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Say “i do” to a greener Planet<br />
ThE drESS<br />
Every bride has a vision of her dream<br />
gown, and chances are it’s not handwoven,<br />
fair trade hemp. However, there<br />
are plenty of options that don’t involve<br />
a giant meringue of synthetic fibres.<br />
You can pick up a pre-loved gown at<br />
a bridal swap or through the website<br />
Smart Bride Boutique. (www.<br />
smartbrideboutique.com) Or choose a<br />
gorgeous gown from a vintage shop,<br />
which is also a great place for the groom<br />
to find a stylish retro suit or tux.<br />
Even better, have your gown and<br />
bridesmaids’ frocks made by a local<br />
designer who uses organic, ethically<br />
sourced fabrics, such as Vancouver’s Pure<br />
Magnolia or Caroline Calvert.<br />
ThE vENuE<br />
More and more venues are going green,<br />
such as Summerhill Pyramid Winery<br />
in Kelowna, which boasts 80 acres of<br />
certified organic vineyard. “You get<br />
a green wedding here,” says Emily<br />
Vanderschee, the winery’s director of<br />
catering and events. “That’s all we do.”<br />
Even if you can’t find a 100 percent<br />
organic venue like this, you can still<br />
choose one that is trying to be more<br />
environmentally sensitive by recycling,<br />
using efficient energy sources and serving<br />
sustainable menu items.<br />
In addition, hold your ceremony and<br />
reception in the same place, so you’re<br />
not wasting energy driving back and<br />
forth. And consider how you’re going<br />
to get your guests to the venue in the<br />
first place. If they’re flying in from out<br />
of town, you can purchase carbon offsets<br />
102 www.bcliquorstores.com<br />
to compensate for the fuel their flights<br />
consume. “It’s a way to support getting<br />
more green energy,” Coulter says. “It’s<br />
not a permission to pollute.”<br />
And keep those offsets in mind for<br />
the honeymoon too.<br />
ThE mENu<br />
It can be challenging to get sustainable<br />
food in large enough quantities for events<br />
like weddings. “Organic suppliers would<br />
laugh when we told them how much<br />
we needed,” says Vanderschee, noting<br />
that it took Summerhill years to create a<br />
completely organic catering menu. “It’s<br />
a cost issue and it’s a supply issue.” But<br />
that is changing rapidly, with even big<br />
food suppliers offering green options.<br />
If you can’t manage an all-organic<br />
menu, look for sustainable options such as<br />
Ocean Wise, free range or run, local and<br />
seasonal foods, as well as organic wine,<br />
beer and spirits from local producers. Not<br />
only will you get a product that’s better for<br />
the planet, it will likely taste better too.<br />
ThE floWErS<br />
Flowers are pretty, but the chemicals<br />
often used to grow them aren’t. Neither<br />
is the fuel it takes to import them. There<br />
are florists that sell locally grown flowers.<br />
From them you can choose blooms that<br />
are in season and, if possible, organically<br />
grown. Or skip the cut flowers altogether<br />
and use potted plants or tree branches<br />
for decor and bouquets. Olla Urban<br />
Flower Project on the edge of Gastown<br />
in Vancouver is one such florist, offering<br />
wedding flower arrangement options that<br />
are live, local or ethically grown. (www.<br />
ollaflowers.com)<br />
doMainE jEan<br />
BouSquEt organiC<br />
MalBEC<br />
Argentina $15.99 807263<br />
This velvety organic<br />
wine from Argentina’s<br />
mendoza region is<br />
bursting with lush dark<br />
fruit, including black<br />
plum, blackberry and<br />
dark cherry fruits. A<br />
peppery note keeps it<br />
lively on the palate.<br />
SuMMErHill CipES<br />
vintagE Brut<br />
Bc vQA $28.95 97295<br />
This brut from the<br />
kelowna-based Summerhill<br />
Pyramid Winery is crisp<br />
and fresh with green apple<br />
notes and just a hint of<br />
toast. Summerhill wines<br />
are aged in a custom built<br />
onsite pyramind.<br />
BanroCK Station<br />
SparKling CHardonnay<br />
Australia $13.99 534974<br />
Australia’s favourite big-value<br />
bubble is fresh and fruity,<br />
with buttery notes of apple<br />
and vanilla. A portion from<br />
the sale of each bottle goes<br />
to protect wetlands around<br />
the world.