- $1000 flower budget
- $11
- 1st year
- 2011
- a and b creative
- aandbcreative
- about Gorgeous and Green
- advocacy
- affordable
- aguas frescas
- air plants
- airplant
- airplant aeriums
- airplant tutorial
- airplants
- alex schoenfeldt
- all natural
- alphabet
- altar
- Amiee Alan
- amy ellis
- anna vaughn
- anna woerman
- anniversary party
- antique vase
- arch
- arrangement
- arrangements
- arranging
- arsenic
- art
- artificial flower ingredients
- artificial flowers
- artificial tree
- artist
- Asian inspired wedding
- Australia
- autumn wedding
- avoid plastic
- back yard
- backyard
- baja
- bangle
- barn
- barn wedding
- Bay Area
- Bay Area Fashion
- Bay Area florist
- bay area green business
- beach
- becklaces
- bells of ireland
- Berkeley
- berkeley boutique
- berkeley city club
- berkeley farmers market
- Berkeley florist
- berkeley flowers
- Berkeley Gift Shop
- Berkeley restaurant
- berkeley restaurant decor
- berry napkins
- best berkeley florist
- bicycle
- bicycle delivery
- bike delivery
- bikes and flowers
- biodegradable
- biodegradable floral foam
- biodegradable ribbon
- biodegradable vase
- biodiesel
- biofuel oasis
- bird of paradise
- bird topper
- bloom
- blue
- blue heron farms
- blush
- body product
- bohemian
- boise
- book review
- Botanical Garden
- bottles
- bouquet
- bouquet pics
- bouquets
- Boutique
- boutonniere
- branches
- Brazil Room
- bridal bouquet
- bride
- bride and groom cake
- brown
- Brown skin
- budget
- business
- business decor
- business florist
- business to business
- button mums
- cabbage
- Cafe Gratitude
- cake topper
- cakes
- Cal
- calendar
- calla lilies
- callas
- cancer
- Cara Mia Photography
- Carbon black
- carbon neutral
- carbon neutral travel
- carbon offset
- carcinogen
- carcinogenic
- carmel
- carmel wedding
- casket spray
- CCA
- centerpieces
- ceremony
- certified organic
- chartreuse
- cheap silk flowers
- chemicals
- child labor
- China
- chlorine bleach
- chocolate brown
- chocolate cosmos
- citrus
- citrus centerpieces
- city car share
- City Hall
- Claire Mulkey
- class
- cleaning
- collaborations
- collecting vase
- college ave
- community
- compost floral foam
- compost flowers
- conscious
- conscious clothing
- conservatory of flowers
- coral
- cornerstone gardens
- Corporate
- cosmetic database
- cotton paper
- cotton ribbon
- crafts
- craigslist
- cream
- creme
- curly willow
- dahlia
- dahlias
- dandelionland
- day of the dead
- dean's beans
- debra prinzing
- decor
- decorating
- deer ridge vineyard
- deliveries
- delivery
- delivery service
- depression glass
- design
- designs
- destination wedding
- diapers
- dick and jane
- diesel wagon
- dinner parties
- discount
- DIY
- DIY invitations
- diy wedding
- dodge station pottery
- dogwood
- donated flowers
- E Mini
- earrings
- earth day
- earth friendly weddings
- earthly affair
- ebay
- Eco Fashion
- eco florist
- eco flower design
- eco flower school
- eco friendly exhibits
- eco friendly floral design
- eco friendly gift shop
- eco friendly registry
- eco friendly site
- eco friendly wedding
- eco invitations
- eco wedding
- eco-friendly
- eco-friendly business
- eco-friendly cards
- eco-friendly decorations
- eco-friendly favor
- eco-friendly florist
- eco-friendly gift
- eco-friendly invitations
- eco-friendly jewelry
- eco-friendly photographer
- ecofriendly
- edible
- electric
- electric bike
- electric car
- electric Rav4
- electric scooter
- electric versus gas
- elephant dung
- elephant paper
- elmwood
- emeryville
- emeryville florist
- england
- english
- environment
- etsy
- Etta and Billie
- eucalyptus
- event
- event flowers
- event planner
- event planning
- events
- exposure
- face painting
- Faculty Club
- fair trade
- Fair Trade chocolates
- fair trade cocoa
- fair wages
- fake flowers
- fake tree
- fake trees
- fall flowers
- fall wedding
- favorite recycled things
- favors
- felt flower
- felted wool
- ferns
- fig
- Fish Tacos
- floating candles
- Flora Grubb
- floral design
- floral designer
- floral foam
- floral foam toxic
- floral installation
- florist
- floristry hacks
- florists of color
- flower
- flower bath
- flower boutique berkeley
- flower delivery
- flower delivery Berkeley
- flower design
- flower donation
- flower farm workers
- flower garland
- flower garlands
- flower growing
- flower ideas
- flower industry
- flower lesson
- flower pics
- flower school
- flower shop berkeley
- flower shops
- flower workshop
- flowering kale
- flowers
- foam
- forest management
- forest wedding
- Formaldehyde
- free
- fruit
- fruit centerpiece
- fruit favor
- fruity colors
- FSC certified
- fuchsia
- Fugu Fugu
- full service
- fun
- funeral
- garden
- garden fundraiser
- Garden Wedding
- Gardening
- gas mileage
- genetically modified seeds
- getconscious.com
- ggboutique
- ggboutique.com
- gift
- gift delivery
- gift store
- gifts
- glass
- glass terrarium
- glass vases
- global warming
- gmo
- go vegan
- gold
- goods
- gorgeous
- gorgeous and green
- Gorgeous and Green Boutique
- Gorgeous and Green Events
- gorgeousandgreen
- grand opening
- granola
- green
- green and organic design
- green artist
- green bash
- green building
- green business
- green certification
- green certified
- green certified flower shop
- green event coordinator
- green event planner
- Green Festival
- green festival volunteer
- green florist
- green flower delivery
- Green Fundraiser
- Green Gala
- green glass
- green invitations
- green is not just granola
- green living
- green photographer
- green photography
- green social justice workshop
- green vehicle
- green website
- green wedding
- green wedding blog
- green wedding planner
- green wedding registry
- Green Wedding SF
- Green Wedding Venue
- green weddings
- green workshops
- green.weddings.com
- greening your wedding
- grevillea
- grey
- gulf spill
- half moon bay
- hand made
- hand made gifts
- handmade
- handmade wedding rings
- hanging arrangement
- harmful manufacturing
- hazard
- hazardous
- hazardous waste
- head table arrangement
- health
- Hello Lucky
- hemp
- hemp dress
- hemp fashion show
- Hemp lingerie
- hemp silk wedding attire
- hemp silk wedding dress
- HeyMiemie
- hipster wedding
- hjimagery
- holly cottingham
- home care
- home grown
- Hostess Gift
- hot chocolate
- hot cocoa
- hotel shattuck
- how silk flowers are made
- hybrid
- hydgrangea
- ikea
- illustrations
- Image
- in the boutique
- India
- indian wedding
- inhabitat
- inhabitat.com
- interview
- interviews with green vendors
- invitations
- invite site
- invitesite
- Japanese
- jar
- jewel
- jewel tones
- jewelry
- jfein designs
- jungle
- kale
- kangaroo paw
- karine brighten
- karine brighten events
- Kensington Community Center
- kid friendly wedding
- Kira Stackhouse
- Kumvana Gomani
- landfill
- lanters
- large
- latin america
- latin american flower growers
- lavender rose
- leaf ring
- Leif Hedendal
- lemons
- lichen
- licky drake
- littlevale
- livermore vineyard wedding
- Living gift
- local
- local artesans
- local baker
- local berkeley shop
- local business
- Local Caterer
- Local Chef
- local delivery
- local events
- local flower arrangements
- local flower delivery
- local flower shop
- local flowers
- local food
- local fruit
- local gifts
- local grown
- local peony
- local vegetables
- local vineyard
- localgrown
- locally blown terrariums
- locally caught fish
- Locally grown
- locally grown flowers
- low cost
- Lucie XYZ
- Lydia's Lovin Foods
- make your own
- mandap
- manufacturing artificial flowers
- manufacturing plastic
- marin
- mauve
- Mc Near's beach
- Melbourne
- memorial flowers
- michele beckwith
- michelle beckwith
- mignonne
- milk glass
- mill valley
- mill valley outdoor art club
- mini cooper
- mini e
- miss havisham
- misuse of organic
- model
- monogram
- monsanto
- Mosey
- moss
- mountain theme
- mpg
- mr ellie pooh
- msds
- Mt. Diablo
- my business
- native plants
- natural
- nautical
- nautilus lens
- necklace
- new growth
- no floral foam
- non sprayed
- nuena
- oakland
- oakland baker
- oakland florist
- Oakland Parks
- oakland wedding
- oakley
- oasis
- office
- oh happy day
- oil spill
- olive oil hack
- onesey
- online
- online class
- online order
- online store
- orange
- orchids
- order
- organic
- organic baker
- organic beauty products
- organic cake
- organic catering
- Organic Chef
- organic chocolates
- organic cocoa
- Organic Consumers Association
- organic design
- organic fashion
- organic flower shop
- organic flowers
- Organic Gardening
- organic hair
- organic makeup
- organic roses
- organic seeds
- organic wine
- origen
- outdoor wedding
- Overlap
- pacific e bike
- paisan
- paper
- paper lanterns
- paper wrapped flowers
- parrafin candles
- party
- party favor
- party favors
- pastel
- pauley ballroom
- pcw
- peach
- peach roses
- pearl
- pesticide free
- pesticide poisoning
- pesticides
- petroleum based products
- Philipino
- photography
- photoshoot
- piedmont community center
- pilar zuniga
- pillow
- pink
- plant a tree
- planted arrangement
- planted succulent favors
- planter box
- Plantillo
- plants
- plastic
- plastic bottles
- plastic flowers
- plastic island
- plastic plants
- plastic recycling
- plug in hybrid
- plum
- poison
- pomander
- ponderosa and thyme
- potted flowers
- potted plants
- printing
- professional speaker
- prune
- purple
- Quivira Winery
- Ranch
- ranunculus
- rasberry
- Raw food
- rebecca wilkowski
- recycle vases
- recycled
- recycled arrangement
- recycled biodiesel
- Recycled Biodiesel car
- recycled bottle
- recycled cards
- recycled decor
- recycled dress
- recycled favor bag
- recycled fine silver
- recycled gifts
- recycled glass
- Recycled glass centerpiece
- recycled jewelry
- recycled necklace
- recycled paper
- recycled silver
- recycled silver jewelry
- Recycled vases
- recycled wedding dress
- recycling
- red
- red rose
- Redwood Grove
- redwood wedding
- repetto
- Repurpose
- restaurant
- restaurant arrangement
- restaurant arrangements
- restaurant decor
- restaurant florist
- restaurant flowers
- retail
- reusable
- reuse
- reuse strawberry basket
- reused
- reused vase
- reusing
- Revival
- revival bar and kitchen
- ride a bike to flower shop
- Righteously Raw
- ring
- risk
- rose
- rustic
- safety
- sailor
- sale
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Francisco Florist
- San Francisco Green Festival
- San Francisco Wedding
- san pablo
- San Rafael
- santa cruz
- Santo Tomas
- save the planet
- saving green
- saving money
- saving the planet
- Scabiosa
- sea life
- Sean Donnelly
- seasonal
- seasonal flowers
- seasonal wedding flowers
- seating cards
- Secret Eating Society
- seeds
- Seltzer
- seniors
- sewing
- SF Green Festival
- shasta daisy
- shop
- shopping bag
- shopping sustainably
- silk flower ingredients
- silk flowers
- silver
- SilverGarden
- simple centerpiece
- simple flowers
- Simple Wedding
- Skin Deep
- slow flowers
- slow flowers summit
- slowflowers
- small business
- small event order
- small wedding
- smithers oasis
- snow
- snow flakes
- snowmen
- sonoma
- sprayed
- spring
- spring flowers
- st giles
- stanelco
- Stephanie's Bakery
- stern grove
- stinson beach
- stinson beach community center
- store
- strut
- stylish eco
- succulent
- succulent bouquet
- succulent boutonniere
- succulents
- sunflowers
- sustainable
- sustainable business
- Sustainable Catering
- sustainable clothing
- sustainable definition
- sustainable design
- sustainable driving
- sustainable economy workshop
- sustainable fashion
- sustainable floral design
- sustainable florist
- sustainable floristry
- sustainable flower school
- sustainable flowers
- Sustainable Food
- sustainable fundraiser
- sustainable gift shop
- sustainable invitations
- sustainable jewelry
- sustainable photographer
- sustainable photography
- sustainable practices
- sweetpea and pie
- table
- table cards
- table design
- Table Nectar
- Tall flower arrangements
- tasha rae designs
- tea
- terra bella flowers
- terrarium
- tesla
- testarossa winery
- Thailand
- thanksgiving
- the daily meal
- The Knot
- The University Club
- thistle
- Thursday February 24th
- tilden
- tilden park wedding
- tillandsia
- Tina Produce
- toxic
- toxic floral foam
- toxins
- tree arrangements
- tree planting
- tree-free
- tree-free paper
- tropical
- tutorial
- uc berkeley
- UC Berkeley Garden
- UC botanical garden
- Uncategorized
- underpaid
- unfair working conditions
- unicorn flowers
- upcycled
- used wedding dress
- Va De Vie Events
- val spicer
- valentine's bouquet
- valentine's bouquets
- valentine's day
- valentines
- valentines day flowers
- vase rental
- vegan
- vegan bakery
- vegan cake
- vegetable basket
- vegetable centerpiece
- vegetable oil diesel
- vegetables
- vendors
- Vera Devera
- veriflora certified
- vintage
- vintage containers
- vintage design
- vintage gifts
- vintage hydrangea
- vintage jewelry
- vintage monogram
- vintage silver containers
- vintage vase
- vintage vases
- virbernum
- VOZ
- watering can
- watsonville farm
- website review
- wedding
- wedding bouquet
- wedding cake
- wedding coordinator
- wedding favor
- wedding favors
- wedding flowers
- wedding flowers on a budget
- wedding ideas
- wedding jewelry
- wedding necklace
- Wedding planner ×
- wedding topper
- Wedding Venue
- weddings
- what is sustainable design
- white
- white clutch
- Wilbur Hot Springs
- winged heart
- winter
- winter wedding
- winter wedding favor
- woodsy theme
- woodsy wedding
- Wooly Pockets
- workshop
- YAC
- YeeHaw
- yellow
- Yellow and White
Interview with a local Event Planner
Here's a post from my Green.Weddings.com blog that shares an interview with Vera Devera, of Va De Vie Events, here in the Bay Area. I've worked with Vera on a few events now, and we've had a great time. Thanks Vera for the interview!
Davina + Daniel Photography(c) 2010
The cake table is a salvaged piece from Mignonne Decor. Also featured are scraps of ribbon to connect vintage letters with a felt heart in the center, champagne glasses (from her mother-in-law's wedding 35 years prior), an antique white milk glass cake stand found at a local flea market and fresh dahlias.
I have had the privilege of getting to work with Vera Devera, a local event planner here in the Bay Area, on a number of weddings. I've asked her to answer some questions about event planning and specifically, green-er events. Enjoy!
1. What kind of services do you provide couples?
Va de Vie Events specializes in month-of wedding coordination, especially for brides who prefer planning the major elements but recognize the need for help with organizing the event flow, managing vendors, setting up decor and determining the final details. We also offer partial to full planning, including providing overall event design consultation and selecting and booking vendors.

Andi Hatch Photography (c) 2010
Salvaged lace served as the base for an escort card display (recycled kraft paper that was hand punched) and attached to a wrought iron gate.
2. Why would someone want to hire a planner/coordinator?
A wedding coordinator is like the quarterback between the bride and groom with their vendors and key family members. We act on your behalf to ensure that your vision for the day is executed. The greatest value we offer is our ability to troubleshoot and put out fires. Murphy's Law applies to even the best laid plans and it's our job to make sure you don't even know there was a problem and enjoy your wedding -- after all you have invested a lot of time, energy and money into making it extraordinary!

Principal event planner and owner, Vera Devera
3. What kind of advice/suggestions do you give couples who are trying to stay green while planning?
1. Determine how green you want to be. What are your priorities in minimizing your carbon footprint and how does it impact your wedding's look and feel and its budget? For example, when it comes to shopping for a wedding dress -- is the greenness of the material and getting a new dress made of bamboo fiber more important than finding a dress on Craigslist and getting it customized with vintage embellishments? Where are you going on honeymoon and how are you getting there? Are you volunteering together, engaging in an eco-tour or just having a relaxing getaway within 200 miles of where you live?
2. Go local! Where is your venue? Is it near public transit? Does it already have the tables and chairs that you need (or do you need any at all, especially if you're getting married on the beach)?

Greg Raphael Photography (c) 2010
Unbleached cotton market bags printed locally with vegetable dye.
3. Hire vendors who share your values. As you're researching or interviewing vendors, find out if they share your philosophy around being green. For example, is your photographer going all digital and will they post a gallery online for your friends and family to view photos? Find out if your floral designer can make a bouquet that you can plant later (e.g. succulent bouquet) and ask your caterer where their ingredients come from and how it's grown or raised.
4. Consider the season, especially for your food and flowers. It doesn't make sense to eat fruits and vegetables out of season and that have to be flown in from south of the equator for your wedding.
5. Shop smart. Thrift stores, antique flea markets or retail outlets that specialize in salvaged materials are great sources for "found" objects that you can incorporate into the look and feel of your wedding. Or, you can shop online. Our go-to is Etsy.com and we suggest searching for vendors (especially local ones) that recycle or use sustainable materials in their work. Keep in mind that it's best to buy locally -- for example, if you find an amazing antique trunk in New Jersey, it's not cost effective or environmentally friendly to get it shipped out of state.
6. Leverage your existing network and consider the reusability of materials. Can you borrow mason jars as vases from a friend? Can your crafty aunt share scraps from fabric projects? Could your grandmother's treasured brooch be tied to your bouquet?
4. What is your favorite part of planning an event?
Partnering with our clients to find solutions to their needs -- whether it's finding a DJ on a particular budget, determining the best layout for the reception, or creatively communicating seating arrangements to guests -- is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work. We pride ourselves in being resourceful and leveraging our community of talented vendors. And ultimately, it's seeing all the moving parts come together that's the best part of our job. We often work with couples months in advance leading up to the day-of and to see the bride and groom, their family and friends and the beautiful details come together is truly awe-inspiring.
In Green and Health,
March 08, 2011
by 98422949