On May 9, 2009, Stephenie and Mark claimed each other as husband and wife, but they also reclaimed pieces of barn wood to use as a stylish accent for their eco-friendly reception -- coincidence? I think not! A majority of the reclaimed barn wood was used as a home board for the table numbers, which were previously owned house numbers Stephenie and Mark found at salvage shops (image 1). more >>
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 | Recycled IndulgenceWith a love of flowers, Laurin found a fantastic and cost-effective way to recycle and enjoy plenty of flowers at her South Carolina wedding. With a bit of guidance from florist Annie Mueller, Laurin opted to incorporate the bridesmaid bouquets as centerpieces for the reception, as well as decoration for the cake table, restrooms, and cocktail tables. By reusing pieces from the ceremony for the reception, this allowed Laurin to keep within her budget and use a few more of her favorite flowers (cymbidian orchids!) in larger arrangements.more >> |
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 | a second-hand wedding with first-class styleJill and Ryan, a psychology assistant and technologist, respectively, hail from our nation’s most cherished neighbor—Canada! Their green-chic wedding, held last June in Vancouver, shows just how easy it is to find used items for a wedding. Eighty percent of their décor was bought second-hand online. “Craigslist is a bride’s best friend,” says Jill. Not only did they save money on the items they purchased, they also resold the pieces they bought (including Jill’s wedding dress!), recouping much of the original cost.more >> |
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 | seaside oasisToo beautiful to be true, Tulum, located on the eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula, is one of Mexico's most treasured national preserves and a nesting ground for turtles. It's also the location and inspiration behind Malisa and Todd's intimate seaside wedding. "I had a vision of white sand beaches, which are very hard to find in today's environment of the mega resort,” Malisa says. “I stuck with my vision, though, and it led us to Tulum, where sea turtles nest and hotels are solar-powered in order to avoid light pollution and keep the turtles happy.” more >> |
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 | Vintage DelightJohnny and Olivia shared their unique wedding from across the Atlantic in Yorkshire, England! Johnny, a drummer for the band Vib-Gyor, and Olivia, a wedding photographer, wanted their day to be a true reflection of their love of friends, family and the environment—with an eclectic feel. “For me, it’s about having the confidence to put your own stamp on the day, not being afraid to step off what I fondly call the wedding conveyor belt,” says Olivia. more >> |
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 | natural southern charmWhen Elisabeth and Joel celebrated their April wedding, they knew they wanted to add a few touches that reflected both their personalities and the culture of Charleston, South Carolina, one of their favorite cities and the place where they said their vows. Elisabeth grew up spending summers and long weekends in the coastal city at her family’s beach house and always planned on marrying there. To capture Charleston’s laid-back, southern vibe, the couple decided to transport guests from the church to the reception via the most low-key (and low-impact) form of transportation available—pedicabs. more >> |
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 | a fall garden partyTalk about finding the perfect wedding location! James and Jill cemented their love by saying “I do” against a backdrop of exotic flowers and lush vegetation at the Roger Williams Botanical Center in Providence, Rhode Island. By holding their wedding in a botanical garden, the couple solved two of the most difficult pieces of the wedding-planning puzzle—flowers and event site—AND reconciled their desire to create a summer-like ambiance with the reality of their late-fall wedding date, when many flowers aren't available locally. more >> |
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 | understated eleganceLocated in a national park off the coast of San Francisco, the Headland Center for the Arts lent a sense of abandoned grandeur to Brandon and Monica’s eco-conscious wedding. The walls have the chic, vintage appeal of an antique vanity or armoire (image 1), while the ceiling features intricate woodcarvings and hints of gold (image 2). A peek out of any window reveals a breath-taking view of beaches and coves. “The historical significance of the place is fascinating, and the fact that it now supports local artists also means a lot to us,” says Monica. more >> |
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 | dress successPilar and Carl held their one-stop wedding in Baja, Mexico. What could be more sensational than a beautiful sunset, cushiony sand, and perfect weather? A stunning and super-affordable wedding dress, of course! Pilar, who owns her own green events company Gorgeous and Green Events in San Francisco, created this one-of-a-kind frock, with its stellar pop of turquoise, for about $350. “I was infatuated with Pronovias and would spend hours looking at their website, but the prices were way over the top and I couldn't see the point in spending so much for a dress that I would only wear one day,” says Pilar. more >> |
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 | Love StumpedShannon and Jay's wedding site is the perfect example of their luxe-lo approach, and of the kind of people they are in general! The duo -- who found Bridge International Academies, an organization that will bring a franchise of low-cost, for-profit primary schools to underserved communities in the developing world -- held their dream wedding at Camp Reynolds on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. It took a bit of effort to persuade family and friends, and even Angel Island employees, that the former military camp was the perfect spot, but the state park's natural beauty (and budget-friendly price tag) eventually won over even the most skeptical critics.more >> |
