When most brides dream of their ideal wedding, edible flowers, hemp
dresses, and non-renewable resources are the last things on their mind.
Yet, for others, these items are at the top of the list.
Organic weddings, AKA green weddings or
earth-friendly weddings have carved a small, but respected niche for
themselves in the world of wedding planners.
So how does one begin to plan a green wedding? Much
like any bride would, by picking a date and searching for an ideal
location. The great outdoors is the most popular place: a lavish
garden, waterside setting, a farm, or the grounds of a lovely resort
are ideal — any place away from the noise and pollution of the city.
Octopus's Garden (www.octopusesgarden.on.ca) in
Oro-Medonte (an hour north of Toronto), is one of these unique locales.
Specializing in intimate weddings and cocktail parties, its garden is a
true eco-tourism setting. In keeping with a balanced lifestyle,
Octopus's Garden grows a wide selection of organic fruits, vegetables,
edible flowers and herbs, allowing the bride and groom to create their
dream feast — naturally.
According to Bruce Mathews, head chef and one of the
main hosts, it's the almost four acre natural setting, surrounded by
crown land on three sides along with a hundred organic fruit trees,
hardwood trees, evergreen trees, a wildflower garden, herb garden, and
rivers that really make it the perfect place for those who wish to
pursue the garden path.
Once the location is decided, the menu is the next
consideration. There are several caterers that target an earth-friendly
market. Whole Foods Market (Hazelton Lanes, Toronto) is one of them.
They have a vast organic menu that caters to both intimate and large
weddings.
Want something different? There are myriad
possibilities. Add a nasturtium flower stuffed with goat cheese, or
wrap a tulip flower casing around any appetizer for a colourful
arrangement. Pansies, day lilies, begonias and violets are some of the
most popular and widely used edible flowers. When you "incorporate all
these things on a plate, it can be a very stunning presentation," says
Matthews.
So you've picked your date, nailed down the location
and the menu is set. Now what do you wear? Don't bother looking for a
gown in any of the downtown bridal boutiques. A true organic bride will
opt for a gown made from natural fabric and renewable resources, such
as hemp. A number of fabric stores do carry the necessary material.
Throw in a little silk, and add the decorative touch to this otherwise
dull material, and it could be the dress of your dreams.
Every bride wants to look beautiful, no matter how
earth tied her roots may be. And any salon that carries Aveda makeup
and hair products will give the bride the 'au natural' look she
desires.
According to Colleen Buyanski, consumer relations
representative for Aveda: "[Our products] strive to be 100 per cent
naturally based, with minimal synthetics. The Uruku makeup line is
naturally derived from the Uruku Palm Tree, and provides natural, rich,
long lasting colour that stays on the face longer." This is great for
brides that don't want the hassle of constantly reapplying. Their
natural hair products work just as well, giving the bride a style that
will hold up as long as she does.
When it's time to round up the troops you can stick
with tradition and mail out conventional invitations or you can move
online and partake in the newest wave of wedding mail — evites.
Numerous sites are now available to help you design and create your own
electronic wedding invites. However, if you do prefer to stick with
customary invitations, numerous invitation houses carry recycled paper
products or tree-free products, and some go so far as to use a
soy-based ink.
Planning any wedding takes a great deal of time and
effort, but planning a green wedding presents an even greater
challenge. It requires plenty of research, but the resources are
available to make the dream a reality.