2013-01-11 07:00:00 by SMARTBRIDE
Real Green Destination Wedding: That's Amore! Green Wedding in Italy
Katie Triolo and Jordan O’Brien were married on May 22, 2008 in Vernazza (Cinque Terre), Italy.
Both Jordan and Katie have always been environmentally conscious, so planning their wedding with eco-friendly elements was more of a foregone conclusion than a decision to be made. At the time, Jordan was working towards his MBA in Sustainable Enterprise & Real Estate Development to go into green building, so he was especially focused on sustainability and the nuances of greening.
Our friends at The Green Bride Guide are sharing a few ways this couple managed to use local materials and create DIY personal touches to make their wedding unique and green.
- Location
The couple chose to have their wedding in the lovely village of Vernazza, Italy. Vernazza is one of five villages that make up Cinque Terra, Italy, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site and National Park. These remote villages were only connected to the outside world one hundred years ago by a railway line. Today, they maintain an “Old World” simplicity and charm, where walking paths, boats, and trains are the only means of transportation between the villages. Katie, Jordan, and their guests took advantage of this; 90% of their travel to and from wedding events was by train, bus, boat, or foot.
- Invitations
Katie and Jordan's invitations, locally printed postcards of the location, were sent one year ahead of the wedding to ensure the guests had plenty of time for planning their travel. To save paper, the postcards were the only printed item; all other communication was through the couple's wedding website, email, and phone calls. - Ceremony
Jordan and Katie were wed on a breathtakingly beautiful cliff overlooking the sea in front of eighty guests. Vernazza, shaped much like an amphitheater and set atop a rugged mountain, provided such lovely scenery that the couple didn't need any additional decoration for their ceremony.
- Flowers & Reception Decor
Friends and family picked all of the flowers and herbs from the hills above the village of Vernazza, which were then made into bouquets and boutonnieres, as well as table and napkin décor for the reception. The couple added many DIY touches to their reception as well.
- Food & Beverage
Jordan and Katie's reception was held at the Gambero Rosso, where the food was locally and sustainably grown and/or caught. According to the couple, “the town is so isolated that most food products must come from within 5 miles.” This also includes the local white wine and limoncello (an Italian lemon liquer). - Local Tradition
After the ceremony, Jordan and Katie took part in a wedding tradition singular to Vernazza. From a balcony decorated with tied ribbons symbolizing their union, they tossed chocolates and candies to the crowd of villagers that gathered below.
- 5 Tips for Choosing a Destination Wedding Resort
- What Type of Destination Wedding Are You Planning?
- Extra Perks for Your Wedding - Courtesy of Sunwing
- Top 5 Post Desintation Wedding Honeymoon Hotspots
- 2013 Destination Wedding Dress Trends
- Destination Wedding Trend: Ombre Bridal Party
- Destination Wedding Makeup Tips from the Experts
- Celebrity Hair: Blake Lively Reynolds - Radiant Curls & Shine
- Celebrity Hair: Jessica Biel Timberlake - Elegant Updo
- Celebrity Hair: Camila Alves McConaughey - Sexy & Sleek
For all the details on this lovely wedding, visit the full recap on GreenBrideGuide.com.
 | Choosing a Destination Wedding Location: Book your destination wedding today with a Sunwing Wedding Specialist |
 |
|
 | Green Destination Weddings: |
 |
|
 | Destination Wedding Style: |
 | Inspiration, Expert Tips, Contests, Deals & More: |
