Lisa and Eric

When Lisa and Eric told us about their plan to use lighting as an integral part of their decor for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, we could not wait to see the outcome! The afternoon of the wedding was beautiful, and the excitement of the day was apparent from the moment we arrived to the room where Lisa was getting ready. When it was time, the guests gathered onto the beach for the ceremony. Everyone watched as her dad escorted Lisa down the dock and into the sand where Eric waited.

The celebrations continued on the deck where over 200 guests gathered to enjoy the cocktail hour. For those of you unfamiliar with CBF, usually there are two tents covering part of the deck, but Lisa and Eric opted to add an additional tent to go over the remaining uncovered portion. This simple act definitely makes a difference. Not only does it protect guests from any sort of weather (rain, wind, harsh sunlight, sudden snowstorms, etc), but it creates a more intimate atmosphere for the reception.

The tables were decorated with delicate flowers and pin lit from above. This minimalistic floral approach combined with the lighting created a very clean and interesting take on decor.

The lighting, however did not stop there. CBF was covered with lights - from the tents to the Canvasback Room to the actual building, each positioned with a specific purpose. The result was nothing short of incredible, and we say with certainty that CBF has never looked this amazing! Atmosphere, a Maryland-based lighting company, definitely transformed CBF. The ever-changing colors began subtly as the evening began and progressed into dramatic, rich colors as the night continued.

What do you get when you combine colorful ambiance with live music, great food, a happy couple, and enthusiastic guests?

The perfect combination for one fantastic wedding celebration!

Marie & Fred

Marie and her parents came to meet with us a year ago and I was really struck by how enthusiastic and excited they were about Marie and Fred's wedding plans. The meeting was a lot of fun and we were thrilled when they let us know that they had chosen us to document the wedding day!

The ceremony site was up in the air initially, and then a few months later I got an email letting me know that they'd chosen the Baltimore Basilica. Officially, it's called the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Wow. That is a mouthful. A long name for a beautiful place. I went to scout the Basilica since it was our first time photographing a ceremony there and I noticed how gorgeous and light and airy it is. Light and airy is rare among enormous intricate Catholic churches/cathedrals/basilicas. I just stood around saying "preeeettttty" to myself. LOL.

Here's Dena's account of the day, which is more entertaining than mine LOL.

As we left Annapolis, ominous black clouds welcomed us onto the highway. The closer we got to Baltimore, the more threatening they became until finally, we found ourselves in the midst of a torrential downpour. By the time we got to the Baltimore Basilica, the rain continued at a fairly steady rate, and the bridal party was ushered into the church underneath umbrellas!

The Basilica is a gorgeous, recently restored, 200 year old church, situated in the heart of Baltimore. The church staff was gracious and very accommodating.

With Sam and Jen already in their positions on the ground level, I set about finding the highest balcony. After trekking up several flights of steep stairs, I discovered that the doors were locked. Quickly, I ran down the stairs and back up on the other side, relieved to find this door to the balcony was unlocked. Note to self (and future visitors to the Basilica) only use stairs on the left-hand side of the building! In these few minutes of stillness, I began to suspect that I was either really out of shape, or there was no air-conditioning in the church! I'll stick with the latter, and say that all the hot air does indeed rise. The architecture of the church is truly impressive, and the rotunda, vaulted ceilings, and lengthy aisle made for a both a beautifully dramatic entrance and an inspiring ceremony.

By the end of the ceremony, the rain still had not lessened, but the guests crowded excitedly outside the church to welcome Marie and Fred through the sword arch. Marie, Fred, and Jen were lucky to be scooped up by the limo.

Sam however, found himself clutching the gold umbrella and making a mad dash for the car, which was a block away. Everyone scrambled to their cars as quickly as possible, eager to continue celebrating at the reception.

Marie and Fred wanted some photos at the Naval Academy, and by the time we made it there, the rain had nearly stopped. Sam and Jen were able to get some nice photos of the couple at several locations at Bancroft Hall.

For over a year, Marie had her heart set on getting a photograph on the rocks at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. After a little convincing, Fred put on waders and carried Marie through the water and out to the rocks.

Marie gave us a heads up early in the evening that her family would be dancing to “Cotton Eye Joe” during the reception. Little did we know that this “family tradition” was no ordinary dance. When the first notes of the song began, guests took turns dancing acrobatically with a chair! It definitely won the award for the most original dance interpretation of this popular party song.

Green Weddings

It’s always greener...

We are living in an increasingly environmentally conscious nation. Over the past 8-12 months in particular, we feel like the floodgates have opened, and environmentally responsible behavior has become a priority in many facets of our lives. Not to be left behind of course, are brides and grooms as they plan their wedding day. There are a variety of green wedding planning sites and blogs, as well as features in magazines and newspapers, highlighting the many ways to go green on your wedding day.

Today, we were talking about new ways to be green in the wedding industry, and as we were returning from lunch (in the hybrid egomedia mobile in fact), we realized we have actually photographed an extraordinary number of green weddings that really deserve special mention. So we got to talking...

It's a white green wedding

Being as environmentally conscious as possible has been a hot topic all along the Chesapeake Bay watershed for some time now.

I know what you're thinking. You don’t want to wear a dress made from hemp and twigs. You don’t want to carry around some dry grass as a bouquet. You don’t want to inconvenience your guests. You don’t want to host your reception in a recycling center. Simply put, you don’t want to rough it on your wedding day.

We are here to tell you (and show you) that going green for your wedding doesn't have to mean any of those things.

One of the easiest ways to have a big impact on your guests is to select an amazing reception venue. You're looking for a grand view, slick architecture, and plenty of neat places for you and your guests to hang out throughout your wedding day. And of course, one of the biggest ways to be environmentally conscious on your wedding day is to choose a reception venue that has the lowest environmental impact possible.

Enter The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Philip Merrill Center

As it happens, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation built their headquarters - the Philip Merrill Center - in Annapolis, Maryland several years ago. Through a combination of technological and environmental achievement, the Merrill Center became the first building to receive the U.S. Green Building Council's Platinum rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. This green building is one of the world's most energy-efficient structures, and has won international acclaim as a model for energy efficiency and water conservation.

Here’s the thing though. The building, in all of its green glory, also has one of the best waterfront locations in all of Annapolis (and arguably in the DC metro area). The building is set slightly back from its huge private beach, and the event space has a massive 180 degree view of the Chesapeake Bay. For 30-40 couples a year (on the rise) the Merrill Center plays host to some really gorgeous and environmentally friendly weddings.

Think about it. The building itself is super environmentally friendly. Ergo you and your guests are super environmentally friendly by default. Although many couples choose to hold their ceremony on the beach at CBF, it is also conveniently located close to a host of stunning traditional ceremony sites like the US Naval Academy Chapel, St Anne’s, and St Mary’s, so driving around is kept to a minimum. The money from your event fee directly supports the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's educational and conservation programs. The composting toilets are totally bizarre and make a great conversation starter for guests. The majority of wedding vendors are also finding ways to board the “green train” and really making concerted efforts to keep their businesses as environmentally friendly as possible. At the end of the day weddings at the Merrill Center are not “green themed”, they are simply sustainable events by their very nature.

The best part of this whole deal is that so far all of this greenness requires almost no work to make a rather large impact. You can go wild if you want - recycled invitation materials, organic ingredients for dinner, locally grown produce, organic flowers, the whole nine yards. Regardless of the rest of your decisions, you can rest well knowing that your location and vendors alone are going a loooong way to making your wedding a very green event.

On to the show...

We hope that our rambling and images illustrate that you can have really stunning events that are also incredibly environmentally friendly without sacrificing a single iota of style, glamour, or fun.

Tidbits and Factoids

Some of the key green features of the Merrill building include:

• Solar hot water systems resulting in an annual savings of nearly $4k.

• Energy sense, including a building designed for maximum southern exposure, prevailing winds, and natural daylight.

  
• Natural sensor-activated ventilation which reduces the need for air conditioning. 

  
• Water technology (including composting toilets!) which lowers the Merrill Center's water use to 90 gallons a day - 92% less than a conventional building.
  
• Large rooftop cisterns capture rainwater which is used in the building for hand-washing, fire suppression, and irrigation of the surrounding vegetation.

  
• Incorporation of a wetlands habitat on surrounding land to support native vegetation and wildlife.
Recycled and renewable building materials, including cork flooring and wall panels; bamboo; recycled steel; and recycled wood fiber.
  
• Smart parking design utilizing light colored gravel to reduce harmful runoff, as well as reserved parking for hybrid vehicles (which egomedia gets to use because we have a hybrid!).
  

If you are interested in learning more about having an event at the Merrill Center, call them. The Merrill Center is in high demand, with many couples booking the facility as far as 12 months before their wedding day. Ask for Chris Gorri. He is a good friend and truly one of the nicest people you will meet involved in the wedding industry (he seriously is, this isn’t just some shameless plug :-).

Other Green Wedding Sources

Portovert

I Do Foundation

Eco chic weddings

Earth friendly weddings

Everything Green Weddings and More

Ecofabulous Green Wedding Guide

WikiHow - Have a Green Wedding

The Daily Green - 7 Tips for Planning Your Green Wedding