Fantastic midweek eco friendly wedding offer for July 2012!

Here's an amazing opportunity to throw a mid-week wedding, this summer, during the school holidays, on the weekend of 25th to 28th July 2012.

Perfect for teachers or lecturers who are stuck with choosing high season for their nuptials, the venue has been heavily reduced to £2500.00 (saving of £1890.00), plus...
Your guests' accommodation will be reduced by an extra 20%

You can even choose either a 2 or 3 night package.

Have your green wedding at fforest camp bewteen 25th July to 28th July and celebrate!

ALSO...

For anyone who was lucky enough to get proposed to on Valentines day, or the Leap Year and planning on getting married at short notice fforest also still has one other full price July weekend slot left to book!

For more details on either of fforest's offers contact Cassy on cassy.wiggins@coldatnight.co.uk or phone 01239 612 133

Posted in Green Wedding Special Offers , Venues

fforest wedding open days

A little while ago we got really excited about a new eco friendly wedding venue in Wales that we thought was a perfect fit for those couples intending to throw a weekend festival wedding.

Now you don't just have to take our word for it - fforest is inviting you to see for yourself what an amazing place it is. It will be a day for couples and their families to go along and see what's on offer.

They will take you on a guided tour around fforest which will be decked out with all those extra little details that are included for a wedding weekend and Cassy will also being give a little presentation showing fforest at different times of year, not only giving you a good idea how it will look when you plan to get married, but also how every wedding at fforest is truly unique.

Contact Cassy Wiggins on 01239 612 133 or email cassy.wiggins@coldatnight.co.uk to book your place either in April or July.

WHAT? Wedding Open Days

WHEN? Saturday 14th April 2012 and Saturday 21st July 2012

WHERE? At fforest camp, Fforest Farm, Cwnplysgog, Cilgerran, Cardigan, SA432TB

Put the dates in your diary!

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Inspiration , Venues

Eco-chic wedding fair at the Green House hotel

We heard that during marriage week, which ends today, couples were being encouraged to focus on actively nurturing their relationships (something we feel strongly about) and it seems a natural extension for them to nurture the environment and their local communities too. So it seems fitting that on Sunday February 26, the Green House hotel is hosting an Alternative Wedding Fair showcasing the cream of environmentally friendly wedding suppliers, bringing inspiration to couples planning to wed in the South of England.

Inspiration for brides-to-be will fill the luxurious, award winning, four-star hotel in Bournemouth. Organic, fair-trade, recycled and vintage wedding wares from florists to photographers and everything in between will help couples to be considerate in their eco-chic wedding choices.

One of our favourite labels, the House of Tammam will be there to show off a selection of eco-couture wedding dresses for the chic bride who cares about ethics. A trailblazer of the eco-luxury movement, all Tammam wedding dresses are a perfect marriage of style, quality and sustainability. Lucy Tammam said she's really excited to be showing her eco-wedding dresses at the Green House along with so many fantastic sustainable suppliers at an amazing location.

It should be a great day for southern brides and grooms-to-be to find out how to include an ethical aspect to their wedding and it's a great opportunity for eco-friendly wedding vendors to reach a market outside London who might not know they exist.

Sarah Pavett, event manager of The Green House hotel, said: "As the UK's greenest hotel, we wanted to create an Alternative Wedding Fair to illustrate the many ways that couple can make sure the planet doesn't pay the price for their special day. A thoughtfully planned menu for the breakfast, organic wedding cake, recycled or FSC stationery and a vintage or even ethical wedding dress all gain eco-points."

WHAT? Alternative Wedding Fair

WHEN? Sunday February 26th

WHERE? The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth

For further information regarding weddings at The Green House hotel, go to www.facebook.com/greenhousehotel

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Venues

Green weddings forever

If you're thinking of getting wed in a wood, check out this video from one of our green wedding venues based in the Midlands, Forever Green Weddings, which says it all ...

Enjoy!

Posted in Green Wedding Venues

April eco wedding date in Devon - 20 to 23 April

Just got engaged?
Don't want to wait a year to get married?
Looking for a beautiful country wedding setting in April?
Well we have the perfect place...

Absolutely one of the best times of the year in Devon is April and at Coombe Farm it is just glorious. If the season is early then there will be some bluebells peeking out to smile at you in the woods, but even if they're not in full bloom, the woods are just beautiful with new leaves bursting out in all their intense greenery and dappled sunshine.

The last couple of years have seen April being warm and balmy in the West Country so it's worth snapping up this lovely eco friendly venue for your Spring wedding this year.

They have only one weekend left - 20 to 23 April 2012 so don't hesitate too long or the date will be gone in a flash!

For more information and prices please check out Coombe Farm's website www.combefarmwoods.co.uk

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , News , Venues

Save the date, naturally

When Simone over at Welsh Green Weddings sent us Ruth and Glenn's save the date photo (they are to be married at Penybanc Farm in Carmarthenshire in April this year) we couldn't help sharing it!

If you're planning a naturally green and eco-friendly wedding this is a brilliantly cost effective way to announce your wedding date to your family and friends...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted in Green Wedding Inspiration , Natural Nuptials , Venues

A green fforest wedding

Here at GU HQ we get so excited when we discover yet another absolutely unique and exquisite wedding venue that ticks all our boxes.

A wedding at fforest, in Cardigan, Wales, really is unique and captures the essence of what a green wedding is all about, embracing the natural environment and drawing on an ever-changing template presented by the seasons.

fforest is about the great outdoors and is set in 200 acres of woodland, grazed pasture and wild meadow. The farm is bounded by the Afon (River) Teifi and the Teifi Marshes nature reserve with gorgeous views across the Preseli mountains, ancient woodland, water meadow and traditional farmland. The camp provides a natural green canvas for your wedding celebrations and creates a place to enjoy the simplicity, pleasures and beauty of outdoor living in an outstanding natural environment.

Posted in Green Wedding Inspiration , Seasonal Celebrations , Venues

Eclectic eco-chic London wedding

What we love about the weddings that our fans throw is the total individuality of them and the irresistible melting pot of cultures that boil over!

Ethical wedding photographer, Emma Stoner sent us lovely photos of Jenny and Peter's Jewish wedding held right in the heart of the City at the iconic newly refurbished St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The couple chose the spot for it's unique character and convenient location not far from their North London flat, so helping to cut down on travel. This beautiful building, with its stylish Victorian inspired interiors and Gothic romantic architecture provides an excellent setting for a wedding.

Posted in Green Wedding Natural Nuptials , Photographers , Venues

Autumn inspired eco friendly wedding shoot

Wedding stylist Sue Fyfe-Williams of Aunties Vintage China recently sent us this lovely Autumn inspired photo shoot at Welsh Green Weddings, a distinctly different wedding venue that offers a multitude of options for couples to plan a unique, individual wedding which reflects their values and choices.

Newly licensed for weddings earlier this year, wonderful Welsh Green Weddings is a beautiful and versatile eco friendly wedding venue near Llandysul, Ceridigion. The Dairy and Byre are both licensed for wedding ceremonies and, while larger weddings may need a marquee, smaller more intimate wedding receptions can fit snugly into the dairy. There is a great choice of accommodation for your guests ranging from cosy dormitory-type rooms in the adjacent Ceridwen Centre, bedrooms in the farmhouse and the byre, a yurt and an original, beautifully decorated Romany caravan. Couples who choose to spend their wedding night in the Romany caravan, which is at the end of a leafy path, will wake up surrounded by rolling Welsh hills and serenaded with birdsong.

The wedding venue is owned and run by Simone and Roger Mansell-Broome, who are just the perfect hosts and stylist Sue said that when one tries to praise them for their hospitality and attention to detail they reply “It's what we do”.

Posted in Green Wedding Inspiration , Natural Nuptials , Venues

Beautiful Somerset wedding venue

We've just found a beautiful new wedding venue in Somerset. So conveniently close to Taunton that it would be easy for your guests to arrive at the wedding on time!

Woodlands Castle is holding a Ladies Indulgence Night this Friday so it would be a great opportunity to go along and see it for yourself. They are donating all proceeds on the night to the Breast Cancer campaign, so you will feel good about indulging yourself too!

They're offering a variety of free treatments including hair, nails and massage. Also you will have an opportunity to buy jewellery, home wares, cards and gifts.

There'll also be evening entertainment along with champagne and a delicious buffet.

WHAT? Ladies Indulgence Night
WHERE? Woodlands Castle, Taunton
WHEN? Friday 23rd September, 6pm until 11pm
HOW MUCH? £8 entry, proceeds donated to the Breast Cancer campaign.

Buy tickets here.

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Venues

Eco Hero: Linda Moss

Congratulations to our great friend Linda Moss - author of Organic Places to Stay, who has been nominated by Greenhouse PR as their Eco-Hero for September.

"The reason why we love Linda is that she has been passionate about organic holidays for the last 12 years - working her socks off to produce a wonderful guide and website and never giving up - despite difficulties along the way. The outcome is a wonderful guide with truly wonderful organic places to stay" say the people at Greenhouse PR.

We wholeheartely agree with this statement and are delighted to see her efforts being recognised.

Check out her website which lists hundreds of fantastic places to stay in the UK and further afield, ranging from putting your own tent up in a field on a certified organic permaculture farm to a boutique hotel with an organic restaurant, the many options in between include an amazing variety of bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation too.

Perfect for planning your organic honeymoon.

Posted in Green Wedding Honeymoon & Eco Tourism , News , Venues

Wedding Fair at Trafford Hall

Lovely new (to us) wedding venue, Trafford Hall, nestled in the countryside just outside Chester, are throwing their very first wedding fair this Thursday evening.

Trafford Hall is run and maintained by the National Communities Resource Centre - a notable charity. This year the Charity has been awarded Level 4 of the Green Dragon Standards for the centre's environmental management systems (EMS)and the centre has just celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The Hall is a magnificent grade 2 listed Georgian Manor house, situated in 14 acres of award winning gardens and surrounded by the beautiful Cheshire countryside, a perfect setting for your ethical wedding day celebrations.

The house offers a beautiful ballroom and glasshouse licensed for your wedding ceremony, plus a couple of other more intimate rooms for smaller weddings (the big wedding trend). The child friendly venue is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has 53 ensuite bedrooms to accommodate all your guests at very reasonable prices. What more could you wish for?

SAVE THE DATE.......

Thursday 8th September 2011

5:30-9pm

At Trafford Hall, - FREE entry and arrival drink.

View this magnificent venue set up for a wedding ceremony and reception. Take this opportunity to meet their experienced wedding team and and meet wedding suppliers including entertainment, vintage cars and beauty therapists.

If you cant'sake it to Trafford Hall tomorrow but you're planning to get wed around the Chester area then get in contact with Nicky Dutton to arrange a viewing, check availability and discuss your ideas and dreams. Tel: 01244 300246 or email n.dutton@traffordhall.com

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Inspiration , Venues

A truly green and ethical venue

Matara, a very green and ethical wedding venue listed in our directory, is totally committed to providing its customers with transparency in all they do and we have recently been sent the following statement by them.  We thought our readers would love to know how committed they are - over to Geoffrey Higgins of Matara:

"We want to ensure that, while providing you with the opportunity to celebrate the important rites of passage in your life, we give you as much information as possible about how we work, the food you eat and how it is sourced, the energy we use, and the team who work for you.  We want you to be confident that the food we serve is sourced from suppliers who rear their animals humanely and allow them to range freely outdoors, free of growth hormones and antibiotics, provide us with only sustainable varieties of fish, supply products made from organic or biodynamic crops without pesticides, and then prepared by us with love and care.  We undertake to do as much as we can to minimise the environmental impact of our work for you, and are endeavouring to do our part in nurturing the environment and the nature which we so love.  

Our goal is to reduce our wastage and emissions towards 0% - a big challenge.  We are at the first stage of the process and are committed to internally auditing our processes and suppliers over the next three months to see how we can:

• Buy only what we need, leaving no surplus
• Change or redesign our processes to take out waste entirely or reduce it to a minimum
• Encourage our suppliers to reduce or remove the packaging they use or start working with like-minded suppliers
• Purchase as many renewable, environmentally friendly, ethically, organically products as possible
• Buy as much as possible from local suppliers to reduce the mileage travelled and – in the case of food – maximise the taste
• Eliminate all hazardous chemicals from Matara thus avoiding soil and water pollution
• At the same time, we want to create an environment at Matara within the team that encourages learning about sustainability and the part each person plays in the journey

"Our challenge is to establish an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just presence on the planet as the principle of our time." Charles Stirton - friend of Matara.

“I believe it is only though exploration and dialogue we will be able to address the ecological, social challenges we face.  In a conversation, you always expect a reply and if you honour the other person, you understand that you must not expect always to receive a reply that you foresee, or a reply that you will like.  A conversation is two-sided and always, to some degree, mysterious; it requires faith.” Wendell Berry – American man of letters

Posted in Green Wedding Venues

Kentish green wedding venue

If you're planning a wedding in Kent and looking for a uniquely eco-friendly wedding venue then take a trip The Pines Calyx. They're holding their Autumn Wedding Open Day on Sunday 30th October.

It's an exclusive and unique wedding venue set in St. Margaret’s Bay just North of Dover - one of our favourites.

Meet the team and some of Kent’s finest wedding professionals who will be exhibiting on the day.

Entry is free and open to all. Start the day with a complementary glass of Champagne on arrival and take your time to check out this wonderful space and chat with the lovely people who run this unique place.

The Pines Calyx is set in a wonderfully tranquil garden atop the famous White Cliffs. After you've had a look around the venue you could take a stroll around the beautiful garden, visit the tea room for refreshments and pop down to the Bay to admire the iconic Cliffs.

What? Wedding Open Day

Where? Pines Calyx, Beach Road, The Pines Garden, St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent, CT15 6DZ

When? Sunday 30th October 2011 from 11am to 4pm

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Events , Venues

Weddings, tents and gypsy caravan

Simone from Welsh Green Weddings sent us some lovely photos of the first two weddings held at their wonderful new licensed wedding venue at Penybanc Farm in Carmarthenshire.

Maggie and Steve were married there in May. It was an intimate family affair - Maggie originates from Guyana in South America so there was rather an exotic theme - a light green wedding with hot pinks, rum punch and colourful flowers - great contrast to the rolling green Welsh mountains!

The second wedding at the beginning of June was a larger event with a wonderful tent set on the platform overlooking the valley. They had beautiful sunny weather, a vegetarian reception, Chinese flying lanterns and a good time was had by all.

A wonderful idea - Welsh Green Weddings now have a beautifully restored authentic Romany caravan - perfect for the bride and groom on their wedding night, or a romantic break.

Welsh Green Weddings are offering 'Midweek Weddings' or 'Tea Party Weddings' for budget minded couples. To find out more go to their website or phone Simone on 01559 370517 for a chat.

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Venues

Matara's green weddings

There's a wonderfully eco venue in the middle of England called Matara which offers ethical couples heaps of lovely ideas for their weddings and we thought it time that they told us more about the Centre. So here it is, straight from the people in the know. Over to you, Alice:

Matara Weddings - Clothèd all in Green-O

At Matara, we have spent the last 15 years developing our Centre into a place which allows guests to celebrate their wedding very personally, confident that they are making vows in a setting behind which there are ecologically sound principles.

We believe in fresh, local, organic produce. As much as possible of the fruit and vegetables we serve are organic; our meat is sourced from a trusted local butcher. We try as much as possible to serve seasonal produce, cutting down the miles your food travels to ensure it is fresh, with the best possible taste. We are committed to serving fish that has been responsibly sourced and is sustainable, so that we protect future needs for everyone. Wherever possible, we source our butter locally; it tastes better, doesn't travel far, and we are helping the local economy. We offer local cheeses, with milk from local cows.

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Venues

Forever Green throws open its doors in Nottinghamshire

Forever Green, a lovely woodland wedding venue in Nottinghamshire is throwing open its doors to visitors for three evenings this year when the venue will be all set up for a wedding with planners and suppliers on hand to chat with you.

If you're thinking of getting wed in the area then it's a great idea to attend one of their series of wedding open evenings.

Put the dates in your diary and pop along to enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly while you talk to their wedding planners and other selected suppliers about your special day.

What? Wedding Open Evenings - Free entry

When? 6th May, 12th August and 18th November 2011 7pm till 9 pm

Where? Forever Green">Forever Green, Ransom Wood, Southwell Road, Manslfield, Nottinghamshire
Entry is free and the event runs from 7pm till 9pm.

For more information contact 01623 675323 or email enquiries@forever-green.info

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Venues

Welsh green weddings

At last we have found an amazing venue in Wales for those that want to get wed the green way over the border. And what a venue it is, hosting wedding and civil partnership celebrations on their organic farm for those who want a truly rural, less commercialised, more individual green event.

Welsh Green Weddings in West Wales, is a small organic farm of forty acres tucked into the lush green Teifi Valley. They offer self-catered and/or catered accommodation for over forty people sleeping in three separate converted farm buildings plus additional sensitively managed spaces for camping and caravans. And there's a beautifully converted Old Dairy for small wedding receptions while larger receptions can be held in hired tents, yurts or marquees in the field close to the farmhouse.

An undiscovered gem of a venue nestling on the borders of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Although it sounds rather remote, it's actually only a mile from the A484 linking Carmarthen to Cardigan and the nearest railway station is in Carmarthen, only 12 miles away, just beyond the western end of the M4, so very easy to get to from far and wide.

Welsh Green Weddings is Vegetarian approved, being members of the Vegetarian Society Food and Drink Guild, and the farm is heated by a biomass boiler with solar powered hot water. The photos were taken on a gloriously sunny spring day last weekend - you can just imagine how lush it will be in the summer!

These wonderful people are incredibly flexible and are happy to do whatever you like, whatever the size or complexity of your big day.

For more information check out their website www.welshgreenweddings.co.uk, email info@welshgreenweddings.co.uk get in touch with Simone on 01559 370517.

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Natural Nuptials , Venues

Dream green weddings in Cornwall

There’s been a revolution in the world of weddings recently. Suddenly weddings are all about the bride and groom, and the way they choose to live and marry.

You’d think that this was always how it was meant to be, but in the past it didn’t usually work out that way.

The best day of your life was often all about the parents who were probably paying for it, Great Aunt Martha’s dislike of fancy food and not upsetting the vicar!

Thankfully things have changed and now it's very personal – weddings are more and more a reflection of the happy couple themselves - they’re romantic, they’re green, they’re fun.

Cornish Tipi Weddings captures the essence of eco-chic – riding the crest of this new wave of green Romantics with its very 21st century blend of sustainability, fun and glamour.

Their licensed wedding pavillion means it's the closest you'll get to an outdoor wedding ceremony in England and they’ll arrange the wedding of your dreams for 20 people or 220 people, with a matchless backdrop of woodland and sky, shimmering lake water and magical Cornish earth.

For more information about Cornish Tipi Weddings and Cornish Tipi Holidays (their tipi camping accommodation) go to their website www.cornishtipiholidays.co.uk, email info@cornishtipiweddings.co.uk or phone 01208 880781

"The ceremony took place in a clearing in the woods. Guests sat on hay bales and sipped champagne...The band was fantastic, the company even better and we finished it off sleeping in a tipi and waking to a fantastic day of fishing and swimming in the lake."

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Inspiration , Venues

Green wedding open day

If you're planning an eco friendly wedding in Kent and still open to your wedding venue choice then take yourself along to The Pines Calyx this weekend. It's an exclusive and unique wedding venue set in St. Margaret’s Bay just North of Dover - one of our favourites.

They're holding a wedding open day this Sunday 27th March.

Meet the team and some of Kent’s finest wedding professionals who will be exhibiting on the day.

Entry is free and open to all. Start the day with a complementary glass of Bucks Fizz on arrival and take your time to check out this wonderful space and chat with the lovely people who run this unique place.

The Pines Calyx is set in a wonderfully tranquil garden atop the famous White Cliffs. After you've had a look around the venue you could take a stroll around the beautiful garden, visit the tea room for refreshments and pop down to the Bay to admire the iconic Cliffs.

What? Wedding Open Day

Where? Pines Calyx, Beach Road, The Pines Garden, St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent, CT15 6DZ

When? Sunday 27th March 2011 from 11am to 4pm

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Venues , Wedding Planning

A wedding that won’t cost the Earth ...

If you are as committed to a green way of life, as you are to each other, then naturally you will want to ensure that your wedding is truly Green!

And with the average wedding costing dearly in monetary value and the earth’s resources, there are lots of measures you can take to make sure your wedding day doesn’t go against all that you believe in. You'll be looking for a thoughtfully planned menu for your wedding breakfast, an organic wedding cake, recycled stationery and a vintage wedding dress which all gain eco-points, so choosing an eco chic wedding venue will top the bill. Look no further, The Green House Hotel is a must see ...

The Green House, Bournmouth's 'Small Hotel of the Year 2010', a stylish and modern eco-friendly four star boutique hotel, boasts about being one of the Greenest hotels in the UK with excellent service and luxurious accommodation.

Posted in Green Wedding Caterers, Food & Drink , Ethical Vendors , Venues , Wedding Planning

Penrhos wedding availability Spring/Summer 2011

Penrhos Court still has two wedding dates left in early 2011 so if you're still dithering about where to get wed this is the most amazing venue to choose - one of the greenest venues in our wedding directory, we highly recommend that you go visit and see what they can offer before these two rather good dates get snapped up.

The weekends of 23/24 April 2011 and 21/22 May 2011 are still available to book.

Penrhos is a great party house and is yours exclusively for your wedding. Licensed for civil ceremonies the whole event can unfold here. With 15 ensuite bedrooms you, your family and friends can stay one, two or three nights creating a magical weekend house party.

“All our guests captivated by the uniqueness of Penrhos. It is not just the idyllic setting however but the underlying ethos of the place that makes it so very special." Laura & Chris 2009

To find out more go to their website, email weddings@penrhos.com or phone 01544 230720

Posted in Green Wedding News , Venues

Great New Year wedding offer at RSA London

One of our favorite eco friendly city wedding venues, the RSA House in Central London is offering a fabulous New Year deal.

If you're planning a winter wedding in the big city early in 2011, the RSA House makes a perfect location with their unique candlelit vaults providing a truly romantic atmosphere for your big day that's hard to beat.

Their early bird offer includes venue hire, sparkling wine reception for a minimum of 60 guests with a selection of canapés, three course wedding breakfast, half a bottle of house wine per person and a glass of sparkling wine for the toasts. There's an evening disco and dance floor, unlimited tea light candles, PA system, optional gels for vault uplighters thrown in and you can have a cash bar for the late party goers.

All that for £100 per person and the Happy Couple go FREE of charge!

This fantastic offer is available for weddings booked between January and March 2011. What are you waiting for?

For more information contact www.theRSA.org/house phone 020 7451 6815, or email weddings@rsa.org.uk

Posted in Green Wedding Special Offers , Venues

Wishing you a Folly Farm Christmas…

The Folly Farm Centre near Bristol and Bath is one of our favourite green wedding venues, and this year they’re offering their fantastic facilities for Christmas functions and winter breaks.

So, whether you’re seeking an inspiring venue for your office party or arranging a festive get-together with friends and family, or even a last minute wedding celebration! Folly Farm is perfect.

There’s a great choice of function suites, with the largest able to take up to 120 people. Comfortable overnight accommodation for up to 45 people is available in the lovely farmhouse and converted barns - fall asleep to the rustle of the wind in the trees and the call of owls in the surrounding nature reserve.

Eco friendly features range from biomass central heating to rainwater harvesting. And best of all, profits go to supporting the conservation and ecological work of Avon Wildlife Trust.

Find out more by e-mailing the Folly Farm Centre team today at info@follyfarm.org or phoning them on 01275 331590.

Posted in Green Wedding Entertainment , Events , Venues

Natural wedding venue in the heart of London

We're over the moon to have WWT London Wetland Centre join our eco friendly wedding directory.

WWT London Wetland Centre is 42 hectares of beautiful lakes, pools and lagoons bringing wildlife and birds to the heart of our capital city.

To find such an amazing habitat so close to central London is unique and this combination of beautiful surroundings and central location (Zone 2) makes it the ideal venue for natural weddings in the city. The Wetland Centre are liscensed to hold civil partnership and marriage ceremonies in some of their buildings while other buildings are fabulous spots for wedding receptions. Venues approved for ceremonies are the Observatory and Wetland Living.

The Observatory can host a maximum of 110 guests and is a beautiful split level, heated observatory with a huge viewing window which has spectacular panoramic views across the reserve.

Wetland Living is a quaint and intimate venue with a thatched roof and white washed walls providing you the perfect location for your event. Licensed for wedding ceremonies the building has a capacity for 42 guests seated or 60 people standing. Where else in London can you have a wedding ceremony surrounded by beautiful wetlands and birds?

This wonderful wildlife and bird sanctuary is situated in Barnes not far from Hammersmith Bridge and smack in the middle of London. It's an inspiration for couples living in London who would prefer to get married in a wilder, more natural environment but don't want to stray too far from home.

If you would like to hold your wedding and/or reception at the London Wetland Centre, please enquire at 020 8409 4400 or functions.london@wwt.org.uk.

Posted in Green Wedding Inspiration , Natural Nuptials , Venues

Wedding Fair at Nottinghamshire's green venue

If you're planning to get wed in Nottinghamshire soon then you might find some great ideas at Forever Green's Wedding Fair this weekend.

Forever Green's wedding fair promises to be one to remember. Surrounded by their romantic setting of 70 acres of indigenous woodland, the fair will include live music, fashion shows, bucks fizz on arrival, fantastic goodie bag give aways and all the advice you could need from a top range of exhibitors whose sole aim is to create the most perfect wedding for you.

There's also a great opportunity to win venue hire work £1,200 - an offer that would be hard to turn down!

Entry is just £2.50 and automatically enters you into the prize draw giving you the chance to win venue hire worth £1200. Tickets can be purchased on the door on the day.

What? Wedding Fair
When? Sunday 10th October 2010, 10 am to 4 pm
Where? Forever Green, Near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

For more information about Forever Green go to their website and for information on the wedding fair you can download their visitor brochure from their site.

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Venues

Eco-chic city wedding venue throws open its doors

Next weekend the dedicated team at the RSA will be throwing open the doors of the House to showcase their fantastic facilities for Weddings and Civil Partnerships.

Located in the heart of London, the RSA House’s Georgian façade conceals many unexpected delights of contemporary and traditional architecture. Whether you seek the inspiring grandeur of the Great Room or the intimacy of a candlelit ceremony in the Vaults, the RSA really is the most ideal wedding venue in the heart of London if you are planning memorable wedding day.

You won't know just how fabulous this wedding venue is unless you go along and meet the team and their suppliers on Sunday 17th October 2010.

No need to make an appointment, just get along there and find out more about one of London’s best kept secrets.

Contact weddings@rsa.org.uk, T: 020 7451 6815 or visit their website www.theRSA.org to find out more.

What? Open House
Where? RSA House, London WC2
When? Sunday 17th October 2010 11 am till 3 pm

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Venues

Gorgeous Green Weddings in Wiltshire - at last!

We're absolutely delighted to announce that the long wait is over for Winkworth Farm's brand new green wedding venue. Set to throw open its doors at the beginning of August, Winkworth Farm is embarking on a new chapter in its life as a premier eco-friendly venue for weddings, offering the highest quality service that doesn’t cost the earth.

Set in over 220 acres of organic pastureland, Winkworth Farm strongly believes in supporting the local economy whilst using the latest green technology to reduce its Carbon footprint. The 12th century farmstead has been lovingly renovated by local builders and craftsmen to embrace its ancient past and introduce environmentally friendly modern technology.

No expense has been spared when considering the earth’s future and being green doesn’t mean sub standards here. Energy efficient heating and audio visual equipment has been deployed and even the hand dryers are green and locally sourced!

Not only are they good to the environment but they believe is being good to the community so for every wedding or event held a donation is made to Oxfam Unwrapped and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute.

Further details and a brochure can be downloaded from: www.winkworthfarm.com

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Events , Venues

Giant tipi tents win popular vote

With festival fever in full swing, Glastonbury all but over and a sweltering summer to inspire, you'll be thinking about throwing your eco friendly wedding in a field next summer, so whatever else you do you will probably need to hire a tent (just in case it rains!).

Imagine having 200 wedding guests gathered in three Giant Hat Kåtas all joined together to create a single huge space. The sun is setting, the band is in full swing and people are grooving on the dance floor. Across the tent people are chatting at the bar whilst others linger by the open fire…yes… inside the tent! You can have a smaller Tipi tent for guests to chill out on bean bags and giant cushions. Then as the night draws to a close, your guests can retire to individual camping tents in a tipi village created for you across the field.

In the West Country the lovely people at World Inspired Tents hire these wonderful giant tipis, known as Kåtas, offering an exciting, visually stunning and practical alternative to the traditional marquee and they have an amazing selection of teepee style tents for weddings, festivals and other outdoor events. World Inspired Tents will work with you to create a venue that will amaze and wow your wedding guests, their tents allow your imagination to run wild.

What's more this eco-friendly marquee company has recently scooped the top prize at the West Country Wedding Awards. To win this coveted award they have to have gained a healthy vote from their existing customers. Proof, we think, that they are just the best tent company that we thought they were!

If you would like more information, please call Edward Wright at World Inspired Tents on 01271 865306 or e.mail info@world-inspired.co.uk

Posted in Green Wedding Ethical Vendors , Inspiration , Marquees & Tents , Venues

Fantastic marquee offer!

Now here's an offer you can't refuse ...

The people at Forever Green in Nottinghamshire are offering a marquee for a wedding on the weekend of 26 November for the fantastic price of £1500 reduced from £4000! The capacity of the tent, including a dance floor and bar area is for 200 people.

If you're planning a shotgun wedding or still haven't found a spot for your special day, and save wedding the budget, this could be the answer to your dreams.

For more information get in touch with James Cannon at Ransomwood Estates on 01623 675304 or email James.Cannon@Ransomwood.co.uk

Posted in Green Wedding Marquees & Tents , Special Offers , Venues

Big wave, big welcome

Looking outside at the weather today (there's snow on Exmoor) it's hard to believe we will ever get some of those gorgeous summer days that we all lust after. But summer will come and we're predicting that festival flags are the next big thing for back yard wedding decor.

So when Cornish festival flag makers Big Wave Flags contacted us to find out whether our couples would be interested in their flags we nearly bit their hands off!

Having a cluster of Big Wave Flags to welcome your guests makes a real statement and they can transform your wedding venue to create a quite unique atmosphere. The flags stand 8 meters tall and are available in combinations of white, silver, ivory champagne, yellow, gold, red, purple, green, blue and more.

The fantastically tall, upright flags fly beautifully as en-masse installations but, if your budget will only run to a couple of flags, they also work equally well in the most compact locations. Each and every flag is different and they are all handmade in Big Wave's studio overlooking the North Cornish coastline.

Posted in Green Wedding Decorations & Details , Marquees & Tents , Venues

Fabulous Richmond wedding venue

The Bingham is the bees knees! Another fabulous city chic wedding venue boasting impressive eco credentials, we just love it.

Imagine entertaining friends and family as you sip champagne on an expansive terrace, watch the sunset over a stunning river vista with your loved ones and dance the night away by flickering candlelight in one of the most stylish settings.

A unique Georgian townhouse hotel in Richmond and once the residence of poets, the Bingham offers an alluring mix of old glamour and contemporary chic. The aura is distinctly warm the Bingham offers an idyllic, riverside environment perfect for weddings and civil partnerships.

Arrive by boat, or vintage Rolls Royce; Devour champagne, cocktails and canapés in the riverside garden or on the covered and heated terrace; Dine on exquisite award winning seasonal and local Modern British Cuisine, or chill out over a BBQ; Have a DJ spin some tunes or have your guests spin to a Ceilidh. Whatever your choice a Bingham wedding will be unique and truly memorable.

Posted in Green Wedding Civil Partnerships , Venues , Wedding Planning

Green wedding open day in Kent - 21st March 2010

Still haven't found your perfect wedding venue?

Well gorgeous green award winning wedding venue and idyllic destination, Pines Calyx in Kent is throwing open its doors on Sunday 21st March to show off how greening your wedding can be a good thing for you and for the environment. It could be just the place for your romantically eco-inspired wedding.

Go along and meet their wedding coordinator and preferred suppliers, take a walk and enjoy a glass of wine in the beautiful gardens surrounding the Pines Calyx which has a lake, sweeping lawns and stunning sea views.

What? Wedding Venue Open Day
When? Sunday 21st March 2010, 11am till 4pm
Where? Pines Calyx, St. Margaret's Bay, Kent, CT15 6DZ
How much? Free admission

For more information on the wedding venue and their open day please visit their website pinescalyx.co.uk or telephone them on 01304 851 737.

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Venues

Stunning arabian wedding tents

If you're planning an exotic theme for your wedding, one of these stunning tents will create an atmosphere out of the Arabian Nights.

Arabian Tents has a range of marquees with beautifully hand made interiors in a number of designs which include delicate printing to vibrant velvets and all the patterns on the tent linings are hand block printed in India using traditional techniques.

The company also stocks and wide range of accessories and lounge furniture like sofas, padded stools, low tables, chests, rugs and ornaments which you can use to decorate and accessorise the inside space with.

What we love about Arabian Tents is their commitment to the women's co-operative that does all the block printing. By supporting this co-operative they are giving women who find themselves in abusive relatoinships an opportunity to become financially independent. Also some of the soft furnishings you can hire are made by a Delhi company that employs Aids suffrers, helping them at every stage of their illness by providing them with appropriate work and taking into consideration their needs at every stage.

Now that's a wonderful way to spend your wedding budget, supporting a company that cares.

For more information go to their website arabiantents.co.uk email Katherine Hudson info@arabiantents.com or telephone her on 01323 887 654

Posted in Green Wedding Decorations & Details , Marquees & Tents , Venues

RSA Wedding Open House

The dedicated team at the RSA are delighted to be throwing open the doors of the House to showcase their fantastic facilities for Weddings and Civil Partnerships.

Located in the heart of London, the RSA House’s Georgian façade conceals many unexpected delights of contemporary and traditional architecture. Whether you seek the inspiring grandeur of the Great Room or the intimacy of a candlelit ceremony in the Vaults, the RSA really is the most ideal wedding venue in the heart of London if you are planning memorable wedding day.

You won't know just how fabulous this wedding venue is unless you go along and meet the team and their suppliers on Sunday 28th February 2010.

Find out more about one of London’s best kept secrets.

Contact weddings@rsa.org.uk, T: 020 7451 6815 or visit their website www.theRSA.org to find out more.

What? Open House
Where? RSA House, London WC2
When? Sunday 28th February 2010

Posted in Green Wedding Events , Venues

Amazing success story!

When World Inspired Tents wrote to us with an update on the company's second amazing year of trading, we couldn't help but feel proud to have been involved in their incredible success. Ed Wright, the MD told us:

"Having been in your wedding directory for two years, I can confirm that Green Union consistently provides the greatest volume of web traffic and the highest quality of leads to our business, over and above all other wedding directories".

Ed went on to tell me a little more about the business and where the teepees have taken him over the last year:

"We've had an amazing year and despite being only our second full year in business, World Inspired Tents has grown significantly. We've successfully completed jobs all over the South of England and Wales from Glastonbury to The Gower and from the western tip of Cornwall to East Grinstead (we did ask him if he was offsetting his travel!). Every one of our weddings has been a 100% successful and people just adore the tipis! Compared to traditional white marquees and tents, they are still very rare so we have the advantage of offering something that is all but unique. The letters of thanks we've had from our couples have been amazing.