car pools when possible.

 

7. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Here’s a good rule of thumb for all of your wedding purchases: If it can’t be reused, recyled, or consumed, rent it. When you work with vendors, ask about their recycling policy and make sure they have one. Consider what kind of recycled materials you can use throughout your ceremony, starting with your invitations on recycled or tree-free paper.

 

8. Create a Green Registry: Make your home as green as your wedding with green registry options such as Green Feet [http://greenfeet.com] and Gaiam . You can also shop your values when you create a registry with fair trade organizations like Global Exchange which ensure workers and artisans receive a living wage for the goods they produce.

 

9. Be Carbon Neutral: Guests will be coming from near and far for your celebration, and all that travel has an impact on the environment. There are many programs that can help make your celebration carbon neutral by allowing you to offset carbon dioxide emissions through investments in industrial efficiency and renewable energy projects. Check out options like Terrapass and the Carbon Fund.

 

10. Eco-honeymoons: After the festivities have drawn to a close, keep the green spirit alive with sustainable travel or eco-tourism. Rainforest Alliance will help you be a savvy green traveler whether you want to wander Paris or the rainforests of Peru. If you are looking for a honeymoon adventure that combines nature conservation with improving the lives of native peoples, check out The International Ecotourism Society. Here you will find a comprehensive list of tour operators from around the world who have agreed to meet standards for responsible ecotourism standards.

{All contributed content/photos in this feature © I Do Foundation  Please do not copy or redistribute without permission}.