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Northern California is THE place to locate earth friendly spaces. Joie de Vivre is a chain of luxury boutique hotels with a green sensibility. The Joie de Vivre Green Dreams program works toward preserving the environment by incorporating sustainability into their central business policies. Each Joie de Vivre hotel is aiming toward the goal of becoming a certified green lodging in the areas of recycling and waste reduction, energy conservation, water conservation, pollution prevention and green meetings. Many of their Northern California hotels have! Besides being environmentally conscious of the world, these hotels are well-appointed and seek to meet the needs of each unique guest. Their hotel matchmaker will find a hotel that closely relates to your sense of style.

For you couples looking for a green venue, Joie de Vivre has these hotels which provide wedding services and have met all of the regulations required to be green certified. In San Francisco, try Hotel Carlton in Nob Hill, Hotel Drisco of Pacific Heights, Hotel Vitale Embarcadero and in Berkeley East Bay, Hotel Durant. All of the Joie de Vivre Hotels in the Silicon Valley are green certified, but these are the locales that offer weddings: Avatar Hotel in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale’s Domain Hotel, Hotel Avante of Mountainview, Hotel Los Gatos, San Jose’s Moorpark Hotel and Wild Palms in Sunnyvale. Just north of San Francisco, you will find the Waters Edge Hotel in Tiburon, too. With so many beautiful, environmentally sound options, you can’t go wrong!

Green Planning Tip: Consider creating a website to provide information for guests such as directions and details. It will save on the amount of paper used.

The scene: The moonlit beach of the glimmering Pacific Ocean with a blanket and picnic basket set on the sand. The handsome man reaches into the basket and pulls out…paper plates. Ooh, this moment could have been saved if he had considered trying Bambu‘s Veneerware®. A compost ready, one time use alternative to all the junk that goes into landfills.

Green Floral Tip: Choose locally raised, organically grown flowers.

The Ambrose in Santa Monica is an intimate eco-friendly boutique hotel that is ideal for a local honeymoon destination. The Ambrose takes great pride in the initiatives they take in maintaining a green environment for their guests. The Ambrose is committed to integrating as many methods of green living into the hotel’s business and daily practices. Recycling containers are in each guest room to encourage the reduction of waste, the staff supports and promotes local merchants and the good work they do in the community. Green guest amenities include a complimentary organic continental breakfast with fair trade organic coffee provided daily, and guests who drive hybrid vehicles are provided preferred parking. The Ambrose is a luxury, yet low impact living retreat within the chic enclave of Santa Monica. It’s definitely worth a look!

Green Clean up Tip: Eliminate waste by recycling materials and by utilizing as many reusable elements as possible.

Fashion forward design married with earth friendly fabrics and practices are the trademark of Deborah Lindquist‘s line of eco-couture wedding gowns. She’s eco-licious!

Green Gown Tip: Donate your gown to a worthy cause such as Brides Against Breast Cancer.

When planning your eco chic wedding, travel in style with recycled and reusable totes from the Karma Collection at Chicobag. These sturdy totes are capable of hauling up to 40 pounds worth of wedding planning necessities. Karma is…your friend!

Green Ring Tip: When choosing the rings consider a family heirloom, a vintage ring or if new, a conflict free diamond.