GREEN WEDDING CHOICES

Source: Wedding and Honeymoons Magazine


Photo: Arttemis Keszainn
Stacie Wickham and Joey Shepp at their wedding.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA
Couples who are choosing to go the green route when tying the knot sort through an array of green choices that can be overwhelming -- from making smarter selections that are still luxurious, to staying in a place that is completely off the power grid.

This is the real wedding story of Stacie Wickham and Joey Shepp, who met in a Green MBA program, fell in love, decided to get married in the most eco-friendly way possible and found a place, the Shambhala Ranch Retreat Centre and Country Inn (www.shambhalaranch.com), that helped them to realize their dream.

The ranch is a truly green, off-the-grid place near the coastal town of Mendocino, in Northern California where you won’t see any electrical or telephone lines, as the center is run completely on solar power.

On July 7, 2007, Stacie and Joey exchanged vows at ranch. “We strive in our daily lives to conserve energy, reduce waste, and save water so when we started planning our wedding our first objective was to host an event that was in alignment with our values and with the complete assurance that their wedding would leave no harmful environmental “footprint” behind.,” says Stacie.

Their wedding incorporated environmentally friendly practices: paperless invites, Carbon Offsets for all travel, organic, local and in-season food, re-usable table settings, biodegradables, organic clothing and recycled rings.

The food at the wedding was organic and prepared onsite by a local caterer. Organic wine was provided by local winery and they served fair-trade coffee.

Instead of printing paper invitations with reply cards, they invited people through their website (www.ecowedding.org) which is hosted by a provider company that is powered by wind energy.

The couple purchased carbon credits to offset the transportation energy used by their guests. Whenever possible, tables were set with re-usable table settings.

The Bride, who is part owner in an organic leather design company, had her dress custom-made from buckskin and recycled materials.

Their engagement and wedding rings were created by local artists from recycled platinum and emeralds.

Instead of creating a registry for physical gifts, the couple requested guests bring a “gift” in the form of spoken words or a shared song.

Guests participated by taking photos and videos of the event, assisting the bride and groom in getting ready, or bringing handmade art.

The couple “gifted back” to their guests and to the earth, by providing each with a tree cutting, carefully prepared so that it would be ready for planting on their return home.

The newlyweds went off to enjoy an Eco-Honeymoon at the Maui Retreat. They own environmentally- friendly businesses, including their green wedding planning site.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA
A pioneer in solar energy, organic wine production and conservation, Mendocino County was the first county in the United States to ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Many of the B & Bs, inns, hotels and rentals in Mendocino County have been designed for the environmentally-conscious visitor, combining modern amenities with eco-friendly products and services. Several of the properties have organic bedding, water filtration systems, non-toxic, biodegradable and non-allergenic cleaning products, energy and water conservation systems and low impact waste practices.

For more information about accommodations and restaurants and help planning your Mendocino wedding, call (866) STAY-MENDO (866-782-9636) or visit www.gomendo.com and search for the word “green.

www.WeddingsHoneymoons.com | March 21, 2008