Mini Spring Show pics!

arOka Vintage was definitely the star of our Mini Spring Pop-Up Show.  With a very well put together booth and a gorgeous school themed photo booth, Dawna Graham showed off just a taste of what arOka Vintage is capable of.

arOka Vintage is situated in Port Moody and with a shop filled with true antique finds, the store is a mecca for anyone wishing to host a vintage themed wedding.

Working together with arOka, sweet earth photographics took the photos for our guests using the ‘old school’ props.  The photo booth was well received and everyone received their photos shortly after the show.

On the main floor Pure Magnolia along with Spark Jewelry had dresses, accessories and jewelry to try on. 

I learned a lot from bcdj and their great packages are custom made for the style of each couple and they run their business sustainably.    The Shark Truth let couples know of their fantastic honeymoon prize of a trip to the Galapagos Islands for those wishing to forgo shark fin soup.  EP!C gave away tickets for the upcoming show on Mother’s Day weekend and Arbonne International offered earth friendly make-up.

Jim Walton offered  handmade and repurposed jewelry and table number holders from sterling silver cutlery.  His jewelry is exquisite and what better way to reuse family antiques then have Jim mold them into new items.  arOka Vintage now carries Jim’s jewelry and can be found in the Port Moody store.

Fairy Cakes offer vegan cupcakes made from locally sourced and sustainable ingredients.   Their shop on Fraser Street allows them to be very accessible to discerning couples.  One of the very yummy cupcakes pictured above sits on the beautiful ceramic wares of eikcam Designs.  Often found at Fairy Cakes is Zimt Artisan Chocolates who offer a very healthy and yummy alternative to wedding favours.

Our donation recipient for this year is The Vancouver Food Bank and we are very grateful to make a financial contribution to their cause.

I again want to thank the very dedicated team of vollunteers who help set up and manage the fair every year.

Custom, Locally Sourced and Sustainable Wedding Registry – Union Wood Co.

Union Wood Co. only opened its doors six months ago and already the little wood shop on Railway Street is going strong with custom orders of locally produced furniture from salvaged wood.  Many of his clientelle include young couples looking to furnish their first home with unique pieces that have the added bonus of being eco-friendly.

Owner Craig Pearce bided his time until the perfect space became available in his neighbourhood to open Union Wood Co.; a business that combines a viable wood shop with four full time employees and a store front to sell both hand-crafted furniture and collected vintage and repurposed items.  All the wood used to create the store’s one of a kind pieces comes from locally sourced lumber which would otherwise be lost in the demolition of Vancouver’s older buildings.

Craig knows the value of rescuing this wood not only for its quality, but for the history that each piece brings with it.  Everything has a story.   Wood rescued from the R.C.M.P. Stables from 110 East Cordova waits in the wood shop.  Metal parts are also upcycled when found which include repurposed old sprinkler pipes to metal tables bases and antique hardware.  Craig collected, salvaged and ‘treasure’ hunted for years to bring true vintage, non-reproduction objects to the store.  The only items the store sells that are not antique are the light bulbs, but the cages to go around them are all originals.  Hand-sewn aprons from old army tents and pillows created from old sails are also found at Union Wood Co.  and all of this creating/treasure hunting can be followed via Union Wood Co.’s blog.  By the way, did I mention that he is also a full-time fireman? 

What struck me the most while visiting Union Wood Co. is that this enterprise stems from Craig’s passion for  history ( or obsession as he states it ) and his desire to breath life back into discarded items.   The store itself is fully furnished by the past with old barn boards fitted on the back wall, a large marine spotlight hangs over the service area, old racks, rebuilt tables display the collected treasures and all are for sale ( except the barn boards).  Craig calls himself a bit of a hoarder and can’t seem to throw away any wood scraps which is great for the store as he created beautiful solid butcher blocks, door stoppers, other items as the wood inspires him.  Waste is kept to a minimum.  Currently in the shop is a rescued block of wood from an old airplane hangar with bolted metal screws that is just waiting to be made into a coffee or side table perhaps?  I asked Craig how he knows what each scrap of wood will become and he can see almost immediately how the wood will evolve.

What interests us the most at this time is the new addition of a wedding registry.  To the couples who have everything Union Wood Co. offers a non-traditional registry that will enable guests to contribute to a custom designed piece or a credit towards an item found in the store, but beware, all items are one of a kind and stock rotates rather quickly.  If a custom designed piece is what you are interested in Craig and his team will set up a consultation, set up an account for guests to contribute to in amounts that you are agreeable with and you will be that much closer to your goal of owning a stunning hand-crafted, locally sourced, one of a kind furniture piece.

Thanks to Craig and Otis for my tour and for chatting with me.  Union Wood Co. is a very cool shop and I love that being green is just a part of who they are.

 Article by Shona Dion, photos by sweet earth photographics

Floral Inspirations

(photography by Simply Rose)

Onyx Harris of Amoda Flowers is on a mission.  Her mission is to create beautiful sustainable bridal bouquets for those couples looking to tread lightly on the earth.   Providing not only  bouquets, Amoda Flowers creates stunning and unique centrepieces and can help discerning couples with eco-friendly wedding favours such as herb plants, seedlings and seed packets.

(2 above photographs Simply Rose)

All floral arrangements shown here are creations of Amoda Flowers. 

“Picking flowers in season is always a good place to start. This way your flowers should be hold up well with the weather of your wedding day. Their travel has also been short therefore they are more sustainable and better quality. Here is just a sampling of the lovely seasonal flowers I’d suggest:

Spring : Peony, Iris, Anemone.
Summer: Allium, Calla Lily, Hydrangea, Delphinium, Scabiosa.
Fall: Kale, Dogwood, Solidago.
Winter: Tulips, Ranunculus, Cherry Blossom. Cymbidium Orchid.

Here are a few flowers that are available most of the year: Roses, Gerbera Daisies, Lily, Freesia, Chrysanthemum.”  Onyx Harris

(2 above photographs Snap Weddings)

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.

 

Love Vancouver, Love Your Planet

This past weekend The Grassroots Wedding Fair participated in Love Vancouver Love Your Planet at Olympic Village on the Vancouver waterfront.  We demonstrated how to make our lovely 3D paper hearts that so many people seem interested in. 

It was a glorious sunny day and despite the cool breeze we had many people stopping by to make our little DIY decoration.  Our whole booth swayed in the wind as our  long 3D circle and heart decorations beckoned to the crowd.  I will not miss out on reporting that our booth was described as simply lovely. With all our supplies on hand the hearts were ready to be constructed.

The most important tool in this venture is an awl, which is the tool that makes perfect holes through which our embroidery needle can fit that sews up the centre lines of our hearts.

The paper used in this project came from old natural history books, an old German bible and repurposed handmade paper from a local artisan.

Hearts were cut out with a punch and gathered together in bunches of at least six.  A line was created with the awl down the centre of the heart to create a minimum of 4 holes through which embroidery thread was sewn.

Once this complete a bead can be thread through the bottom string and the edges of the hearts folded over along the thread line to create the 3D effect!

Over 30 people took part in making our 3D hearts.

The one thing I enjoy most about attending events such as these is being with like minded people and sharing our story with the public.  When I tell people we have a website with ideas on how to have a sustainable wedding with an event once a year to showcase our amazing vendors people are very excited.  My greatest joy is hearing the positive feedback from such people.  And I also enjoy speaking truthfully about our event, the commitment our vendors have to their community, and making a difference without any greenwashing. 

Love Vancouver was a great event and well attended for its first year.  The music was fabulous, the company inspiring and the location was perfect for the numbers of cyclists and passerbyers that visited.  I would love to come back and be a part of this event next year and who knows what new inspired DIY idea we will have to share.

 

Many tasty treats were also at the festival and two caught my eye.

Sweet and Sprout Vegan Bakery are both two companies that we would like to further investigate as their sample products were oh, so tasty.

photos by sweet earth photographics

Article by Shona Dion

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

The Organic Sleep Solution

Sleep is a luxury at times.  In this busy life our nighttime respite from the every day is gold.  Unfortunately for the majority of us our beds are not always the safe havens they should be. 

A completely safe and sustainable bedding system is definitely a financial investment, but one that will pay off immediately.  What better way to invest in a more sustainable sleep system by creating a wedding registry that can address all of your nighttime needs.  Organic latex mattress alone can last between 20 and 30 years!

inBed Organics is a local and sustainable company that is unique in its custom mattresses and bedding.  It is also the only company in Canada to offer a complete certified organic sleeping experience.  Their custom-made 100% organic latex mattresses are certified through very strict European and North American standards.

All sewing for inBed Organics is done in-house.  This includes duvets, sheets,  pillows and pillowcases made from organic wools, organic cottons, hemp, natural wood fibres and even shredded organic latex.  Their products are many and can easily be ordered online from their website. 

Jem, the owner of inBed Organics ,started her company Organic O’Canada five years ago when she started asking questions about what her and her family were sleeping on and her own education process began.  Jem believed in a healthy bed and found limited choices available to her in Canada.    What she found about the chemicals added to mattresses to make sure that they are flame retardant left her feeling deceived, angry and mislead.  She began Organic O’Canada as a ‘basic human right’ for anyone concerned about what they were sleeping on. Her advice, “Do your research.  Educate yourself and do not always believe what sales people will tell you.”  Many ‘organic’ mattresses may only have components that are organic without the whole process following those guidelines.

inBed Organics has a wealth of information available through their website and is definitely worth a visit to learn more about how organic latex mattresses can help you live a healthier lifestyle.  For all your wedding needs set up an appointment for a consultation and visit their Vancouver showroom to arrange your registry and allow your family and friends to contribute to a complete organic sleep system. 

article by Shona Dion

photography 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?

The Home Grow-In, part I

The Home Grow-In sits at 3010 Cambie Street and is a lovely new collaboration of 12 co-op vendors and owners bringing fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, gourmet chocolates, locally and sustainably raised meats and dairy and so much more to the Cambie Street corridor.  This co-operative store opened in December 2010 and brings with it a very welcoming and community based market experience.  Already over 300 personal community produce boxes are picked up weekly.

Weddings with many products sourced locally are the best way to be sustainable.  The Home Grow-In is a great location to find products produced in BC that can add a certain westcoast flavour to the celebration. 

Consumable wedding favours are the best wedding favours and jam, honey, soap and chocolates are great examples that guests will love.

Urban Sweet Honey is a Vancouver produced honey and the creation of Russel Godwin.  With beehives established from Kitsilano along the railway line out to Surrey they are a true reflection of the Lower Mainland’s community gardens and of course, local weeds.  The bees don’t care and Russell likes the idea of food produced from weeds. This honey  comes in 250 and 500 gram size at present.

Jolene’s Natural Handmade Soap.

And of course, a most delectable wedding favour is chocolate.  Wendy Boys of Cocolico is a pastry chef who creates award winning chocolates and is a part owner of The Home Grow-In.  More information on Cocolico will follow in Part II of this post.  Cocolico does create amazing wedding favours and will be on hand at The Grassroots Wedding Fair with samples and information on custom ordering.

These lovely chocolates were named by Vancouver Magazine in 2008, as one of the “101 Things to taste before you die”.

The Home Grow-In supports social enterprise groups such as Tradeworks and has a host of beautiful wood work on hand in the store.  The Book Nook brings sustainable gardening to the forefront and celebrates a local diet.

Wild Coast Edibles features Edible Landscapes, and treats from around the province from teas, cedar smudge sticks, skin care products and jewelry from the First Nations and other communities in the north. 

Cedar smudge sticks are not always easy to find.  The are a great tool to add an element of nature to a wedding ceremony or handfasting. 

The Home Grow-In will be a welcome spot to visit when the weather improves with a garden oasis out back.  With custom roasted coffee and yummy baked goods this new store will be the place to come, pick up your locally grown veggies, and relax.  It is a link to where our food comes from and a celebration of the bounty we can find in BC. 

The Market is open 7 days a week and offers a wide selection of food, books and gift products.  It is a completely different business model and I  highly recommend a visit to check it out.

written by Shona Dion

photos by sweet earth photographics

Living a Green Lifestyle

 Since you’ve decided to have a green wedding, you’ve probably already decided to live a green lifestyle. You already buy local and choose products made from natural, sustainable, or organic material. You always say no to that icky plastic bag and find it thrilling to find locally-owned stores that provide unique, authentic and eco-friendly products and services.

Well, finding locally-owned stores that offer environmentally and socially conscious products and services just got a little easier! Enter ethicalDeal!

 ethicalDeal is an online group buying site that features daily deals from local, green businesses at 50% – 90% off. ethicalDeal’s mission is to make green mainstream by making it easy and fun for people to discover their green city! They love introducing you to the best green stuff that Vancouver has to offer, through their daily deals, and have already featured some amazing companies! Recent Vancouver Deals: 

 Love organic healthy food? ethicalDeal has already featured a number of restaurants at 50% off including Gorilla Food , Radha Eatery , and OrganicLives . 

 Looking for eco-friendly products for the home? Some of ethicalDeal’s  past deals include 50% off at Beansprouts, an eco-conscious Kids store on Main Street; 55% off at Ecoconvenience , an online store based in Vancouver that provides eco-friendly household items; and 60% off at Saje , a natural skin care and body products store. 

Want enjoy eco-guilt free luxury as a part of your wedding? Try an eco-friendly manicure/pedicure for $40 from She to Shic , pamper yourself with an eco spa package for only $55 from SpaKwus or go on an eco-friendly romantic get away or bachelorette party in Tofino at the Ocean Village Resort for only $99!

 Avoid missing out on any more amazing green deals by signing up to ethicalDeal  today!

Article by ethicalDeal.  ethicalDeal will be at The Grassroots Wedding Fair, February 12 with lots of great giveaways!