Wild Vegan Winter Wedding

Ninjas, seriously? If anybody could pull this off, it was Candace and Josh, who got married at the Malibu Nature Preserve. Their first dance was accompanied by Kermit the frog and all in an elegant pimento, gold decor with pine cones and wrought iron candelabras, lots of nature - the bride wore linen shoes but did not hike up to the ceremony site ... Read more...

Mountain Mermaid Prep Time

12/6/2008. 10:00 am, Bill Buerge, Angelica Weihs Events and Classic Party, the eco-friendly rental guys, are setting up. Task: to keep the eccentric feel of the Mermaid villa, the antic tables and armchairs present and use as much of the available furniture as possible but still get enough 60 inch tables and Chiavari chairs into the layout that 120 guests can find a seat. It was not supposed to look "set-up", the idea was deconstruction from centerpiece to design. Matching the theatrical crowd, there was no assigned seating and the time line was kept a la mode, fluid, which means for the planner to be at the pulse of the crowd at all times.... Of course we also needed to keep space for the dance floor and theater stage in front of the fire place. After an hour of shuffling and schlep it looked just perfect. The rustic Adobe linens from BBJ contrasted with burgundy Damast napkins, fit the Mermaid like a glove.

The decision to do copper in the kitchen turned out amazing and the 55 extra candles added a bit of medieval feel to the 30ties style. When Shirvan's flowers and candelabras arrived at 1:00 pm we were ready for them to rock the stage while Don Kreindler and his crew jumped under the kitchen structure and prepared amazing food. Handsome staff, Don! and not just great to look at. As a wedding planner I am absolutely grateful for attentive staff who pays attention to details and helps with more than just what the job describes.
We are anxiously awaiting the photos from Rebecca/Docuvitae and Dana Hargitay.

The eccentric Culture Couple

Rebecca and Harry were married on December 5, 2008 in one of the Chateau M's garden suites, they call them bungalows. The intimate ceremony will be followed today by an eclectic, eccentric, sophisticated Bohemian reception at the Mountain Mermaid in Topanga. 120 guests of the theatre, media and movie scene, artists and a bunch of other nice people...
Tonight, Arsine from Shirvan Design did her flowers (local and/or organic) and sent a taste. Angelica Weihs from Angeliquevents will polish the final design of the Mermaid's historic dwellings and then spread her coordinating magic....

A green wedding with lots of class and pizazz...

Since I was a little girl....

Just a decade ago you had to be a "rebel bride" to get what you really want, but like Suffragettes, the pushy brides of yesterday have opened the road for as much creativity as we can handle, actually the more the better. The obligation of "having to go to a wedding", which many guests might have moaned about before, is obsolete as receptions have become exciting even adventurous. Not everybody integrates hang gliding, hikes and helicopters. But in an amazing place like Topanga, California you can ride into your reception at the Mountain Mermaid and be horse whispered at by your guests (loud cheering would spook the animal) . Georgeann, a Topanga resident saves horses and allows them to have a wonderful life on her property. She offered to give one of my brides riding lessons and to make her grand entrance not just spectacular but heart warming: that's what horses do, says Georgeann, they inspire the longing for freedom and they heal people. More soon...

Inspiration

Daniela and Dan's wedding in Malibu on April 5, 2009 is developing beautifully. We will taste the amazing food of Don Kreindler from Twenty1West and Diana Temple from Creative Fare, both offering organic and local ingredients, visit Arsine from Shirvan Design, who got excited about the green aspects of her business, browse through the ultimate green paper hall of fame at Invite Site in Pasadena and choose rentals and decor from Classic, who also stress their eco-friendly measures. An exploratory day to remember - planning fun before the wedding.
I created their first inspiration board:

Fashionable

Dianna and Brian are an amazing fun loving couple. Their wedding was a harmonious dance between unconventional and traditional at the Inn of the Seventh Ray. "Thank you for everything!!! It was beautiful!!!"

"Oh the big jump.....that was in was in Bora Bora on our honeymoon. We went straight to the airport after the wedding in our wedding clothes and flew straight to Tahiti caught another plane and went to Bora Bora. It was amazing!!!"


Dianna's look reminded us of Marilyn Monroe's glam surrounded by a perfect black/purple retro theme.


Talking about beauty: we encountered a new eco fashion designer on the horizon: Morgan Boszilkov.


She presents the Natural Bridal Collection with dresses are handcrafted with love in the United States, and 5% of profits are donated to environmental causes. Morgan uses sustainable fabrics and strives to apply green and socially responsible principles to all aspects of her business.

"The Collection includes exceptionally designed gowns that are eco-friendly without sacrificing style or beauty. Each gown is named after a woman who has been an inspiration in Morgan’s life.

Morgan has designed some of these green gowns to be “convertible”. These dresses have detachable bottom skirts! This is a great option for a bride who wants something different for her reception, or plans to wear the dress again in its shorter form, enhancing the “greenness” of the dress.

The Couture section includes boundary-pushing designs using beautiful eco-friendly fabrics. These include artistic one-of-a-kind dresses. Morgan believes sustainable fabrics are not limiting, but have endless potential for creating fabulous designs."

Prop 8

October 2008, before the election: Laurie and Susan celebrated their spiritual wedding on a magical Sunday morning at the Inn of the Seventh Ray, while Joe and Gary opted for a mystical dark night, including a sword to cut the cake and knightly vows.

Both events were heart warming, with tears of joy and tears of laughter.
Organic wines and veges, free range chicken and wild caught fish and the organic wedding cakes supported the spirit of change towards a mindful future.
Barry and Karl, who had to cancel their October 3 wedding because of a family tragedy are hoping for a wedding in 2009. It's up to the voters now...

Wasteful weddings versus hungry kids

Poverty and weddings? What has the obsession to throw elaborate receptions to do with poverty? Icky images of Elizabeth Hurley bathing in pomp while Indian families around her fainted with hunger are still in our minds.

Unfortunately many weddings are wasteful; it's so easy to convince ourselves that it's only one day, our one day... But really it is millions of couples' day every year, worth a couple billion bucks. Tons of trash is piled into landfills, tons of food is carelessly tossed - the list of pollution and destruction goes on and on.

What's new? Weddings in the spirit of the 21 century are different. They are green and that means, they have a conscience. Okay, couples don't let go of the "best day of their lives" to feed a couple thousand kids with their banquet money. But every little change expands consciousness, opens eyes and actually and practically helps the less fortunate.

Ouenda and David celebrated their wedding in Topanga, CA the Bohemian eco way with lots of re-use and practical beauty. They directed the generous gifts of friends and family to an Algerian orphanage, which Ouenda visits every year. Carly and Simon drove their beautiful centerpieces (live plants and cut flowers creatively mixed and matched) from the gorgeous Malibu Nature Preserve to a not so colorful retirement home.

Stay tuned for more good news about how to transform the big bad wedding industry, who offers the best ideas and services, how to share at least a little of your love with the world around you and how your organic linen can become a wrap against the cold.

Wedding Salon 2008

I visited the upscale "Wedding Salon" held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Monday, September 22. The glitz and glitter and dollar talks could have hypnotized me, but, as much as I love colorful and passionate design, the touch of "mindful" completes me and this fair was seriously lopsided. The crystal bling and over the top flower arrangements made me feel doped with Disney dreams.

Water bottles adorned with crystals show in a slightly bizarre way that water is becoming a precious commodity and will one day be more expensive than booze, if we don't stop pouring pesticides onto our land and tranquilizers and hormones into our cattle...


"Frosting"was everywhere.. After two amazing Martinis from Hypnotic I loosened up and being a good green girl I gave everybody a second chance. I saw a glittery little eco Tee, saying "Go Green" right on your boobs.

It seemed to open the gate to more and - I promptly caught the eyes of Ann Bennett from YWD, a magazine, which had actually called me once for an article on green weddings.

Ann (on the right) is the coolest lady and totally open to all things eco. My heart made a little jump as not all seemed to be lost to the shopping bags overloaded silliness of bridal bunnies from yesterday.
It turned out that Arsine, owner of Shirvan floral design is actively searching for organic and/or local flowers and has exchanged the formaldehyde soaked floral foam for a criss cross tape idea. Candra Palmer from Atryce Design creates "one of a kind" shoes, arty and yes, also vegan if you like.
What a happy surprise when I peaked around the next corner to see my friend Jihan, super talented and totally green photo girl smiling at me from her booth.

The atmosphere of the wedding salon was a biz-buzz hummingbird style. The excitement to share the love we've found that's what it is all about not the urge to parte totally over the top with the attempt to forever shutting up Charlene, the eternal home coming queen. It's about beauty on all levels, which in the 21st century can't do without brains: savvy brides go for mindful indulgence and don't just hug grandpa but also the planet under his feet.
Many brides still think that green means drab and giving up on all the fun things, which seems to be supported by the rather minimal ideas of some green weddings. Especially in bridal fashion we have seen some simplistic design, which no girl in her nuptials dream state would wanna wear. But in 2008 all started to change and gorgeously green does not just sound good, it works.
I had one more cocktail and said Hi to Mindy Weiss from the upper crust of wedding planners, who promoted and signed her new book.

Not green but really detailed and a great guide for brides, especially if they buy it in conjunction with my own book about the cool couples who have done green weddings and the savvy vendors who have helped them to fulfill the dream of a lush eco wedding. Green Weddings, the hottest book in the redefining luxury scene, will be on the market for Christmas shopping.

Sacred Space

The Center for Energetic Healing is one of the latest additions to my wedding locations list. Located in Simi Valley it's a bit of a distance from LA and will create some driving needs - but then what do we have Eco Limo for? For people who feel like sinners when they drive too much and with too many guests there are always carbon offsets... Or creative event planners who come up with marvelous greenish transport ideas.

The location is seriously cute and also offers overnight options, including relaxing in the natural stone Jacuzzi surrounded but crystal power.

Eco Caters, one of the pioneers of eco-conscious and organic catering in SoCal, went for Vegan creations on Saturday, August 30, 2008. They had to show their best as the bride was Mary Grayr of Mary's Secret Garden in Ventura, an acclaimed vegan eatery with the flair of health and romance.


Bewitching the banquet, seriously, by Eco Caters

Re-Use Buzz

Ingrid from Bell'ancora just send me an email, mentioning that her consignment bridal store snapped up this gorgeous Reem Acra dress - not the one worn by Desperate Housewives" Maria Cross but nevertheless the exact same dress. Which brings me to the amazing green act of buying or selling your couture dress in a consignment store. These once worn dresses are 30%-70% off the original thousands of dollars and totally trendy, not that dress from so 5 years ago, which hasn't made into the fashionable vintage store yet and is just outmoded.
Ingrid:" When I was searching for my wedding gown I fell in love with several designer gowns that were way outside my budget and I didn’t like the idea of buying a new dress when there were so many brides wearing dresses and then putting them in their closets. eBay didn’t really give me what I was looking for and I saw a need for a “boutique” style website catering to brides looking for affordable wedding gowns and thus, bell’ancora was born.." The same thing had happened to Julie Jones from Encore Bridal in Los Angeles a little earlier in 2002. Her store in Los Angeles and White Chicago in Chicago are two other super sassy stops, where your dream dress can come true without costing you a week of your honey moon.

One of my brides, Shannon, got her dress from Glamour Closet in San Francisco and was totally happy about my suggestion: "You’re the best!! I found a dress!! I can't tell you how happy I am, HAPPY! The girl who helped me, Diane, was unbelievable, she went out of her way to make my dreams come true. I have been looking for this dress since December and have been searching every website, store, or ebay link I can find. GREEN, GREEN, GREEN!!!"
Geraldine Brower's The Bridal Garden in NY tops everybody of with donating their proceeds to needy kids under the umbrella of "Shelter Arms".

Eco Fashionistas

Michelle Moore did a Renee Geneva's eco fashion shoot, producing amazing photos of eco bridal fashion that deserves the label "couture".
I love that brides go for color, if it was my wedding today I would go for the Vienna waltz gown with an edge, like an angel with a tattoo.
Designers like Renee or Lucid Dawn definitely have the edge down.

Dan&Daniela, Greening Malibu's Weddings

Planning for a green day on April 5, 2009:
200 guests in a modern Malibu villa right on the beach.
In the old times (meaning a few years ago) this would have been crammed with Elizabeth Hurley-ish wasteful wonders. Not so with Daniela and Dan, musicians who live in Canada and will celebrate their wedding in their grand parents domicile, built by Jaime Gesundheit.
It is an amazing house with a pond in the middle of the front yard and a living room, which actually is a "hall" with a huge glass front and several sets of double doors high enough for a truck to drive through right to the beach.
The photographer and some of the musicians are friends of the creative couple, the other vendors will be eco-conscious professionals associated with Angelica Weihs Events company.
Planning has begun and tastings with eco caterers are being scheduled.
In the loop: Diana Temple from Creative Fare, Nomad Catering and Eco Caters.
Nomad is having a show case next week, which is a must go for all green and greenish brides to be.

Classic party rentals Los Angeles has implemented quite a few green bits to their business, so we most probably go with them.
We will post updates on Dan and Daniela's green steps as we go.

Christina&Barton, July 25, 2008

Christina and Barton who got married in Topanga in July are the best example for wedding planning made fun and how to savor the whole process.
They visited their wedding site several times, having lunch and drinks, chats and peaceful moments, meetings with vendors and their coordinator. They were touching the flowers, smelling the breeze - and after their amazing wedding they were right back, having lunch again, on their ceremony spot.

Their signature drinks had to be burgundy as Christina's colors were burgundy and dusty rose. We created a yummy drink with organic mango fruit punch, raspberry wine and filled it up with champagne.
Christina was worried to become a Bridezilla. But staking out all the details is miles away from having fits when the color tone of the underlays veers 5% away from the brides maids dress. Christina's excitement was the opposite; she inspired me to create double length planning sheets - and enjoying it.

Her favors were clay pots with flower seeds, her cup cakes were made with organic sugar, wine and food were organic.
Their florist, Sheila Omni was once again at her creative best, draping chiffons, hanging big beige lanterns, (later re-used) and filling the location with pastel colored local roses.
Formaldehyde foam for centerpieces is a huge no for the eco-concerned florist and Sheila used the old fashioned trick: vases, which you can take home.

A little bit something to the environmental mess behind the beauty of flowers:
From our Green Weddings website:
Floral Foam (a.k.a oasis) is a petroleum bi- product that out-gasses formaldehyde when soaked in water. This foam is not bio degradable and has been linked to lung cancer in rare cases of extended exposure. Leaf shine commonly used to shine greenery and plants is an aerosol product that is also bad for the lungs. The alternative that green florists know is vegetable oil, not only is it free from harmful chemicals but it is wiped on the leaves instead of sprayed.
Organic flowers, though limited in comparison to the varieties of conventionally grown flowers, are a conscious way to support the practice of Organic Flower Farming. Organic produce and foods are continuing to become more available because people supported the practice by purchasing the product. This trend is growing in the flower industry as people realize their part. Since people do not ingest flowers (generally) they do not concern themselves with whether or not pesticides and other chemicals were used. But the impact of the non organic flower farming is dangerous as run off from these chemicals seeps into the ground and ground water and the air also becomes contaminated. Flowers may be grown next to food crops and villages. Fields may be rotated from flowers to foods leaving the chemicals in the soil.....

Love to meet you again.

Famous Gay Couple from NY

Jay & Brook

My first gay green wedding took place in Topanga on July 11. 2008. The two cool guys who got married (for the second time) are actually famous and talked about in many news paper stories: Jay Blotcher and Brook Garrett. Mom Valerie took it on and organized the California wedding, as the "kids" live in New York. A very detailed oriented lady, she made sure that everything was just right. She pulled it of (with a little help of the wedding coordinator) in three weeks, including cake topper for the organic carrot cake, special cutting serves and their names printed on cocktail napkins. It was all: wow, Valerie! And of course: Wow, Jay and Brook, you made it this time! Their first marriage in Paltz had been annulled two years later.
The fancy, hip hors d'oeuvres reception was amazingly joyous, everybody was truly happy about the California freedom to be who you are, legally.

Story by Meghan E. Murphy

Times Herald-Record

July 09, 2008

NEW PALTZ — Jay Blotcher, 48, and Brook Garrett, 44, already have rings. They've already had a ceremony. They already have a civil union.

Still, they're going to get married Friday.

The gay couple is traveling to California this week to wed at the Los Angeles County registrar's office. The day marks the third time the persistent pair has sought legal recognition of their lifelong partnership. In 2000, they received a civil union in Vermont. In 2004, they were married by then New Paltz Mayor Jason West along with 23 other same-sex couples. That act was later ruled illegal.

While the couple's civil union is still effective, Blotcher says it doesn't afford them the same rights — legally or symbolically — as marriage. "I just don't want to be a second-class citizen in my country, and I want my relationship to be recognized," Blotcher said.

Same-sex couples have been flocking to California since June 14, 30 days after the California Supreme Court ruled gay marriages legal. New York Gov. David Paterson issued a directive to state agencies May 14 to recognize same-sex marriage certificates issued in other states.

Billiam van Rostenberg, who married his former partner alongside Blotcher and Garrett four years ago, says he's seen much progress in same-sex civil rights in the past few years. And although he's not getting married again, he's proud of those who persist in the movement.

Gay-rights organizations in New York are working toward getting legal marriages here, but there's still opposition to the idea. In the state Legislature, two bills died this session in the judiciary committee, one allowing same-sex marriage and the other disavowing it.

In November, California will consider a ballot initiative amending the state's constitution to ban gay marriage. Blotcher doesn't know if a "yes" vote would affect his marital status. But if it does, he's not about to give up.

"As Americans we deserve the same rights; that's what I continue to struggle for," he said.

Listen to the interview on WAMC. http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-736077.mp3

Les Francais

Yvonne and Stephen celebrated their wedding in Topanga, CA on June 6, 2008. They loved it, especially as the new chef of the Inn of the Seventh Ray is French.
Yvonne and Stephen offered Vegetarian house made Ravioli, Mahi and naturally raised beef. They had amazing center pieces made from recycled wood, with succulents which are still alive in my garden.
I lived in Paris and the Langued'oc Roussillon for two years and love the country. If I would still believe in reincarnation I would be sure that I lost my heart there in 1230 where I fell in love with a Cathar monk who chose his believe in God over the girl of his forbidden dreams... Anyhow, the French have influenced my life with their joie de vivre, their cuisine, les marches aux puces, their architecture, Pere Ubu and the amazing metro.
As a culture they are not particularly eco friendly or vegetarian, ( do they still serve frog legs?) but then, they have done more green weddings than the Germans in the last few years, who are proud of their hemp shopping bags since many years. Kudos to Chef Cyril at the Inn who knows how to create vegan and vegetarian haute cuisine.




Yvonne chose the biggest wedding dress she could find, she said, which made her feel like a true princess of times past. She had it cleaned without the harmful chemicals traditional dry cleaners use and wrapped in the spirit of re-use for her kids to enjoy.

So what's sexy about green?

When you look at your vintage diamond engagement ring, which this cute old gentleman in this tiny shop in downtown LA modernized for you to match your rocky style, a shiver of excitement is the least you'll experience: You did it, you searched, you found, you re-created and you got want you wanted. To achieve personal power is sexy. Imagine your eco-hero guy would have done it for you; instead of a fast fun mass consumption trip to Robins Bros he went on a journey to slay the dragon and found the original, one of a kind gem you deserve. Uh, so sexy.
When the peace silk of your gown caresses your body, smooth, pure and not leaving millions of little dead silk moths behind, the sensation beats the plastic fantastic chemical crisp of fibers grown with tons of pesticides and fertilizers.
Aside from all the sexy practical green applications the miraculous melting of your eco minds is better than tantric exercises. Top it of with sharing a bite of an organic vegan chocolate fantasy...

Green Weddings with Attitude

Attitude? What's new? Isn't the obsession with lavish weddings, the need to be the bride from hell, the anxiety to throw a better bash than any girl before us enough attitude?
To fight for love and to marry for love was a big revolution after millenia of forced wedlock for survival or political reasons. Women were used as currency for centuries before they were put on pedestals (at least in some countries). Finally up there, adored, longed for and pampered, we became slightly revengeful Zenas and Zillas, so genetically disgusted with the past that we had to drown ourselves in amazing shopping adventures of enormous categories. (Good excuse!)
But now we're over it. There's something new and bigger out there. More demanding and yet smart and sassy.
The shiny peace silk, the amazing vintage sari eco couture dress, the fantastic faux leather heels, the sinful organic chocolate and the mind expanding sustainable floral art - it's creates shivers of excitement. But what's even more sexy is the vibe, the new frontier, the adventure into something new. It's the green philosophy, which makes us walk the rebel road. (plastered with pink petals....)