Getting married is a big step for anyone, yogi or not. After starting to investigate all of the details that go into planning a big wedding, a yoga teacher at my studio decided to elope instead. Some others see the stress of planning the big event as part of the joy of being able to share the special day with their closest family and friends. This was part of the idea behind Anna Wasserman’s recent nuptials in the Bay Area. Working as Public Relations Manager for Numi Tea and a certified nutritionist, Anna is well-versed in all the aspects of an eco-friendly lifestyle. She wanted to extend this practice into each element of her wedding: “The concept of green weddings is becoming more popular and, of course, being able to do it on a budget is even better. From food to outfits to fair trade tea and coffee, there are so many angles to cover and just as important as where do I spend my money?”

Supporting planet-positive and local businesses during your gala with make it all the more noteworthy. Add in the unique talents of your close friends and family to ensure no one can truly duplicate your festive occasion. “I love to promote good people and of course good food! [My husband and I] also wanted to show the people closest to us our values for a green economy.” With research, asking questions, and a little creativity, a green party can be achieved by anyone, anywhere; Anna’s hullabaloo is a swank model. After the August 19th wedding and a week-long honeymoon, I caught up with the newly-dubbed Mrs. Hartman to learn about all of the unique elements of her planet and vegetarian-focused wedding.

Invitations

Invitations are another avenue to showcase your ecological and artistic creativity. Anna’s friend Diana Barclay threw her bridal shower, making sure to stay in line with the bride’s wishes for sustainable festivities. Her invitations were made from tree-free paper, and included unbleached, recycled copies of a vintage treat: Good Housekeeping’s 1955 “Good Wife’s Guide.” The actual wedding invitations were also made from tree-free paper and designed by the bride. “I did the wording, design, and printing myself,” she says. Anna used Of The Earth’s custom paper to create these unique invitations, which are constructed of handmade cotton and embedded with real flowers and seeds. “The idea is that you don’t have to throw out the invitations or put it in the recycle bin, just put in the garden under soil and water. It will either flower or compost.” Try this option and leave your loved ones with a beautiful reminder of your special day.

Outfits

Vintage and unique were the main elements of the bridal party’s finery. “The wedding dress was an old boring dress made of silk and organza that was lying around in the back of the shop,” Anna said. Once found hiding in the nether regions of Soiree Vintage in Oakland, CA, shop-worker Alisa helped to recycle the piece into a new beauty. The tiara and necklace Anna wore are both family heirlooms. A trip to La Rosa Vintage on Haight Street in San Francisco wielded a perfect 1940s tux for the groom. Tala Aziz, wife of the co-founder of Numi Tea, offered up her skills to create a hemp/silk-blend vest to make the suit complete, as well as a set of orange embroidered ties for all of the men in the ceremony. The bridesmaids got to join in on the fun, having a local seamstress made their dresses. “I gave everyone the same fabric and told them to do whatever they wanted with it since women all have different bodies and personalities!”

Flowers

Beautiful blooms can be expensive if you insist on them being organic, but going local is even better. This can cut down on travel time and costs, as well as adding a more regional feeling to your celebration. If you happen to have a creative family, then you can enlist their help, therefore making the event something they can be proud of as well. “My very artistic in-laws gathered the flowers and did all the arrangements themselves.” Check out your local flea or farmers market for vase ideas: a vintage wrought iron vessel adds sophistication, while a collection of pottery made by a local artisan adds character and a homey quality. A special bouquet for the bride is commonplace, but how should it be displayed? Keeping in line with the “green” theme, allowing the snipped ends of the flowers to breath is a popular choice. The fabric you wrap them in has the same effect vases do: a bit of twine or hemp rope gives a rustic feeling; a piece of organic cotton or silk presents a clean, streamlined image. Looking for something distinctive? Save a piece of the fabric from your dress and use that to hold your blooms together.

Place Settings

Taping into your crafty side, no matter how undeveloped in may be, adds another dimension to your special day. Unable to find just the right centerpieces and place settings, the couple took matters into their own hands. “The terracotta pots were glazed in a routille finish by me and my husband in the back yard on a hot summer day. We then planted flowers and watched them grow over the next 6 weeks before the wedding.” The “flowers” in the pots are actually comprised of pushpins – another creative and money-saving tip. James Hartman, Bay Area vegetarian artist and co-founder of the infamous Tennessee commune The Farm, delightfully took on the task of painting the placards for the place settings for his new daughter-in-law. These custom creations could be given to guests to take home, reminding them of this special event. If you choose to use actual plants, consider tree saplings – your friend and family can take them home and plant them in their yarn, watching them flourish like the love between you and your partner.

Food/Cake

Though being creatively involved in your own wedding can be quite fulfilling, knowing your limits is important as well. To save time and stress, Anna hired Back to Earth Organic Catering of Berkeley, CA to provide delectable vegetarian dishes for the reception. Using only local and organic ingredients, the menu provided was a hit with all the guests. Choosing the menu can be a troublesome party of planning, but allow the yearly period to speak for you. If you can’t find an organic catering service, give the service you do choose a list of seasonal ingredients you would like them to focus on. Diana Agtane, a Numi co-worker and graduate of the Cordon Bleu chef program, used all organic ingredients as well to make the not-to-be-forgotten part of the meal – a Swedish Princess cake. Another standout idea for dessert: a collection of cupcakes, composing a cake, tower, or one of your favorite shapes.

Drinks

While organic fair-trade coffee and Numi Tea were expected, eco-friendly cocktails were featured as well. Bison Brewery of Berkeley’s Organic India Pale Ale and Blonde Ale were available to please the beer lovers. Lolonis Vineyards in Redwood Valley, known for their use of ladybugs as a form of pesticide, pleased those with a wine pallet. Not to be outdone, Square One’s 100% American-grown and organic vodka was combine with Numi Sweet Meadow tea to create the “Goodnight Ginger” cocktail. This standout mix was the first thing to run out. Give this popular mix a try at your next get-together:

2 oz. Square One Organic Vodka infused with Numi Chamomile Lemon Myrtle Tea

2 oz. Trader Joe’s Organic Ginger Lemonade

Juice of ½ lemon

1/8 tsp. fresh grated ginger

½ oz. organic Agave Nectar

Splash of Vya Extra-Dry Vermouth

Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist. If you prefer a completely fresh ingredient approach, substitute the ginger lemonade for fresh squeezed lemon juice and a touch more ginger. Don’t forget to use a bit more agave nectar to counter the acidity of the fresh juice.

Numi Tea - numitea.com

Bison Brew - bisonbrew.com

Lolonis Vineyard - lolonis.com

Square One Vodka - squareonevodka.com

Party Favors

To remind the guests of this joyous event, a sweet treat was given to each of them. Theo Chocolates of Seattle, WA is the first roaster of Fair Trade Certified™ cocoa beans and the only roaster of organic cocoa beans in the United States. Using local artists for the graphics on their packages, these are some exceptional confections. After a sacred union and some serious partying, relaxing on the couch with these chocolates makes the day simply unmatched. While tasty tidbits are nice, maybe you want something that will last a bit longer? Try donating a small sum of money to your favorite charity in the name of each of your guests. Most organizations will send you a nice thank you not and a bit more about the work they do. This gives your loved ones a chance to learn more about what you hold dear and to help them get involved. If that is too political for your tastes, another option is a gift certificate to a local business you frequent, giving regional establishments the attention they deserve.

[Scans can be seen here]