We at SMP love all sorts of special wedding themes and personal touches, but when a couple goes green, we get super excited to see what they can do while being extra kind to our planet! Eco-friendly couple Paula and Blair used post-consumer paper, hemp-based card stock, Goodwill and a dozen other repurposed and recycled items to keep their wedding as environmentally friendly as possible. On their wedding day, Mother Nature thanked them with beautiful sunshine and gorgeous surroundings. You simply must see it all in the full gallery of photos right here, thanks to the ever-so-talented Trost Photography.
Mississauga Wedding from Trost Photography
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride... Blair and I were married on a sunny Saturday, on July 21 2012, in Mississauga Ontario Canada at a local private golf course, Credit Valley Golf & Country Club. When we were first engaged we envisioned a simple, laid-back, fun wedding with a connection to the outdoors. We wanted to focus on environmental sustainability, sourcing from local Ontario vendors and using re-purposed items as much as possible. We chose our venue because of it's stunning views, expansive patio for ceremony and cocktails and flexibility to source locally. The on-site event coordinator, Teresa, was absolutely amazing. She helped us with every detail to ensure the day was a success. She made sure we had local Ontario food, wine and beer sourced, planned every detail with us and ensured it was executed perfectly. The ceremony was just wonderful — outside in the sunshine with a beautiful view. During the recessional, the wedding party and guests followed us down to the grounds where we were able to congregate and take a great group photo with a pretty panorama in the background. The reception was equally wonderful, as it felt open and airy but intimate. The picture windows added such nice light and ambiance. Lights from the patio shone through in the evening to up the romance factor. The patio was also open with seating areas, equipped with table-top fires, where guests could relax in between dancing.
I would not say that our wedding had a theme. Each element was chosen so it would not compete with the beautiful surroundings. The patio looked out over the beautiful grounds and the Credit River, so very little decor was required. The reception space had very high ceilings, beautiful rich interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows, so elements were chosen to complement them. Green was chosen as the main accent color to contrast well with our attire and complement the surroundings. I love the color green because it reminds me of the summer, the outdoors and, of course, sustainable living. I also was looking for decor elements that would "go together" rather than "match" so, I thought all greens, giving the surroundings, would look naturally beautiful together. Finally I chose a leaf motif as an accent. I designed all of our weddings stationery and had it printed on 100% post-consumer paper. Invitations were in a postcard format with web-based RSVP to cut back on paper usage. Thank you cards were printed at home on hemp-based card stock. We opted not to make programs in order to cut back on paper consumption. All decor elements were sourced from classifieds, flea markets, goodwill and antique shops in my neighborhood. I collected various vintage green glass vases throughout the year leading up to our wedding. I purchased vintage brooches for our bouquets, and antique mirrors were used to accent the space and for the seating arrangement. Our flowers were by an amazing talent in Toronto who sources all his flowers sustainability. His business also purchases sustainable energy. His policies coupled with his talent made him an obvious choice for our wedding.
Blair and I wanted to see each other prior to our ceremony. Teresa organized this for us, and our photographer, Janet, captured the moments perfectly. This was such a special moment: The second I laid eyes on Blair as I came down the stairs, all my nerves just melted away. It was a perfect starting point to the day.
Wedding Photography: Janet Trost of Trost Photography / Wedding Venue: Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ontario / Floral Design: Eco Stems / Officiant: Peter Gelberger of All Seasons Weddings / Wedding Invitation Design, Favor Labels, Table Numbers + Thank You Cards: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Invitation Printing + Wedding Website: DIY by Groomsmen / Music: DJ Rich Sweet of DJ Floh Back Productions / Favors: BeeQueen Honey / Bunting: DIY by the Mothers of the Bride & Groom / Wedding Dress: Gown & Glory / Bride's Shoes: Vintage Yves Saint Laurent via Remix Clothing / Bride's Garter + Bridal Party Hairpieces: DIY by Erin, a Bridesmaid