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Environment friendly ceremony

What constitutes a eco-wedding/ceremony?

The core of being eco-friendly is to do what you can to eliminate waste and spread a positive message. A big part of that is in exposure and teaching. When it comes to the environment, Marin is the place! Full of eco-friendly restaurants, services, and farming, it's easy to do your special day "earth friendly".  There are tons of great non-profit preserves that are situated on some of the most beautiful locations on the planet.  Why not support these beautiful sites and create a experience of a lifetime? Or, you can cut costs (a very eco-friendly thing to do) by getting married in any one of Marins famous parks that always offer unparrellel beauty along with unique & extroidinary views.  Of course, having that special ceremony at one of Marin's farms could be exciting and pro environment statement for that special day.  Wow!

Being eco-friendly is definately something to consider!

Looking up from inbetween a Redwood fair ring, Cascade falls, Mill Valley.

Besides the location, there are plenty of natural choices to make, in order to be truly ecologically friendly. 

The following are things one should consider if wanting to limit their environmental footprint:

1.    Location:  Choose a location where the majority of your guests won’t have to travel too far.  They will appreciate this with the rising price of gas and airline tickets.   Also make sure that the location you choose has recycling and compost systems in place.  If they don’t, then maybe you can suggest they start one for your wedding.

2.    Invitations:  Many brides and grooms are going paperless.  Create a simple website and an inline invitation.  Still feel the need for a paper invite?  Then choose paper that is labeled post-consumer.  

3.    Caterer:  Go organic!  Chooses a caterer that uses in season, local and organic ingredients.

4.    Clothing:  These days “Eco” doesn’t have to be frumpy.  There are lots of amazing designers using eco-fabrics for both men and women.  You can be “eco” and still have the dress you always dreamed of!  Consider antique stores or used top of the line  2nd generation clothing.  Materials made in the USA and organically produced can be found.

5.    Flowers:  What’s a wedding without flowers?  Choose a local florist who can provide you with organic and in season flowers, locally produced.

6.    Gifts:  Think about whether or not you really need a gift registry and if you do, how about a green gift registry.  Or better yet, have your guests make you something special instead of purchased gifts or make the gift giving optional.

7.    The Rings:  There are many options now available for recycled and fair trade jewelry that you can choose from.   Be “eco” and stylish!

 

Luckily, this is Marin, and the choices are larger then most places in the world.  The Bay Area is home to plenty of organic  possibilities.  West Marin is well known for eco-friendly agriculture and some great Pinot Noir Wine..  Berkley is known for it's organic and natural restaurants.  Marin itself, has plenty of organic and natural choices in farms, wines and cheeses, as well as restaurants.  So, the choice is yours in Marin.

 

Some great Marin resources:

(list is expanding weekly)

Printing:

City Spirit Design Studios:  Eco-friendly printing using high quality recycled paper & soy based ink.  Small and large orders accepted.  Invitations, Staionery, Postcards, etc...  Includes website building & hosting alongwith Graphic design and writing services.

  • Phone: 415-488-8160

Catering:

Cafe Gratitude:  Offering beautiful buffets, plated table service, and hor d'oeuvres. Our food is organic and is largely sourced from local merchants and farmers.  Great desserts as well!

  • Phone: 415-578-4928
    Fax: 415.259.0390
  • Address: 2200 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA. 94901
  • Website: www.organiccatering.com

Good Earth Natural Foods:  Offers organic catering for up to 100 persons. 

  • Phone: 415-454-0123
  • Address:  63 Broadway Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930

Back to Earth Organic Catering:  Organic, local, seasonal food from Bay Area farms.  Caters to all sorts of events including weddings, private parties, and fundraisers.

Donna's Tamales:  Organic.  Get a small amound of produce locally and use Straus cheeses for their product.  They can work out arrangements for bulk purchasing.

  • Phone: (415) 388-3274

 

Desserts:

Fairfax Scoop:  Great home-made, organic, Fresh Ice Cream!  This place focuses on sustainable evaporated cane juice as a sweetener, when possible, and local, organic ingredients. Strauss ice cream mix is the base for the ice creams.  A special local favorite is "Honey Vanilla Lavender"!  Call ahead if you want to make a special order.

  • Phone: (415) 453-313

dee's minim Organic Doughnuts:  Organic donuts in Marin! Hand dipped and thoughtfully sourced fresh and certified organic ingredients!  Free of chemical preservatives, hydrogenated oils, trans fat, colorings and artificial flavors.  Fun and healthy!

 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates:  Organic & Fair Trade Chocolates, Petaluma. 

  • Phone: 707-775-2432

 

Fairfax Scoop

 

Breads, Oils, Cheese & Meats:

Judy's Breadsticks:  Organic bread.

Drewes Brothers Meats:  Free-Range Meats, Organic Poultry & Fish, San Francisco. 

McEvoy Ranch:  The olives are grown, harvested, milled and blended on the premises. The ranch includes an Italian olive oil mill, retail store, a two-acre organic garden, and a 42 foot high pavilion, reminiscent of a Chinese pagoda.

Drakes Bay Oyster Farm West Marin, Tomales Bay: Great!!!! Beautiful!!!

 

Hog Island Oyster Company

  • Some of the best oysters in the west can be found at the Hog Island
    Oyster Company in Marshall. The company, founded and operated by marine
    biologists, grows and sells more than three million oysters each year.
    The unique natural conditions around Hog Island in Tomales Bay produce
    crisp, juicy, sea-sweet oysters. Hog Island Oyster Company is a working
    farm.


Tomales Bay Oyster Company

  • California’s oldest continuously-run shellfish farm is the Tomales Bay
    Oyster Company.
    Located at 15479 Highway One, Marshall.
Drakes Bay Grass Fed Beef:  Certified grass raised beef & beef products.  Raised in the heart Pt. Reyes Nat'l Seashore.
Cuisine Perel (http://www.cuisineperel.com/)
-specializes in condiments. Not ketchup and pickle relish, but infused oils, dipping sauces, pourable chocolate sauces.... Marin French Cheese Company is located just on the Marin-Sonoma border.
  • Phone: (707) 762-6001)
  • Located in Point Reyes Station, acts as a distributor for many artisanal cheese producers. They have a mix of cow, sheep and goat cheese. For those who love the latter, try the Humboldt Fog, a semi-firm chevre with a layer of ash in the middle.
  • Phone:  (415) 663-9335.

  • Address: 80 4th Street, just off Hwy 1.
  • Website:http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/cheeses.asp
  • Website: www.pointreyescheese.com
  • Phone:  (800) 591-6878
  • Address: 14700 Hwy 1, Point Reyes Station, Pt. Reyes, California.
Vintners:
  • Pacheco Ranch Winery:
    • The whole family, including head winemaker, Jamie Meves, oversees the Pacheco Ranch winemaking process. Meves has 25 years experience and is an award winning winemaker and graduate of the University of California at Davis Fermentation Science program. The winery annually produces around 800 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. 415.883.5583
  • Pey Marin Vineyards
    • Proprietors Jonathan and Susan Pey produce their Marin-grown wines under two labels: Pey-Marin Vineyards (Pinot Noir and Riesling) and Mount Tamalpais Vineyards (Merlot and Vin Gris). 415.455.9463
    • This family owned and operated winery offers an inn and a tasting room featuring Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. 12700 Highway One (Point Reyes Station). 415.663.1011
  • Ross Valley Winery
    • Paul Kreider’s winery, which started 20 years ago in a garage, now occupies a prime space in downtown San Anselmo. Each year the neighborhood is invited to help pick grapes and take part in the bottling of the wineries Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Red Blend, Montepulciano, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel-Port, Chardonnay-Port and Walnut-Port. 415.457.5157
    • Website: http://www.rossvalleywinery.com
  • Bacchus&Venus - http://www.bacchusandvenus.com (415) 331-2001
    • Experience California Wine Country in the heart of charming downtown Sausalito with a view of the Bay. Taste wines from Napa, Sonoma, and the best California appellations. Learn how the wines are made, the difference between different wines, vineyards, and styles. Wine classes and private parties in our art gallery. Wine and gifts can be shipped to all 50 states
Jewelry:

Marin Jewelers Guild:  A cooperative of local artists.  Jewelry is hand fabricating from silver, copper, gold and bronze. The metalwork is textured with hammered, stamped, reticulated and roller printed surfaces.

  • Phone: 415-454-2711
  • Address: 1331 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901