Invitations
Nik and Kristy picked 100% recycled paper and soy-based ink. 

Design from pancakeandfranks.com
Email save-the-date designed by Kristy with clip-art image.

Venue
Hakone, a beautiful Japanese garden, is not too far from Palo Alto, so not much gasoline was used for the trip. The outdoor venue required minimal decoration.

Attire
Both bridal dress and groom's suit were purchased with reusability in mind, as were the bridesmaids' dresses and the groomsmen's ties. During the past month the bride and three bridesmaids have already worn their dresses for other events.

Food
Rising Sun Catering and all CoolEatz restaurants serve sustainable food from local farms employing organic growing methods. The fish was wild Pacific sea bass which is not one of the endangered or overfished species. Monterey Bay Aquarium/Seafoodwatch

Wine
Using organic California instead of imported French wines reduces emissions and fuel use. CoolEatz restaurants serve organic and bio-dynamic wines. While writing this article I found the the best explanation on the Frey Vineyards Web site: "Organic and Biodynamic® methods of food production seek to minimize damage to ecosystems and create a stable agriculture into perpetuity." Learn more at Frey Vineyards.

Watch out
Unfortunately, we found out later that our red wine choice was not completely biodynamic. This particular winery offers only the most expensive wines under the biodynamic label. Our less expensive choice was mixed with grapes from other growers. One employee told us, " We encourage the other grape growers to use our method," so our search for red wine continued.

Beer and Beverages: Beer from the tap saves bottles and caps and reduces shipping impacts. Freshly made juices were also served in pitchers instead of cans and bottles. Coffee was Fair-Trade certified and organic.

Cake
Tartine provided the dessert buffet. The pastries were made with organic flour, sugar, and locally produced eggs. Sterntaler baked the cake with organic flour for the rehearsal afternoon.

Flowers
Perfect Petals provided mostly organic and non-sprayed flowers. Most of the flowers were reused for boutonnieres and the bridal and bridesmaids' bouquets.

Decorations
Wheat grass, mushrooms, radishes and onions were all organic. Centerpieces went home with the guests to be re-used as favors.

Picnic
J Z Cool provided an organic picnic. Salads and sandwiches were offered on bamboo platters, and the use of individual boxes and wrapping paper thus avoided. The plates and plasticware were made of potato starch (spudware), and the paper products made from recycled paper.

Transportation
Guests were encouraged to carpool to the wedding and rent a hybrid. A bus transported us to the picnic in San Francisco to save gasoline, and it was more fun traveling together. Travel emissions were offset at atmosclear.com

Rings
Kristy and Nik used the same titanium ring for their engagement and wedding ring in place of multiple rings made with gold or a diamond.

Other
Digital photography saves chemicals and paper; charitable donations in place of a registry minimized consumption; china was used at reception; all waste was recycled, composted, or fed to pigs.