A Rustic Eco-Friendly Wedding at a Private Residence in Grizzly Flats, California

Victoria Kozycz (30 and a jeweler) and David McIntosh’s (30 and in construction) love for the great outdoors took the lead in their intimate ceremony at a private family estate in Grizzly Flats, California. “We are both extremely outdoorsy people,” says Victoria, who grew up in the area. “I tried to use the natural surroundings as a decoration in itself.” Victoria’s sequined gown was a stunning contrast to the rustic setting, and her bouquet—consisting of vibrant king proteas and ferns—was a modern, eye-catching creation by Arden Parks Florist. A two-person band played as Victoria and David walked down an aisle lined with sewn-together recycled burlap bags. “Being environmentally sustainable and staying local for vendors was very important to me," Victoria says. "My best friend works at a small coffee shop, and she collected the bags for me. It was one of my favorite details from the wedding.” After the ceremony, the 85 guests walked a short distance to the reception site, where they sat at a long, horseshoe-curved banquet table under a canopy of pine trees and sipped on beer from a local brewery. Instead of serving cake, Victoria and David offered a colorful variety of sweets—from macarons to cupcakes—made by Auntie Bea's Bakery. “For favors, I cut used wine bottles into cups. It was really time consuming but so worth it,” Victoria says. Guests used the glasses throughout the evening and took them home as the moon rose over the treetops. —Carolyn Meers