Our dear friends Claire and Justin recently tied the knot and I was so thrilled that they let Blooming Branch play a role in their wonderful wedding. As Claire and Justin both work for a winery, they had the honor of being able to hold their reception at the vineyard (a special gift reserved for only employees).

The weekend forecast was calling for rain all weekend so we were thrilled that we were able to get in the outdoor ceremony and get almost through the entire reception before our luck shifted. The severe thunderstorm was certainly an uninvited guest but ended up being a memorable moment for all. The bride loves storms and the party continued on in a nearby shelter with plenty of bottles of wine!

Claire and Justin chose our friends the Juniper Spoon to cater their big day and a local, grass fed hog was donated by a friend of the groom and the rest of the fare was local and organic and had a festive tropical note. All beer and wine at the reception were from the local winery and brewery and were mighty tasty. All table wares were rented and reused (those that didnt blow away in the storm-seriously!) and all bottles and cans were recycled. Biodegradable trash bags were used and food scraps were composted.

The Hunter Graham was an eco reception in a surreal setting and Blooming Branch was honored to plan such a green event in such an unbelievable setting!

There’s No Place Like Home – Local is the hot word for sustainable weddings in 2010. From venues to menus, couples are making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and cut their budgets by keeping celebrations “all in the neighborhood”. Backyard weddings are helping guests cut back on travel, and caterers are responding to clients’ demands for more locally produced food. Even wedding favors and decorations will be sought out from local artisans and shops. (Central Indiana is filled with amazing vendors, utilize some of your favorites to personalize your wedding!)

Alterna-florals – The hippest weddings are in full bloom with flower alternatives like sustainable succulents and DIY paper flowers. Conventional cut flowers are expensive, plus they’re grown with pesticides and have a huge carbon footprint, so couples are seeking alternative ways to decorate. Many will eschew the floral look altogether by using soy candles, fruit, and found objects for table centerpieces and bouquets. (If you must have flowers, consider buying them at the farmers market or from sustainable flower farms like Harvest Moon Flower Farm)

Not-So-Mellow Yellow

– The hottest color of 2010 is also the warmest. Sunshine-y yellow pairs beautifully with cobalt blue and violet for an electrifying palette that’s bright and bold. Or combine pale yellows with white, ivory, and fresh green tones for a sunny and natural color theme. Many succulents bear yellow blossoms, making this cheerful color an easy choice for sustainable bouquets and centerpieces.(so fun, so fresh!)

The Times Are A-Changing – Saturday night weddings aren’t the only game in town. Brides and grooms are scheduling their nuptials on weeknights, Sundays, and even early mornings in 2010. It’s less expensive to book  a venue or caterer on “off days”, and as telecommuting becomes more popular, guests are gaining flexibility in their schedules. Weddings we’ll see this year will include sunrise affairs followed by romantic brunches, and chic mid-week dinner parties. (be creative, save some money!)

Bright Bridal Shoes – Forget the white and ivory satin slippers and “dyeable” sandals of wedding days gone by. Bridal shoes in bright and bold hues like fuschia, emerald green and electric blue are hot hot hot in 2010. Colored shoes are a chic and stylish surprise under a white wedding gown, plus they’re more versatile than white satin and can be worn again with a little black dress. (think reuse!)

Flexible Registries – The registry has been reinvented by sites like the AlternativeGiftRegistry.org, and this year we’ll see many brides and grooms skipping the Stepford registries in favor of more flexible options. More couples will opt for “open” online registries where they can request everything from charitable donations to eco-friendly housewares to cash for a down payment on a home. (honeymoon registries are also an amazing idea, who wouldn’t want a free vacation! Send us Off even has some eco friendly travel options)

Unexpected Seating – At both receptions and ceremonies, seating arrangements are being switched up. Think scattered chairs and benches for ceremonies, and long communal tables, clustered couches, and bar tables with stools for receptions. No more will the family and friends of the bride and groom be kept apart by rigid seating assignments at separate tables. This year’s seating arrangements will encourage guests to mix, mingle, dine and dance. (fun!)

Something Old, Something New – The hottest sustainable trend for 2010 (and our personal favorite, of course!) is incorporating recycled elements like gently used wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses, pre-owned wedding decorations, and vintage bridal jewelry into weddings. Sites like RecycledBride.com connect buyers and sellers for free, so they can reduce their wedding budgets and their carbon footprints. More and more brides are joining the wedding resale revolution, discovering how easy it is to save money and be a little greener by buying and selling their gently used wedding items. (brilliant!)

So this year instead of making drastic changes for one day only, Blooming Branch challenges you to join us in incorporating as many environmentally beneficial aspects into your world to make our world a better place for everyone!!!!

Ps: Join us in celebrating with some local beer or wine in a toast to your green self!

A sort of eco ebay for brides to be. Recycled Bride is a free listing service that connects buyers and sellers of all things wedding-related. There are twelve different categories from dresses to table decor and brides can browse to find tousands of recycled items at half the cost!

Blooming Branch is also excited to be listed in the Green Wedding Directory. Here brides can find green vendors, tips, pictures, and stories from around the country or your neck of the woods.

And if all these details and ideas have you bogged down, Blooming Branch Green Events will happily help you plan your dream green wedding!

This summer is shaping up to be a bit of a busy one, but there is still plenty of time to book your green wedding, event, or miscellaneous festivities.

Blooming Branch is happy to work with any budget or event big or small to help reduce your events environmental impact. Whether you need someone to plan the whole event, give you green event advice or just provide recycling services. Give us a call and let Blooming Branch show you how to green up your event!

While we wont be able to show you the article in its entirety (you will have to grab your own copy for that) here is a little sneak peak. Indy South can be obtained at south side Barnes & Noble, Borders, Kroger, or Marsh stores, grab your copy today!

This past Tuesday, January 26th was Conservation Day at the Indiana Statehouse. Blooming Branch worked with the folks at the Nature Conservancy to plan a Green Dessert Reception for legislators,interested community members and the like.
Our friends at the Juniper Spoon worked with Blooming Branch to make this the most local and sustainable Conservation Day yet! The menu was oh so local with fun items such as paw paw cookies, mini Indiana apple pies  all topped off with some Traders Point Creamery milk. The food was amazing (of course) and Blooming Branch worked with Juniper Spoon to ensure the following green commitments:

Composting of all non-meat food scraps

Recycled all recyclable materials

Thanks Juniper Spoon and the Nature Conservancy. Cant wait to work with these outstanding folks again soon!

Blooming Branch Green Events loves the state of Indiana. As avid environmentalists, we will do anything in our reach to help preserve and protect the great natural places in this state. That’s why we are thrilled to tell you about our upcoming event on Tuesday, January 26th.

Blooming Branch has the distinct privilege of working with the folks at The Nature Conservancy and the Indiana Conservation Alliance to plan the 6th annual Conservation Day at the Indiana State House. Our friends from The Juniper Spoon will be there as well to treat everyone to an organic and local dessert reception in the Statehouse Rotunda.

Conservation Day is an incredible opportunity to show our elected officials that Hoosiers care about protecting our precious natural resources and preserving our environment. Not only is there a chance to engage legislators in matters that mean the most to us, but we’ll also have the chance to learn more about conservation organizations throughout the state.

Remember, the more people that attend Conservation Day, the bigger the impact. Carpool with co-workers, friends and family or take a brisk walk to the statehouse, and help make a difference!

When: Tuesday, January 26th 2010

Schedule:
Conservation Priorities Discussion – 9:30 am – Indiana Gov’t Center South
Legislative Reception – 12:30 pm – Statehouse North Atrium

Registration/Fee:
Event is free to the public. Registration is required and can be completed online by clicking here.

We at Blooming Branch love the holidays, all holidays for that matter. Any excuse to celebrate and have a party is a good excuse to have a GREEN party. This year as you and yours gather round the holiday spread, why not do so in an earth friendly way. We are recycling some of our favorite holiday tips from last year and adding some news ones as well (we liked them so well, we thought we would share them again!)

*Dont go overboard on decorations and trimmings that cant be reused again and again.

*Decorate with natural items that can then be composted post holidays or tossed back out into your backyard or the local forest (ie: cranberry and popcorn garland, pine cones, pine tree branches, etc)

*Challenge yourself to a green tree decorating contest using items from your recycling bin to create ornaments, etc. This year Blooming Branch is reusing the aluminum from soda cans for all ornament making purposes.

*Instead of sending friends and familiy Christmas Cards, send Christmas emails or better yet, pick up the phone. It doesnt cost anything and wastes no paper. Every year 2.65 billion holiday cards are sold in the U.S. That’s enough to fill a football stadium ten stories high.

*Wrap all your gifts in reusable or recyled packaging. My favorite is newspaper, but pretty linens and even reused wrapping paper work great! Check with your recycling company, most non foil wrapping papers are recylcable (dont forget gift bags are not recylable, but are reusable).

*Buy your gifts locally! Support your amazing local businesses, reduce CO2 emissions and support your local economy! Challenge yourself to spend at least 10% (if not more) in your local economy. Buying local is the best way to help the economy and the environment while coming up with some fantastic finds.

*Have a holiday party with friends and family using only local, in season and organic food, wine and beer. Central Indiana has all sorts of great wineries, breweries and local foods. Make these the focus at your holiday party this year

And remember, its never to late to call in reinforcements. Blooming Branch would love to help plan your holiday party!

Cheers to you all!

Blooming Branch