Handmade, Repurposed, Burlaps Coffee Bags

Starting today on our handmade burlap gift bags for all of our guests.  Saltspring Island Coffee graciously gave us their extra burlap coffee sacks.  We shall make good use of them.   We visited their Richmond store and picked up a nice bundle to start with.

We are not like other wedding fair where you receive swag bags full of advertising material.  As we are a homegrown event we try to give all of our guests their own wedding favour as they leave.  In the past we have given away flower seeds and macaroons.  This year we will have a handmade 3D paper heart in our little handsewn bags to give out. 

I will give a shout out now to all my little crafty helpers who really go above and beyond the call in helping me pull all the DIY elements together.

Cowichan Valley Homegrown wedding

 

Photos and article by Kiss My Flash Photography

We met Jenn and Dave at The Grassroots Wedding Fair in 2011 and Eugene and I were really impressed by their vision for their wedding celebration.  It was a real community affair and an incredible amount of love and energy went into every detail.

They were married at Dave’s family home in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island on August 6th, 2011.  The family spent the months leading up to the wedding landscaping the garden and growing all the flowers and some of the food for the big day.  Their friends and family carpooled in a day or two early and helped with making decorations, serving food, running errands, singing, making speeches, cleaning up etc.. It was inspirational.  Jenn’s mother-in-law, Judy, is a designer and has a large format printer, so she made all the signage and Jenn herself made the pinwheels for the bridesmaids and the “Just Married” sign for Dave’s dad’s gorgeous yellow 84′ Chevy Pickup Truck.  They also made table centre-pieces from photographs of Jenn and Dave growing up and potted plants and herbs from Dave’s aunt’s garden that people could take  later as gifts.  The day before the wedding the bride went tubing in the nearby river with her bridesmaids.  In the evening they had a lovely rehearsal in the garden and a hearty homemade family dinner.

The Big Day.

August 6th was a hot, sunny day with bees buzzing and flowers blooming all over the property.  The whole thing was laid back and beautiful.  The wedding party woke around 10 and after a leisurely breakfast the house was entirely a-bustle with activity.  Eugene and I split up so he could shoot the groomsmen getting ready and I could photograph the ladies.  The guys shaved down by the river and dressed in khaki suits bought at Zara on Robson Street.  They exchanged jokes and shared a cold beer before the ceremony. 

The ladies toasted with sparkling wine and laughed as they did their makeup and hair in the great big mirror in the Bridal suite.  Jenn looked gorgeous in a floor-length ivory modified A-Line with a  trumpet-style skirt, sweetheart neckline and lace back.  She had looked for a 2nd had dress, but she searched and searched and couldn’t find the right one.  She was looking for an informal wedding dress that she could feel comfortable in and she fell in love with this one because it was simple with minimal embellishments and fit her body and hugged her curves just right.

As guests started to arrive they were  ushered to their places in the garden, which was ablaze with colour.  Jenn walked down the aisle on her father’s arm to “You and Me’ by Lifehouse performed acoustically by her cousin Erik.  Their parents were beaming as the couple held hands under the handmade bower at the top of the garden exchanging rings, vows and wishes for their future.

After the ceremony the bridal party took off right away and we spent an hour or two in golden grassland at the nearby Stoltz Pool area of the Cowichan River Provincial Park.  The photographs turned out beautifully.  The six friends were incredibly relaxed and fun.  The lighting was perfect. 

When we arrived back at the reception the tables and chairs had been set out all over the lawn and people were sipping drinks and laughing as the sun set.  The drink of choice was Red Racer beer from Central City Brewing in Surrey and Jenn’s dad prepared a 26oz bottle of margaritas as a special surprise for her.  The dinner itself was just incredible with wild salmon that was bbq’d by Dave’s dad while we were gone.  Much of the food preparations was done by Eatables Unlimited Catering based out of Mill Bay and it was delicious: there were rolls, chicken, salads, humus etc… and to finish a Dairy Queen Wedding cake, an old favourite of Dave’s. 

Eugene continued shooting candid photographs of the party and I ran the photobooth, which was a real hit.  We set up studio lights and arranged an easel, empty photograph frames and a wicker couch.  Jenn and the ladies had handmade cute props like mustaches, glasses and hats.  Guests wandered from the shoot to the dance floor and back as the evening turned to night and the garden started to glow with lights and sparkle with laughter.

One thing that stays with me about this wedding is how even during the busiest moments they still seemed to find the time to create amazing personal moments. To top it all off Jenn and Dave are currently on a year-long honeymoon trip bicycling to South America together.  What an incredible beginning to a fabulous life together.

Catherine McLaren, Kiss My Flash Photography

Trends for 2012 Wedding Dresses

Words of wisdom from Patty Nayel of Pure Magnolia. 

Pure Magnolia dresses are created locally by Patty and her use of sustainable materials makes her a trend setter in Canada. 

Trends for 2012 Wedding Dresses

By Patty from Pure Magnolia

 As a bride you are probably overwhelmed by all the options you have for your big day. In the end it is all about your personal style and wearing something that looks great on you! We are going to cover some of the popular trends for this year, and maybe you will see something that really works for you!

 Lace:

Lace is by far the most popular fabric of choice for brides this year. It is perfect for a vintage wedding, or a bride who is recycling her mom’s dress. Lace can be just a little addition to the dress, or be the main fabric, it can look rustic or regal: It really is a very versatile fabric!

  

 Diana’s Dress: Vintage Lace and Hemp Silk. Tea Length: $850

 Winter Lace Gown: Fitted English Cotton lace with Organic cotton $1800

A pop of colour:

Dresses are starting to stray from the traditional white to add a few other options. This doesn’t mean tacky coloured embroidery or giant sashes of 5 years ago. This trend is more about a pretty flower belt, shoes to match your bridesmaids, coloured buttons, or even a dress that is blush, sand, or champagne.

 

Diamond Back dress: Vintage lace, Dupioni Silk and Organic cotton $1600

 

Cotton Satin Mermaid: Cotton Silk satin, Organic cotton, Vintage lace $1700 shown in Champagne

Tea and Knee length dresses:

Short dresses are just great fun! Plus they can be a budget saver. But don’t go out and buy a bridesmaid dress in white, really no one likes bridesmaid dresses anyways! Buy a dress that is designed to be a short wedding dress. It can be vintage, or modern, it shows a bride who is ready run around and have fun on her big day!

 

Dotted Mini: Cotton Swiss Dot and Organic Cotton Lining $400 short $500 tea length

 

Tea length Tulle Party Dress: Dupioni Silk, Organic cotton, and tulle Tea length $900, Short $650

 Slim Silhouettes

While some brides still love the look of an amazing ball gown, we are seeing a definite increase in brides looking for a slim, sleek or body forming dress. These simple silhouettes are easy to wear and there is an option for almost any body type. 

 

Garden Dress: Dupioni Silk and Organic cotton: $1200

 

Twinkle A-line: Cotton Silk Batiste, Silk Twill and Vintage Lace bodice: $1300

Green wedding locales – Xenia Retreat Centre

 

Xenia Retreat Centre is a beautiful space nestled amidst old growth trees on Bowen Island.  Being only a short distance from the mainland it is a welcome space to host a wedding and have that wedding continue for more than just one day. 

With sleeping arrangements available ( and more on the Island itself) at the centre and a full kitchen for your use, plan a wedding that can include staying the night and celebrating again with your guests the next morning with a homemade pancake breakfast.

Xenia is also a small working farm which helps create many diverse backdrops in which to celebrate.  An enclosed peaceful garden also allows guests to gather their thoughts and rest amongst the flowers. 

The forest surrounds the centre and as  a great centrepiece Opa,  an old growth tree, is the perfect location to hold a meaningful wedding ceremony.   Surrounded by trees, family and friends, Xenia offers a very unique green setting for couples looking to wed a little differently.

The centre also hosts a labryinth which creates yet another space in which to slow down and feel grounded in an otherwise busy celebration.

 

EP!C weekend

Many  vendors from The Grassroots Wedding Fair are at EP!C this year.  The event itself is quite phenomenal and it truly is an eco-friendly love-in.  The wedding showcase features many old friends and day 1 was great to meet and see how everyone is doing.

The green wedding community is not very large and EP!C is a nice way to welcome new businesses into the fold.  I believe we will all come away from this event more resolved in making a difference in our community. 

sweet earth photographics (that’s me!) and Sweet Naturally Bakery fill out one corner of the wedding showcase quite nicely.  I am enjoying chatting with Francis and Dickson of Sweet Naturally and finding out more about how their stint with the winter Farmers Markets went.  They will return for the summer markets as well.  I love the diversity of their baking specialties from gorgeous wedding cakes to scrumptious scones and cookies.

Another old friend is Onyx from Amoda Flowers who brought in both centrepieces for the Epicurean Court and bouquets for the Wedding Showcase.  Her sense of style always impresses me and the range of bouquets she creates can match any bride’s whimsy.

Shoo-Foo Bamboo offers wedding registries to couples interested in more sustainable options.  Shoo-Foo has a well-organized system to help couples set up their registries and their products are beautifully made.

Pure Magnolia provided wedding attire and Spark Jewelry provided bridal accessories for the EP!C Wedding Showcase.  Patty and Christina make sustainable fashion come to life with gowns made from natural materials and bridal jewelry made from recycled silver.

Olla Urban Flower Project is also at EP!C with air plant boutennieres, stunning bouquets and their signature living favours and centrepieces.

EP!C is a truly exciting event for those commited to sustainability and for those who are curious and want to learn more.  I am very pleased to see so many familiar faces.  Change may come slowly, but attending an event such as this just reminds me that yes, we are on the right path.

Shona Dion

photos by sweet earth photographics

Going the extra mile to be green with your wedding registry

The best part of a wedding (at least when it’s all over) has got to be the gifts – the beautiful ones, the returnable ones, the ones you hoped for and the ones you have no idea what to do with. The best way to appreciate your gifts, no matter how out-of-this-world they are, is to know that each of them expresses the planet-lover in you.

With today’s entrepreneurial, post-American-dream economy, tree huggers and mainstream green buyers alike can find eco-friendly, local and fair trade products to compose their wedding gift registry. The dilemma? It isn’t a cinch like walking to the big box retailer and using an electronic scanner to ‘beep’ your gift list within an hour.

But the fact remains that sustainable gift registries and ideas are out there, and it only takes a little bit of effort for the planet-minded brides and grooms-to-be to find them. Yes, it may mean splitting up gift registries into categories of different stores, and yes, it may be an online-only thing, which grandma may have trouble with (until you teach her the modern meaning of ‘mouse’). But is it worth it?

Boy, is it ever! Going with small, local and green companies for your wedding registry will get you the most unique and well-cared for products out there. Green doesn’t have to be more expensive, and in fact the quality and sustainable specialties of green brands are just as prestigious as going high-end on your wedding registry. Take, for example, Cookworks, a local Vancouver kitchenware store. For lovebirds who already have all the household necessities, thinking outside the box with a gift registry is also an option with requests for fine art gifts (a great investment scheme), or experience gifts, like a gourmet kayaking trip from Edible British Columbia. Then there are things like rafting or some other fear-defying activity perfect for learning the meaning of “till death do us part.”

Shoo-Foo Eco Linens, exhibitor at the upcoming Grassroots Wedding Fair, also has a local, green wedding gift registry. It’s a great place to start a gift registry for wedding showers, stagettes and rehearsal dinners that are all about healthy home lifestyles with linens sourced from organically grown bamboo.

Available to add to your Shoo-Foo bamboo linen gift registry includes:

A 300-thread count bedding set. These sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover and blanket hang and shine like silk or cashmere. They are breathable and ultra comfortable for a good night’s rest. They go especially well for people with sensitive skin and temperature problems while sleeping. Click on this link to see them all! http://shoo-foo.com/en/e-boutique/bamboo-beddings/

Luxury bath towels. They’ve got it all from robes to face cloths, shower mats, gym towels and of course, a huge bath sheet! (plus more!). Many of their products come in four colours: natural, royal indigo, sage green and mocha brown, allowing a great match for any home decor! The towels are 600gr/sq meter, which means lasting quality. Best of all, all their products are sourced from organically grown bamboo. View the complete line here: http://shoo-foo.com/en/e-boutique/bamboo-bath-towels/

Are they really green? You bet they are. While rumors abound questioning the sustainability of bamboo products ‘out there’, Shoo-Foo can say for sure that our manufacturing process is certified eco-friendly by multiple governing bodies including the USDA and OCIA. To learn more about their certifications, click on this link: http://shoo-foo.com/en/bamboo/organic-certification/

Receiving gifts is only one way to use bamboo linens for your wedding day – there are plenty more ways! Want more ideas? check out their blog post on How to Use Bamboo Linens for a Green Wedding! Not bad for a Canadian local green gift registry, eh?

Olla Urban Flower Project

It was a wet January day that I visited Olla Flowers to learn more about  this new florist on the edge of Gastown.  I was well rewarded for my visit and discovered much about the Flower Project that has very strong ties to the community around it.

The store sits in a very beautiful building at 235 Cambie Street with large windows and brick walls.  Everything I saw was for sale and the unique arrangements came in modern and vintage planters. From gorgeous terrariums to fair trade roses and flowers sourced locally,  Olla was alive with colour.

Megan Branson and Dionne Finch are set on urbanizing flower production and working with social enterprises through work with DTES community gardens, local flower lovers and even backyard growers.  They came to this new enterprise through their love of design and landscaping. One of their goals is to ‘bring the outside in’.

Their work within the community includes working with mature gardens for flower cultivation, working with individuals with land available to host a garden and share the crop, hiring locally and purchasing flowers grown in community gardens and then sharing the bounty from corporate events, such as work with Amnesty International with non-profits in the DTES.

For weddings they have everything an engaged couple would need.  Olla Flower Project promotes living wedding favours and centrepieces.  The creative skills of Megan and Dionne can create stunning bouquets and floral displays.  Their living arrangements can be purchased or rented for the big day.

Manifesto for Horticultural Wedding Design

“We are convinced that the bounding vibrancy and evolved design of living plants be at the center of wedding decor. We offer a pair of flowering viburnum bodnantense with an underplanting of snow drops to frame your winter vows, flowering lilac trees in spring, mixed perennial grasses with wild flowers in summer, and berry shrubs heavy with fruit for autumnal nuptials. These living containers will act as metaphors for the sustained love being celebrated. 

 

We support a wedding design movement that celebrates humans’ relationship to the plant world and gifts its clients with beautiful plants that will continue to grow and thrive long after the last dance draws to an end.”
 Olla Urban Flower Project

 

I was very grateful for the opportunity to spend an afternoon wandering the store and learning so much about this unique new florist hub.  This spring will find the shop blooming with new ideas and work in the community.  Megan and Dionne have (no pun intended)  their roots well planted in this neighbourhood and as they expand so will the gardening community around them.

Olla Flowers will be an exhibitor at The Grassroots Wedding Fair on February 12 at Heritage Hall.

Shona Dion

photography by sweet earth photographics

Something new, something borrowed…. something repurposed.

Weddings can create a lot of waste.  Decor accents are one area where it may be hard to keep your footprint low.  Couples want the ceremony to be lovingly decorated and the reception hall to look magical. Wedding and bridesmaid dresses are most likely a one time wear and even though it is nostalgia that has us hold onto these items what if there was a way to share your wedding day features with others? 

Craigslist is a great way to repurpose wedding items and for those couples on their way to marriage, it is a great resource to find coveted dresses, accents and more.

Couples looking to find wedding accent treasures have a new way to go about finding gently used items.  Couples already married have a new venue to sell wedding items to upcoming brides and grooms.  A new market, a wedding swap meet begins next month at Heritage Hall in Vancouver. 

Bridal Swap  is a new venture conjured up by Dream Group Productions, a lower mainland based wedding and event company who saw the need to help new brides and grooms find all their wedding needs in one place. Not only is their idea economical it is also a great way to keep your wedding footprint low.

Geneve McNally best explains their reasoning:

“Bridal Swap came about after spending several summers watching our clients purchase and make rather than rent candy/centre piece vases and candle holders (thank you IKEA), overlays, chair covers, etc.  They justified it by saying that it was the same (if not sometimes cheaper) to buy something rather than rent it and most “planned” to sell these items on Craig’s List or other after the fact.  The reality is most brides post wedding do not have the time or energy to go to the trouble of selling these items and they end up often being “temporarily” stored away it their garages and eventually being tossed out or donated (the latter not being so bad).  So, we thought why not create a tangible forum for past brides to unload these coveted items which in turn would benefit not only current bride’s pocket books, but help in reducing the carbon footprint of future brides who may be planning to do just the same thing in purchasing rather than renting vases.  The last reason for creating the event was to have some fun!  We foresee a wonderful energy filled day with lots of bustling brides exchanging goods and possibly even wedding tips!”

Bridal Swap takes place February 20th from 10:30 -4pm at Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street in Vancouver.  Past brides can find more information about hosting a table from their website and new brides can shop at one location for their wedding needs.

Vintage Bride or Groom

Picking out that perfect wedding outfit can be an exciting experience or an overwhelming one.  Today engaged couples have many options.  If walking into a bridal gallery is not in the cards then perhaps look to the most greenest option of all.

Vintage stores abound in the Lower Mainland, but some stand out from the others.  Woo Vintage at 4333 Main Street, is a vintage store that is unique in its mission to bring back amazing finds.  Not only can you find such goodies, all items are very well taken care of, cleaned, mended and even reworked.  The store is a treasure trove of vintage clothing from the 1920′s on. 

What is most impressive though, is the store’s owner, Natalie.  Her knowledge of clothing styles, accessories, details from every era, and her passion for finding such treasures is remarkable.  I spent some time with her in her store and came out with a greater understanding of fashion from the last 80 years.

Woo Vintage has an extensive wedding attire collection.  For the women the dresses come in almost any decade, although those from the 1950′s on are the more popular.  It does not stop at dresses though.  Gloves, stoles, shoes, opera coats, gorgeous hats and birdcage veils, and whimsies galore can also be found.

1953 Wedding Dress

For the men there are many options.  Natalie has suits and what I found even more exciting is that she is also has a collection of tux dress shirts rescued from decades ago and in perfect condition.  Natalie also has many cumberbunds, collars, studs, ties of all shapes and sizes and pocket squares.

Same sex couples can also find treasures here as men’s suit from earlier eras tend to fit smaller.  Why rent a tuxedo from a men’s rental store when you can own an original? 

1930′s button up suit

Natalie keeps track of the trends.  Brides come in looking for vintage jewelry to make unique handmade bouquets. Using grandma’s old jewelry and  a few extra pieces found at Woo they can create stunning and very modern  wedding accessories.

A trip to Woo is well worth it.  Let Natalie lead you through her lovely store and share her knowledge with you.   Her staff are well versed in alterations so come down for a fitting and add some flare to your wedding.

 

Shona Dion, photos by sweet earth photographics

Radha Yoga

Radha Yoga is more than just a yoga studio.  Located on the edge of Chinatown at 728 Main Street, this amazing space that they manage can host a most eco-friendly wedding.  Not only do they supply organic menu items, but they actively support local farmers.  Their menu can change seasonally because of their focus on local and sustainable food supplies.  Their menu is also vegan based.

For a smaller more intimate wedding reception Radha is a bright and unique space.  The building itself has undergone a green retrofit to meet very high green standards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radha Yoga can be rented for up to approximately 80 (capacity 95, seated 70) guests and catering can be discussed with the chefs.  Items outside of their main menu can also be discussed.  Their space is warm and inviting and with a commitment, not just to the environment, but also to the local community, Radha Yoga is the place to hold your wedding reception.

As Radha Yoga sits on the edge of Chinatown very unique photographic opportunities are located all around.  Sun Yet Sen Gardens is mere blocks away and the architecture in the neighbourhood makes for lovely backdrops.

 

photos by sweet earth photographics