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
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