A Weekend of Fun in North Carolina

Paula and Harlan Luxenburg were married at the Highland Lake Inn in North Carolina on June 1, 2008. The Highland Lake Inn is a member of the Green Hotel Association and features a wide variety of eco-friendly practices and services, including using locally grown organic food in their restaurant (they catered the couple's reception) and biodegradable cleaners in their rooms. As Paula and Harlan wrote in their welcome brochure, "We were looking for a place close to our home in Chapel Hill where all our friends and family could have fun and relax together for the whole weekend. When we discovered that Highland Lake Inn not only met that criteria, but also practices sustainability in numerous ways and has delicious food, we knew we’d found our place."

In addition to choosing a green location, Paula and Harlan incorporated a number of sustainable practices into their event.

1. Paper Products + Tasty Treats First, Paula and Harlan sent out electronic save-the-dates, which were followed by 100% recycled chlorine-free handmade invitations. When guests arrived they were greeted with reusable tote bags with Clif bars (Paula's favorite green business) purchased in bulk on Amazon, mini fair trade chocolates from Divine Chocolate, a farmer-owned company, and a schedule of events printed on 100% PCW paper. At the ceremony, they passed out 100% PCW paper programs with tree-free/fair trade covers (courtesy of Zebra Crossings).

2. Local, Seasonal + Organic Flowers Paula and Harlan got their flowers from Fisher Branch Farm, a family-owned organic farm located near the Highland Lake Inn.

Harlan's twin sister Rebecca was in charge of the arranging. She put together this gorgeous bouquet of Ferns, Baby's Breath, California Poppies, and Stokesia flowers for Paula to carry. The flowers at the reception were "displayed in old mason jars, which we had fun collecting at antique stores."

3. Green Entertainment As a destination wedding, Paula and Harlan's guests were invited to spend the weekend relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty in and around the Highland Lake Inn - which included swimming and paddle boating on the lake.

The evening before their wedding they had a talent show where friends and family members showed off their skills. There was singing, drumming, and even a burping rendition of the alphabet. In this picture, the bride and her former band-mate are singing one of his original compositions.

As if everything below were not enough, Paula and Harlan also included the following eco-chic elements:

- Paula’s wedding ring is made from recycled platinum (insert link).

- They gave their guests "tote bags and sports bottles [as favors], reusable mementos that we hope will remind our guests of the weekend for years to come."

- They asked everyone in their wedding party to wear "attire of their own choosing, so they [were] guaranteed to wear their outfits again on many other occasions."

But that is not all! Check back tomorrow to see the two extremely unique and green things Paula and Harlan did for their wedding...