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.