Photo credits: @ctopaziophotography
Think About It….
You’ve been dreaming of this moment forever and now it’s here. You want it to be special and reflect your personality and that means something different to each one of our couples.
We absolutely love what we do! Josias River Farm keeps us connected to the land, which we have made our living from over most of our adult lives. We have a natural and deep respect for earth’s resources, and we believe our couples do too. So why not take a minute to see how you can make your wedding more earth-friendly.
I was inspired to write this as I watched Meghan and Steven plan their wedding. They wanted to make it their own but, they also wanted to conserve earth’s resources and their own also. They came up with some clever ideas.
Meghan’s wedding ring was made by a friend using gems from family jewelry. Bracelets, rings and earring that either weren’t being worn any more or had a few stones missing here and there.
Photo credits: @ctopaziophotography
Table runners were made of cheesecloth. Arranged down the table with flowers and glassware, it was perfect and a wonderful conversation starter. It looked perfect! Cheesecloth can be bought in bulk and has endless uses after the big day.
Not plastic. Cocktails were served in mason jars. A Hydration Bar didn’t include water bottles but, beautiful glass urns were filled with ice-cold water and fresh lemon and herbs.
The father-of-the groom loves his local thrift shop and was able to borrow vintage silverware and tea cups for the day.
For wedding favors they sent guests home with a packet of sunflower seeds and a note thanking them for being part of their special day.
Here a few other ideas to ponder…
Picking the Right Location – We’ve owned two other farms prior to coming to this pristine, 20-acre, 1750 Maine farm, now called Josias River Farm. Its architecture is timeless, and it’s surrounded by the beauty of nature. But, when you own a property such as this, you never feel like you really “own” it. For a brief period of time you are its stewards. It’s our job to respect its history and preserve it for the next generation. We love the opportunity but, it comes with a price and it’s because of couples like you that we can continue to care for this exquisite property. By hosting weddings and other special events, we are able to preserve it for years to come.
Decor – Mother Nature has you covered on this one. You’ve got natural beauty all around you with stonewalls, split-rail fences, gorgeous gardens and a magician forest. A few thoughtful well-placed accents here and there is all you really need here and you’ll eliminate mountains of cardboard and plastic packaging. See photo sent by email on 1/23 of chair setup.
Beer, Wine and Spirits – At Josias River Farm you have the option to purchase your own alcohol. Here’s a few ideas to keep in mind. Purchase in Bulk- Think kegs. Support local breweries, vineyards and distilleries. If you are going to use bottles and cans, we will be glad to recycle them for you. Mason jars for cocktails?
Flowers – Most of our flowers in the U.S. come from South America so obviously that creates a little more carbon. So why not choose a local farm. We have several in our area, Omniflora, Broadturn Farm and Kindred Earth Farm. Omniflora will provide you with buckets of flowers for your wedding and you can make up your arrangements right here at the farm. Broadturn and Kindred Earth can provide you with buckets of blooms also or they can create your centerpieces and arrangements for you.
Here’s another idea…. How about centerpieces or favors that are plantable? Annuals, herbs, evergreen seedling, succulents would all work beautifully. I’ve even seen organic tomato plants. I’m sure your guests would love to take them home.
The ideas are endless for making your wedding memorable. So as you are planning your dream wedding take a minute to ponder how you can make it a little more earth-friendly. Small, simple ideas can make all the difference!
