Sustainable Northern California Wedding...

Ever since I first heard about Costanoa, an eco-adventure resort on the California coast just down the road from where I grew up, I've been interested. It sounds so unique and the location is absolutely stunning! I was so excited when Jennifer of A Girl And a Camera Photography sent over Joelle and Lance's wedding at none other than Costanoa. What a dream wedding venue!

More from the bride, Joelle:

I am a Humane Educator and my husband is a carpenter. We both have a strong interest and desire to be as green and sustainable as we can. We also have a close relationship with our families and our friends. These were the two things we kept in mind while planning our wedding, as we wanted it to be a true celebration of the people that we are. We wanted our wedding to feel natural, organic, and comfortable.

We had our wedding at Costanoa, which is an eco adventure resort. It is gorgeous and we particularly love how sustainable and natural the entire resort is.

Upon entering the parking lot we created a sign out of old fence boards, placed in an old milk jug to let our guests know where to go.

In general we tried to be as practical as we could, Lance and I do not have champagne taste, we are more of your beer and pizza kind of a couple. It was important that our wedding was practical and had unique touches.

Also on the tables we had bunches of fruit and sprinkled pistachios up and down our homemade burlap table runners.

For our favors we purchased fruit from local farms, pluots and pears. The favors served as our place cards as well. We made tags to tie onto the fruit by punching a tag shape out of a brown paper bag and tying it onto the piece of fruit.

We used Patron tequila bottles that we collected from local restaurants and bars (yes we just walked in and them to save them for us) as most of our flower vases. The Patron bottles were inter-mixed with other glass bottles we had or found, milk bottles, old Ball Jars, Mason jars, etc.

Lance and I both listen to country music and met at a country line dancing bar. When I changed my shoes after the ceremony, I put on my cowboy boots! I love my boots, and while it seemed unconventional to some, I absolutely love our photos with my boots and I was able to dance the night away comfortably!

Words of wisdom? Start early! For us once we had our venue a lot of the pressure was relieved. I chose to do a lot of projects and my mom was instrumental in making them all happen. She did most of them, and kept me on time for the ones I had to do! And just remember to be true to yourselves. Think about what makes you and your partner, you. And then be creative in incorporating those things into your wedding. If you are traditional, then keep tradition alive, but if you are not be unique and be yourselves. Enjoy yourself, it should be fun and if it is not, ask for help! No matter what sort of hiccups may come along (for example the events manager set up our rehearsal in the wrong spot, the night before our wedding the water main broke and we had no water the night before the wedding and my bridesmaids set off the fire alarm because they lit too many candles decorating our room on for our wedding night!) smile and just remember that no matter what happens you will still be married to the love of your life the next morning!

Wedding Vendors:

Photographer: Jennifer of A Girl And a Camera Photography
Venue + Catering: Costanoa
Florist: Joan Thomas
DJ: Mike Vincent