Stylish Garden Wedding

Anthony and Sarah were married on January 31, 2010 in Berkeley, California.

About the Couple:
Sarah and Anthony met while they were students attending the Art Institute of California in Santa Monica. Anthony works in film and Sarah is an artist. According to their photographer, Rebecca Wilkowski, Sarah and Anthony are “stylish, young, and fun, and with a great aesthetic as they are both artists…” In college, the couple had the same circle of friends, but somehow managed not to meet each other for three months. Then, late one night at the end of a party, Sarah showed up and Anthony was smitten. A week into dating, Anthony asked for her hand in marriage but she promptly said “no.” After 3 1/2 years of asking, Sarah finally said yes! They tied the knot on January 31, which is Sarah’s grandparents’ wedding anniversary. They thought it would be a nice tribute to them, as they have been happily married for more than fifty years.

The Decision to Go Green:
The couple’s shared love of nature led them to throw a gorgeous green wedding. Anthony loves to write, draw, and go camping. Sarah likes hiking, camping, riding horses, and all things outdoorsy. They invited a group of close friends to keep their wedding day small and simple, very in tune with the outdoors. Using their creativity and working with the gorgeous scenery of their venue, Anthony and Sarah incorporated their unique personal styles into their celebration.

Venue:
Before the wedding, the couple stayed at the Claremont Resort Hotel and Spa.  The ceremony took place at Tilden Park in the East Bay Regional Parks Botanic Garden, a naturally stunning and serene living museum of California’s native plant species. This garden encompasses many of the state’s rare and endangered plants and is a place for visitors to wander among trees, shrubbery, and flowers from different plant communities throughout the state. Sarah and Anthony had both always wanted to get married outside, and the gorgeous Botanical Garden seemed like the perfect place.

Rings:
Anthony and Sarah chose a green and meaningful option for their wedding rings—they exchanged vintage rings that had belonged to Anthony’s grandmother.  This idea is eco-friendly, and offers a way for the bride and groom to make a special connection to important family members.

Florist:
The couple decided to use a local, family-owned and operated florist, Darling Flower Shop, for their floral arrangements. The Darling Flower Shop came highly recommended and created the gorgeous succulent bouquets that Sarah wanted. The yellow flowers in the bouquet are wattles, Australia’s national flowers, which perfectly represent Sarah because she is from Sydney, Australia and yellow is her favorite color.

Reception Food:
Sarah and Anthony both love Italian food, and Oliveto, close to Oakland, CA is their favorite restaurant in the whole city for Italian cuisine. Sarah’s heritage is English and Italian, so it fit very well and was a natural choice for their reception dinner. The venue created a delicious menu of fresh, local and certified organic foods for the bride, groom, and their guests.

Table Linens and Decorations:
The couple rented their table linens and decorations, an option that is both budget and eco-friendly. The white tablecloths added to the simple, elegant look that Sarah and Anthony created.

Entertainment:
Instead of having a live band, Sarah and Anthony decided to use their iPod for music as a money-saving strategy. They made their own playlists and hand picked songs that were meaningful to their relationship, as well as their friends and family.

Cake:
Sarah and Anthony wanted an Alice in Wonderland type cake, unique and a little silly, similar to the Mad Hatter’s hat.  Fortunately, they had a close family friend who was willing to make the beautiful cake from scratch. This is a great way to save money and add a personal touch.

Final Thoughts:
The bride acknowledges that planning a wedding can be stressful at times, but it’s worth it.  Sarah says that she and Anthony realized this “the moment we saw each other right before the ceremony. In that instant, all the stress of the day melts away, and you remember why you love each other.”

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The Green Bride Guide (GBG) has everything you need to plan a green wedding! Here you can find pictures from real green weddings, articles and advice on eco-chic decor, and a wide range of green wedding gifts including: organic bedding, Recycled Glass Dishes, and eco-friendly appliances. GBG also has the largest green wedding directory in the country, to help you connect with local vendors.

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