Wisconsin Woman,

September 2008

by Jackie Bradley

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something….green

Planning a green weeding

Rising concerns for the environment are not only making people rethink their lifestyle, they are having an impact on wedding plans as well. Today, many couples are choosing to make their wedding an eco-friendly event.

The venue

Green comes in many different shades with a wide range of price points. All-in-one locations such as the Merry Farm of Gotham offer green wedding packages that can include the rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception and wedding night. One option at the Merry Farm includes a full-fledged weekend wedding beginning on Friday at 4 p. m. and ending on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Located on a secluded 470-acre farm between Spring Green and Richland Center, The Merry Farm of Gotham, owned by Henk Newenhouse and his wife, Linda Gentes, provides an ideal venue for a green wedding. “Our farm is very romantic setting for weddings,” says Newenhouse, who purchased the farm 42 years ago and went into the wedding business 12 years ago. “We have seven landscaped acres and Henk planted every tree. Our farm has just sprung up organically,” adds Gentes.

While the renovated barn boasts new oak floors, the original structure, including the beams and hay rail was retained. An attached new guest house reflecting the ambience of a Scandinavian vacation home features one large bedroom with a queen bed and full bath, a fully equipped kitchen and living room (can be converted to a bedroom) with a small bath. Intimate sites for the ceremony include a gazebo, a large patio, an area near a pond and a garden setting.

“Typically, couples arrive by motorcoach and they often sleep in tents including a ‘bridal suite’ tent,” explains Newenhouse. “For a green wedding, we don’t use any plastic,” says Gentes. “We provide white china and glassware, which we have collected over the years from many places such as Goodwill. Flowers from the farmers’ market are perfect for a green wedding, but we have so many flowers in our gardens, it’s really not necessary to buy more.” Other unique features offered at the Merry Farm of Gotham include a Native American fire ring for campfires and winter weddings set in Wisconsin’s winter wonderland.

The gown

Consider a used gown or one handmade from eco-friendly fabrics. Bridal gowns can be made from eco-conscious fabrics such as organic linen, or from recycled materials such as vintage laces.

Just for You in Verona is a formalwear consignment store filled almost entirely with green (as in used) gowns.

Wedding Stationary

“All of our stationary products are green and have been since we began this venture,” says Heather Raffel, owner of Sugar River Stationers in Verona. “We’ve used soy-based ink since a couple asked for it five years ago, and we’ve never gone back.” Raffel uses either 100 percent recycled or cotton paper. “We buy our wood-based paper stocks locally and direct from Wisconsin mills, saving money as well as a trip through a merchandiser. We also specify 100-percent cotton, which has been manufactured in a green process for more than 200 yeas and produced with reclaimed cotton, the same paper used for our currency.”

At Sarah B. Fine Stationary, located in Hilldale Shopping Center, “we focus heavily on green wedding invitations,” says owner Jan Corradini. “We carry a number of companies using recycled/reclaimed cotton invitations, and also have a line of stock for “make your own” invitations that is 30-to100-percent post-consumer recycled paper. We also carry a line of invitations, notes and wrap made from bamboo!”

Favors

As green weddings gain popularity, wedding favors are following suite, including eco-friendly items such as live tree seedlings or a strawberry kit in a gift bag made from recycled material. Josie Pradella, owner of TerraSource Gourmet Chocolates in Madison, creates eco-friendly and green products for life’s celebrations. Ideal for wedding favors, her handmade dark molded chocolates come in a small box made from wild flower seed embedded paper.

“The two-piece boxes offer an elegant favor as well as an opportunity to create a legacy by planting the box,” she says. “The dark chocolates, made in Carl’s Cakes kitchen, are ‘moo-free’, cutting down the ecological footprint.” Fillings are made from fruits grown locally while chocolate comes from Fair Trade Companies. “Each white-flecked box containing two chocolates is tied with raffia, and comes with instructions for planting the box,” she says.

Food

Pastry chef Jan Blochwitz of Monona Catering, the exclusive caterer for Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, offers green menus and environmentally sensitive catering. The facility hosted its first vegan wedding in May 2007.

At the Merry Farm of Gotham, Madison’s Underground Catering and Mazo Deli, located in Mazomanie, cater wedding dinners created from organic and locally grown products according to Newenhouse. “Organic is not necessarily inexpensive, but buying locally can help keep the cost down and it’s important to be sure the caterer fits the budget,” he advises.

Honeymoon

Liz Wessel, owner of Green Concierge Travel, specialized in eco-travel and eco-tourism. She encourages clients to discover natural and urban environments and to support local and environmentally friendly businesses. “For a honeymoon, I’m encouraging people to go back and rethink the dude ranch experience. It’s a classic North American experience and usually all-inclusive, says Wessell. Many lodges have well-appointed rooms and some offer an entire culinary cooking experience from harvest to preparation. “Many ranches can be reached by train, offering an opportunity to view our gorgeous country.”

“I include riverboat trips as part of eco-travel because I believe in knowing and supporting the culture of the U.S. and riverboats are part of history, “ says Wessel. “Heart in the Heartland, a honeymoon itinerary, includes Amtrak fare from Chicago to New Orleans, three nights a week at the romantic Soniat House (including breakfast and one dinner), a seven-night all-inclusive cruise on the American Queen from New Orleans to Memphis and Amtrak fare from Memphis to Chicago.

With many local businesses offering eco-friendly options, it’s easy to make your wedding green. “A green wedding is unusual in a nice way, “ ays Newenhouse. “It’s not a country club, but rather, a quiet country wedding.”

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Jackie Bradley is a Madison-based freelance writer.