Lily Grass for green bouquets

I have created bridal bouquets for my last two brides, as they wanted to save on a professional florist. It's not as easy as it may seem, but both, after some heart racing moments, came out rather cute. The locally sourced floral ingredients were in the hydrangeas and roses area, neither edgy nor "green" style-wise. The brides just wanted: "something pretty".
For a take on the modern green approach I find Lily Grass a cool choice. It combines with whimsical wild flowers or exotic species up to steam punk ideas.

Green Wedding Invitations

Jody and Hunter sent their invites for their fall wedding with Paperless Post and loved how pretty and easy it was. They even tell you when an email address doesn't work anymore, very professional and thought through.

Green Engagement rings

Time flies, I can't believe that Leonardo's Blood Diamond came out in 2003. How's the situation in Africa? Are the clunkers on many brides beautifully manicured fingers still mined and produced in a river of blood and tears? It seem so but then there are also articles out there that contribute the bloody media hype to the monopolists in the diamond corner like De Beers, arguing that the Kimberley process, implemented to "protect" the miners, really is a trick to keep Africa from independence and finally becoming the ones who profit from their sparkling wealth.
How to get away from all the craziness?

Check into an cornucopia of vintage engagement rings (oh my gosh how amazing are they?) if you can't rely on his or her grandma's sassy sparkler or because it's style is really "oma" and not your taste.
There's is the out-there alternative of (actually rather fancy) wooden rings.

Or go sci-fi, techno cool:
"Gemesis cultured diamonds are at the forefront of a revolution in the diamond jewelry industry. A Gemesis cultured diamond is a diamond, grown under the same conditions as diamonds grow beneath the earth's surface. By applying tremendous heat and pressure, a diamond begins to grow, atom by atom, layer by layer, just as it does in nature. A Gemesis cultured diamond possess the same physical, optical and chemical properties as earth-grown diamonds."
There are also Apollo and Mia Donna to name a few masters in this field.
A jeweler friend of mine mentions amazing gem stones he created engagement rings with : "Tsavorite garnets are one of the most beautiful stones ever and have a similar refractive index to diamonds.  If someone loves ruby or sapphire colors then they should not look at tradition, they should look for something that makes them happy."
And that's what we women really want, a reminder of our love and happiness, not just a status symbol on our finger.

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.

Unique Green Wedding

My favorite in the favors world so far: Model Christina and film maker Marcel collected vintage salt and pepper shakers, cool and cute pop/kitsch/collectible pieces, which everybody truly enjoyed.

Their edible vegetable center piece accompanied by a bud vase with peppermint and lavender were waste free, looked funky fresh, and the fragrance of lavender/mint was invigorating.

All signs were vintage chalk boards, table numbers or trays were cut pieces from a crashed tree and a Moroccan lamp served as the unusual gift card holder.

The crew (guys and girls) were smitten by gorgeous Christina and her tall-glass-of water-model friends cat-walking in heels which took my breath away. It would take me days to learn walking in them that gracefully. The Inn was all light hearted fashion glamor that night.

Personal, creative and smart wedding invitations

Dan and Daniela's 250 guest wedding in April in Malibu was gorgeous and eco-friendly to the max in a relaxed, fun and creative way. It's their life style after all: to be sensitive to all there is. We were in tune about "green" not just being an exchange of "bad" products with "good" products , but a philosophy of life. Integrating local vendors and talent of the closer community is one part of it.
Daniela, Dan, Susan (Daniela's mom) and I had gone on a vendor trip through LA in December, which started checking out Invitesite in Pasadena. As much as they liked the variety of their eco cool papers, colors and shapes, they got inspired to ask their friends Dave Wilson and Hannah Barr-DiChiara to produce a keep sake, which their guests might even want to frame.
Dave had taken photographs from the beach at Daniela's grand parents home, the prospective wedding venue and then created a water color painting - not knowing that he had just produced the inspiration and art work for a wedding.



The wedding colors, blue and orange and the abstract sunset were composed for an arty design, repeated in the wedding CD, a recording of Daniela and Dan, who are musicians. They tour a lot in Canada and compose songs for (a couple of famous) commercials. Their designers Dave and Hannah made sure that the San Francisco printer was as eco-friendly as the recycled paper. Detail: behind the sunset in the water color is the actual invite, which can be pulled out.
Using recycled paper like Daniela and Dan or paper made from rags and 500 sustainable fibers, offered for over a decade by Helen and Scott from Invitesite, is much less harmful than the "regular" paper making process. The chain saw loving paper industry often doesn't stop cutting down ancient growth and clear cutting rain forests and even the caring paper manufacturer can't avoid requiring huge amounts of water and fossil fuels. Statistics say that the pulp and paper industry is the second largest consumer of energy, ad the printing industry, with tons of ink, toner, solvents, coatings, and adhesives and you are looking at a rather scary picture. New businesses to the rescue: as long as eco friendly products, like soy inks are used, the impact on the environment is bearable. But the traditional wedding invitation - including an outer envelope, inner envelope, the invitation itself, a reply card, and directions to the venue - plus a variety of other stationary is quite a production and requires a lot of energy.
If you can't miss out on the beauty of the printed or written invite, mixing it up is not the greenest but the caring and fun way to go: Send save-the-dates via email, an amazing one piece invitations by mail with the link to your website, where your guests can RSVP, find directions and registries, fun stuff to do and on the latest gossip about your planning adventure. Then take a picture of yourselves in a memorable area of your wedding location holding a "Thank You" sign and email it to all your guests. Even the ones who couldn't make it, can be included.

Sarika and Dave loved their three day celebration in one of the few eco-conscious wedding venues, the Airlie Mansion in Virginia.
I created a website for Jo and Ed's wedding, who, after her favorite designer had bailed out, decided on a complete digital package. Their wedding is coming up on May 23 and their guests have a blast with the process.

Pingg offers nice templates or, if you would like to customize it to the max, have a graphic designer create a personalized online invitation, matching your guest book and escort cards. Jo and Ed will have a huge party setting with lots of surprises and different music groups, from classic over Banjo to 60ties and 70ties rock. Matching the idea of "no down time" is the layout with colorful food stations; guests mingle, dance and browse the different dishes. Tables are an eclectic mix of all sizes, high and low. What's green about that aside of the sustainable fish and organic veges? Casual seating does not require escort cards.
Looking at "green" as a play ground every step of the way is creative and exciting.
(Find links to eco friendly invitations in my side bar)

Vibrant green and blissful orange

Hand made paper or seeded paper? Seeded paper, planted into the garden often does not grow, but still it's cute gesture. paper can be made from almost any fiber, from rags to elephant poo..

Sonja and Joe got married on a warm November evening in Southern California. I never knew how amazing vibrant green and orange can look together. Sonia's inspiration were the orange almond sweets from her home country Brazil.



Organic beer and champagne keep pesticides out of the soil and ground water.


No organic flowers available? Go local, support your community and save the environment from dizzying transport fumes.

Green is also inspiring and educational - ask your location what powers their lighting, what do they spray into the botanics, where do they toss their waste? If you care, they'll (have to) care.


For favors or decor, be inspired by nature. Stones are great keep sakes: people hold pebbles in their hands during the ceremony, put all their great wishes "into" it and the couple takes home a powerful bowl of super vibes.

Eclectic, creative, earthy fun.

Alicia and Ryan celebrated their wedding in a local vineyard Orange County, CA in September 2008.

The recycled paper invitations from Invitesite in Pasadena were DIY - at least the assembly was.


The bridesmaids wore individual outfits; comfortable, fun shoes and bridesmaids dresses from JCrew, made of silk taffeta.
The bouquets were made by the bridesmaids themselves from bunches of flowers bought at a local organic nursery (California Organic Flowers). After the ceremony, the bridesmaids put their bouquets in glass vases on the tables to serve as decoration.

Alicia's dress from Romona Keveza was made of Dupioni silk, a natural fiber. It will be altered and dyed to be worn again.


Vegetarian hors d'oeuvres, better for the environment, healthier for the guests. All of the food was from a local caterer who bought organic and local whenever possible. The magical reception site, under a canopy of trees was lit by paper lanterns hung in the branches.


Alicia and Ryan employed two local bands, a string trio that played at the ceremony and a seven-piece jazz band. Fabulous!
Wedding favors were too much clutter for the couple so they donated money to charity in their guests' names and created a sign to let them know.

Instead of cake, which would have required an extra cutting fee per slice, more utensils and plates, etc., they opted for cupcake trees as the centerpiece at each table. This also cut down the need for centerpieces. They used a local bakery and served lemon and chocolate cupcakes. Every single cupcake was eaten.

The groomsmen with that wonderful green bamboo forest behind them! A fabulous natural backdrop makes every picture look wonderful and saves a lot of money on decorations.

Ryan and Alicia enjoyed a relaxed wedding, and everybody loved their green ideas. And then they were walking through one of the many green pathways at the winery into the sunset...

The Rebel Bride - and Groom

Your Wedding Style: The unconventional couple

The couple: The rebel couple might mix and match their wilder ways in wondrous ways - a digital save-the-date note with an elaborate medieval paper scroll invitation with seal and all, a designer dress worn barefoot in the woods and a silk suit worn with flip flops, a menu showing of the best of super healthy raw vegan cuisine with a selection of to-die-for booze, a gourmet dinner around a bonfire on the beach - but their freedom from rules won't jeopardize their impeccable sense of class. They might rather order food from their favorite restaurant instead of using a classic caterer and prefer to have their friends organize local bands rather than hiring the typical DJ. Their centerpieces might be art objects matching their theme or hundreds of candles, why cut flowers? The wild at heart couple will rock the first dance with a tango they trained many months for or perform a piece of theater, which they had written in 31 nights - whatever fits to the scene and is not boring to look at.


Rings: The engagement ring is the opening act for all to follow. A ruby, emerald or sapphire ring is a very personal mirror of your passion. Rare and unusual stones are andalusite, axinite, cassiterite, clinohumite and bixbite. I personally love a glowing red ruby engagement ring to express who I am. If it has to be a diamond, the smart groom would choose a certified ethically mined beauty for his savvy rebel bride. He might contact a free spirited jeweler who mines his own gold (!) The couple's weddings rings are made of recycled gold or from metals with less impact on the environment - designs go from zen-ish simplicity to amazing artful extravaganza. A few couples have even chosen polished bamboo or wood. Check for more info on the side bar.


Location : The location will be unique, a hotel wedding is out or it's something like the Figueroa Hotel in grungy Downtown LA. Nature Preserves, lakes, lofts, museums, vinyards, apple orchards, movie theaters - they choose a site which makes their hearts sing and for sure not a wedding factory, where four weddings are held at the same time.


Decor: From a couple who brought their animal taxidermy collection to fill the site with oh!? to ceilings filled with delicate and happy origami birds, we have seen originality up to and over the edge.

The "greener" couple checks the recycle bin for creative ideas and writes their seating list on a window, this one matching the feel of "The Ranch" in the Malibu Hills.

Decorative and useful favors are the way to go, no frou frou bells and whistles but hands on edibles and drinkables, or useful knickknack, which guests actually love to take home like pink pens for the girls and pocket knifes for the guys, rose and peppermint oils, candles and matches, flip flops and organic sunscreen... It's a joy to see your guests try to "please get just one more" rather than watching the event planner tossing tons of jolly plastics into the garbage bins.

Transport: These two individualists will arrive in style: in an English double decker, on a motor bike or on horses, a Hybrid sportscar or a 60ties Corvette (it's re-use after all) or singing pirate songs with sixty of their best friends in a school bus. Hummer Limos make them gag.

The Rebel Bride: The Rebel Bride is a smart girl with a mind and taste of her own. A creative, fun loving lady, she is often cutting edge: ball room ready rockn'roll, innovative bohemian, eccentric vintage or a princess in pink, her choices are slightly fierce but always right on tasteful. She won't wear a white traditional veil... Our weddings couples are glad to see our extensive vendor list packed with creative professionals.

Fashion: Not afraid of color her dress might be radiant red or awesome orange. Some even pull the Gothic Grunge up to new levels of tasteful. "The Rebel Bride can make an original statement at her reception without compromising class by choosing a dress that isn't traditional," says haute event planner Yifat Oren.


Vintage is en vogue and even if many of the dresses remind you of grandma's, which might really not be your style, the 30ties and 40ties offer some silk and satin dreams, the fifties are perfect for the rebel bride and the sixties have a few wild styles to entice you with. Check out Antique dress' wedding gallery and Posh Girl Vintage.

Renee Geneva does corset couture with eco materials, Lucid Dawn thrives in theatrical fashion and Christina Hurvis fights for green couture.

As rebel brides are self confident their brides maids shine in sassy outfits. Tattoos are often part of the design.

Beauty: The look is unusual, personal, dramatic and definitely memorable. It shows who you are rather than what you think you should be. Find out which makeup shades and techniques work best for a fearless face, including tips from mineral cosmetic expert Jennifer Charm at Carabella Salon or Aimee Valentine in San Francisco.



The groom: The rebel groom will choose the linen designer suit over the tuxedo, perhaps wears an Indian silk outfit, a prohibition look with scarf and sleek hair do or matches a formal jacket with jeans. He might meet the event planner waving a sustainable fish list into her face and order a beer from some faraway monks, who nobody has heard of. He might even brew his own beer. He is the new type of guy who actually enjoys planning his wedding because it doesn't force him to abide to rules far away from his character.



Cakes: A unique cake style that none of your guests will forget is a lot of creative fun. Rebel couples might not want to have hormones in their whipped cream or pesticides in their fruit and choose an organic cake - or no cake at all. Cup cakes are favorites since a couple of years, petits fours are becoming more and more hip and the confident culture couple offers what they really love - pies for example. Dan and Daniela (April 5, 2009) are exited about a pie baking party with their friends in lieu of bachelor and bachelorette outings.

Photography: I find wedding photos one of the really important parts as they will last a lifetime, so your images should express your life style. Journalistic photos are the rebel couples first choice. To capture those quirky scenes and unexpected happenings require a photographer who is sensitive, alert and intuitively at the right place at the right moment. Posed photos? Sure, with a quirk even those long hours can be fun.

Videography: The rebel couple might check on their favorite movies and find a style they love. From Super 8 film over black and white gangster movie style to "Ever after" cinematography or "pushing daisies" over the top colors - there are so many videography styles to choose from.


Honeymoon: The duos adventure travel, car-free island, sports challenge or eco-retreat will be paid for by their guests gift cards or online wish contributions - who wants big fat boxes with toasters and things? The always actively-engaged-into-something-couple will choose an Earthwatch expedition where they contribute to saving the earth, her animals or people...