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10 Tips for an Elegant Green Wedding in Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara has long been a popular destination for brides seeking a sunny, gorgeous location for weddings. Until now, it has not been considered a green wedding destination. Santa Barbara’s first sustainable wedding and event planner, Merryl Brown Events, has changed that. With Merryl’s assistance and ideas, brides can now create the eco-friendly wedding of their dreams. Here are ten tips for creating a magical wedding in Santa Barbara, CA and the surrounding areas:

1. Choose a venue that has existing environmentally friendly practices. Some of the finest local hotels have incorporated sustainable practices:

-The Four Seasons Biltmore Resort

-The Ojai Valley Inn and Spa

-Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort

-San Ysidro Ranch

There are many other non-resort venues to choose from as well. Many people choose to have their weddings on one of the numerous scenic beaches Santa Barbara offers. Organic farms, historic estates and beautiful gardens abound throughout Santa Barbara County.

2. Hire a caterer who uses local, Organic Produce and humanely sourced meats. There are many excellent caterers to choose from in Santa Barbara. With our superb farmers’ markets, and year-round availability of fresh produce, there is no reason to serve anything that is not seasonal and local.

3. Go paperless! http://www.paperlesspost.com is a lovely way to send paperless formal wedding invitations. These are eco-friendly, sophisticated, and you can personalize them in endless ways. If you love the touch and feel of a real invitation, there are several talented graphic artists in town that will create a unique invitation for your wedding. Be sure to print on 100% recycled content paper that is processed chlorine free using vegetable based inks.

4. Use a florist that sources flowers locally (and ideally organically). Santa Barbara offers many exceptional florists who understand that some brides do not want to add to carbon emissions by having their flowers flown in from half way around the world! One great local florist that will work with you to create gorgeous eco-friendly arrangements is SR Hogue and Co. They are very talented and their creative floral designers are a lot of fun to work with. They have been in this business for a long time and they have superb taste. http://www.srhogue.com

5. Source your party favors locally. I love to use local favors for the weddings that I plan, such as local honey, olive oil, dried lavender bundles and oils from the farmers’ market, locally made soaps and bees wax candles, and jars of organic fruit jams and jellies. All of these earth friendly things, and more, can be found at the Saturday Santa Barbara Farmers’ Market.

6. A unique choice for bridesmaids gifts are locally crafted necklaces made of interesting beads and stones by Montecito jewelry designer Samantha Goldstone. No need to ship your gifts from far away when such lovely options are so readily available. http://www.adessoshop.com

7. To cut down on transportation emissions, choose to have your wedding ceremony at the same venue as your reception.

8. Use a wedding cake baker that can produce a delicious, organic or vegan cake. A talented local baker is Katie Scott, of Montecito Confections, who bakes the most amazing cakes and will use organic ingredients or make vegan cakes upon request. Her options are endless; she has made many incredible cakes of all shapes and sizes. You will love her designs and the taste of what she creates. http://www.montecitoconfections.com

9. Instead of registering for gifts, consider asking your guests to support a charity whose work resonates with your values. This is a great way to practice social responsibility!

10. Regardless of the choices that you may make from the suggestions above, the most important thing you can do to create a greener event is to limit the size of your guest list. The more people you invite will lead to more people traveling, requiring a larger venue. The food bill will be higher, and more waste will be generated. Less guests equals less cost to you and the planet.

About the Author

Merryl Brown is the President of Merryl Brown Events, a Santa Barbara based wedding and event planning company specializing in elegant, classic events created within a framework of environmental and social responsibility. Elegance with intelligence™ is our motto!

www.merrylbrownevents.com

The Farmer’s Wife Lavender Jelly 8 Oz. $6.99 Tina Krehe, also known as The Farmers Wife, is a fourth generation farmer’s wife, born and raised in Northern California. She and her husband’s family grow rice, walnuts, and prunes. In 2005, The Farmer’s Wife became lavender grower and has been adding various lavender items to her product line ever since! This delicious sweet slightly savory jelly is made using the The Farmer’s Wifes Lavander. …

Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic $138.00 …

Favorite Farmers Market Recipes Great tasting recipes for Fruits and Veggies that can be found at Farmers Markets. Tasty food dishes that are a treat to eat. Made from fresh goodies such as, Apples, Beets, and Cabbage to Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Zucchini, and other vegetables and fruits that you can find at a Farmers Market….

Fresh from the Farmers’ Market: Year-Round Recipes for the Pick of the Crop $15.99 Offering quality and prices that can’t be beat, and emphasizing the enduring value of small local farms, farmers’ markets are popping up all over the country. Acclaimed food writer Janet Fletcher and photographer Victoria Pearson bring the freshness and flavor of peak produce to the kitchen with Fresh from the Farmers’ Market. The more than eighty easy and delicious recipes included here — many …

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It’s Not About the Money…It’s About Being the Best You Can Be! $7.18 Whether you are just getting started or a veteran in the business, this is the step-by-step handbook for seeking excellence in your profession and in your life….

Farmer’s Daughter $169 Farmer’s Daughter > LAX > 115 S Fairfax Ave > Los Angeles > CA > 90036>Location. The Farmer’s Daughter in Los Angeles, Calif., is located across the street from the Farmer’s Market, The Grove and CBS Studios. Located two blocks from the property are the shops and restaurants of 3rd Street, the La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This distinctively designed hotel sits less that one mile from Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. Hotel Features. The lobby features pastoral wooden benches, rural themed artwork and wrought iron décor. The hotel’s restaurant, Tart, features American style cuisine with menu items consisting of Parmesan Crusted Chicken Mediterranean salad, Tomato Caper Pasta and Slow Braised Pork. The hotel showcases an courtyard with a seasonal outdoor pool. Farmer’s Daughter hotel amenities include conference rooms, business services and complimentary wireless Internet access. Pets are welcome at this hotel.Guestrooms. The 66 guestrooms of the Farmer’s Daughter hotel are comfortably arranged with rural furniture ensembles and unique aesthetic details such as trellis headboards, denim duvets, and distressed hardwood floors. Beds offer hypoallergenic down comforters, hypoallergenic holofil pillows and custom mattresses. In contrast to the rural interior design that permeates this hotel, the guestrooms include modern amenities such as satellite television, DVD players, CD players and high speed wired and wireless Internet access. Coffeemakers and refrigerators are included. Suites feature kitchenettes and sitting areas. Expert Tip. The Farmer’s Daughter is across the street from popular tourist destinations such as CBS Studios, Farmer’s Market and The Grove, allowing guests to bypass parking and travel fees to these attractions.>The closest major airports to Farmer’s Daughter are:Burbank, CA (BUR Bob Hope) 13.6 km / 8.5 miLos Angeles, CA (LAX Los Angeles Intl.) 15 km / 9.3 miThe preferred airport for Farmer’s Daughter is Los Angeles, CA (LAX Los Angeles Intl.). Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property’s location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance. Distances are displayed to the nearest 0. 1 mile and kilometre.

Farmer’s Market Lemons Yellow $8.98 This Farmer’s Market novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics. Create a fun novelty quilt or use in craft projects. Colors include shades of yellow with green.

Farmer’s Market Oranges Orange $8.98 ‘This Farmer’s Market novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics. Create a fun novelty quilt or use in craft projects. Colors include shades of orange.

Farmer’s Market Banana Yellow $8.98 This Farmer’s Market novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics. Create a fun novelty quilt or use in craft projects. Colors include shades of yellow.

Farmer’s Market Tomato Red $8.98 This Farmer’s Market novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics. Create a fun novelty quilt or use in craft projects. Colors include shades of tomato red with green stems.

Farmer’s Daughter Hotel, Los Angeles,CA,United States $186.58 Hotel property Farmer’s Daughter Hotel, 3 Star, 115 South Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, CA, United States

Farmer’s Market Red Chill Peppers Red $8.98 This Farmer’s Market novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics. Create a fun novelty quilt or use in craft projects. Colors include shades of orange and red with green stems.

Farmer’s Market Carrots Orange $8.98 Designed for RJR Fabrics, this novelty fabric features an allover design of freshly picked carrots. The color palette includes shades of orange and green. Use for quilting and craft projects.

Waverly Farmer’s Market Plum $15.98 Screen printed on cotton duck this medium weight fabric is very versatile. This fabric is perfect for window treatments (draperies, valances, curtains, and swags), bed skirts, duvet covers, pillow shams, accent pillows, tote bags, aprons, slipcovers and upholstery. Colors include ivory and chartreuse on a taupey tan background.

Farmer’s Market Peppers Multi $8.98 This novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics and the color palette is shades of red, green, gold and yellow. Use for quilting and craft projects.

Farmer’s Market Potatoes Brown $8.98 Designed for RJR Fabrics, this novelty fabric features an allover design of baking potatoes in shades of tan and brown. Use for quilting and craft projects.

Waverly Farmer’s Market Citrus $15.98 Screen printed on cotton duck this medium weight fabric is very versatile. This fabric is perfect for window treatments (draperies, valances, curtains, and swags), bed skirts, duvet covers, pillow shams, accent pillows, tote bags, aprons, slipcovers and upholstery. Colors include ivory, orange and pink on a yellow background.

Farmer’s Market Bread Brown $8.98 This novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics and the color palette is shades of brown. Use for quilting and craft projects.

Farmer’s Market Blueberry $8.98 This novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics and the color palette is shades of blue. Use for a fun novelty quilt or craft project.

Farmer’s Market Apples Green $8.98 This novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics and the color palette is shades of green. Use for quilting and craft projects.

Farmer`s Market 2013 Calendar (Calendar) $20.19 Perfect for the kitchen, home, or office, Farmer`s Market 2013 Wall Calendar will inspire any foodie, gardener, or gourmand with John Burgoyne`s exquisitely rendered and hand-colored prints. Each month features beautifully drawn examples of seasonal produce, including springtime aromatics, summer` s heirloom tomatoes, fall`s earthy mushrooms, and knobby winter squash. * Burgoyne`s gorgeously detailed works, instantly recognizable to the millions who have admired his illustrations for Cook`s Illustrated and America`s Test Kitchen, combine the precision of a botanical illustration with the passion of a fine painting. * Each print showcases the wondrous beauty and variety found in the seasons` bounty of fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Farmer’s Market French Fries Yellow $8.98 This novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics and the color palette is shades of yellow and brown. Use for quilting and craft projects.

Farmer’s Market Garlic Bulbs White $8.98 This novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics and the color palette is white, ivory and brown. Use for a fun novelty quilt or craft project.

Farmer’s Market Red Potatoes Red $8.98 This novelty fabric is from RJR Fabrics and the color palette is shades of red. Use for a fun novelty quilt or craft project.

Waverly Farmer’s Market Blue Jay $15.98 Screen printed on cotton duck this medium weight fabric is very versatile. This fabric is perfect for window treatments (draperies, valances, curtains, and swags), bed skirts, duvet covers, pillow shams, accent pillows, tote bags, aprons, slipcovers and upholstery. Colors include ivory, yellow and blue on a medium blue background.

The New Farmer`s Market (Paperback) $35.87 As concerned citizens recognize that the vibrancy of urban centers goes hand-in-hand with the vitality of the surrounding rural areas, a farmers` market renaissance is beginning throughout the country. Helping to increase local market success for both farmers and customers, this book serves as a three-part guide to marketing, being a resource for farmers or market gardeners selling their produce at farmers’ markets; for city planners or market managers in starting and building a market; and for community activists and city planners trying to foster appreciation for farmland while reinvigorating economic and social vitality in urban areas. Appendices cover insurance, customer surveys, farmers’ market profitability, and benefits of farmers’ markets.