Green Wedding Ideas

When I see Los Angeles tree trimmers often butchering trees when they touch power lines, I cringe. I read a kids' story about "stompies", trees cut back so much that they suffocate and can't recover, which still sits under my skin. I have stepped out of the car and talked to trimmers, who grin at me in oblivion: it's just a tree ma'am. Not a solution for insensitivity but smart crafty vendors are using cut branches to make candle holders - perfect for rustic weddings.

Reclaim wood when you see it. Wine country people check your wineries: these rustic elegance pieces are made from oak barrel staves.

 

Grape vine trunks looks rather arty and air plants, a unique and so far rarely used idea, are such cool  easy to grow creatures.
 

Green Wonderland wedding

 

Photographer Mark Martinez painted Annette and Justin's green wedding on December 30, 2010 at the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga in magical colors. Perfect for Alice in Wonderland brides.

Aside of the delicious organic menu, local and organic wine and beer, most of the decor was handmade and will be re-used. Justin is big in green living and Annette has happily joined him in recycling and no waste efforts. They were interviewed about their green ideas by Arte TV, who did a green wedding interview with me a couple of months ago when they visited the Inn.

Eco friendly florist

 

Blake (as in Blake and Stephen, May 30, 2010 in Bel Air) and I visited Dandelion Ranch on Thursday and were smitten by the natural and whimsical beauty of the place. One would think that tires in front of a studio aren't that inviting but Clover Chadvick and her team transform found objects into beautifully unique usables, completely after our hearts.  

 

O joy, we smiled, when we entered into a vintage heaven of metal, wooden and clay containers, bunches of unusual plants, grasses, flowering (or not) twigs, herbs, yeah even weeds can get their place in a caring, creative florists bouquet.

We chose the metal pots and wooden boxes above. The arrangements will be county fair wild,  beautiful, mostly organic and also edible, an ode to Stephen who really doesn't like waste.

My green wedding planner promise: Blake and Stephen's 500 guest movie crowd wedding will have less impact on the environment than 80% of smaller weddings in 2010... just love the challenge.

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Cup cake trailer 50ties style

After pop corn, lemonade, hot dogs and taco trailers Socal weddings now have their very own and unique cup cake delivery 50ties style.
Photo: the always amazing Jose Villa.

Steampunk weddings

 

Chelsea and Francesco's wedding in Paso Robles last year was one of the opening acts of the 2010 creative wedding trend of Steam punk weddings. The steampunk aesthetic hybridizes elements of Victorian design--corsets, brass gears, polished dark woods--with modern technologies, or fantastical re-imaginings of same. Adventurous officiant and friend of mine Elizabet Oakes gives us a cool run down on the creative happenings. Read more...

The exquisite steampunk wedding cake above is by Amanda Macleod of Venus Cakes; it's detailed with high-gloss edible gel and shimmery dusting powders which provide a metallic feel (but fortunately not metallic taste) to the decorative elements.  Like a true Victorian bride, the back of the cake is primly laced up like a corset--with teasing tassels for visual spice. 

 

Cake topper by boing boing.
Let's marry past and future and say hi to Mr. Wells.

Wedding in the Rain

Jennifer and Sarton were married at an outdoor location, the Inn of the Seventh Ray, on Saturday, February 6, 2010 right in the middle of a huge storm. Did I, their wedding planner, sleep after their rehearsal on Friday where we hopped from tent to tent to avoid getting pitch wet? I actually did,  I go with the good ol' Mac Gyver quote: There is always a solution.

I ordered an additional tent, had an extra long session with my brave and weathered staff (pun intended) and arrived an hour early in a rain resistant snow boarder jacket. Maintenance staff helped clear foliage and puddles and, it must have been due to our bright smiles: the sun came out right for the ceremony at 12 noon.

Jennifer's flowers (Matt from Flower Garden, Los Angeles) added a happy yellow sunshine feel.

 

The party turned out to be amazing, with Sarton, the groom, in his cool white cowboy boots, rocking away with the band. Jen's tattoo was perfect for her vintage inspired bridal gown.

They loved their customized cake topper , created to look like them. Reclaimed wood is perfect for eco-cool weddings, gracing an organic carrot cake.
Rain? No fear with us:)

Eco cute guest books

California locals: I had been looking as far as to China to find handmade paper guest books for one of my wedding couples, who had fallen in love with Daniela's amazing book. Yesterday I stumbled upon an artsy variation browsing the little gift shop at the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga: Eco-friendly guest books entirely handmade including the cute animal art work on the cover and the paper.