One Couple's Sustainably Minded Wedding at Serendipity Gardens in Oak Glen, California

When it came time for her wedding to Jonathan, it was important to Erika that the entire event at Serendipity Gardens in Oak Glen, California, be as sustainable as possible. The focus on sustainability started with the couple's venue selection—the duo was drawn to Serendipity Garden's scenery and proximity to nature. Since the space was so beautiful on its own, the couple chose to keep their decor to a minimum and let nature really shine, which had the added bonus on ensuring the wedding's impact on the space was as minimal as possible. "As soon as I saw photos of the venue, I fell in love and wanted everything to fit around that look," recalls Erika. "It has the most beautiful scenery, with lots of greenery, water, and wood tones. I was very drawn to this natural and organic look, with a mix of whimsical boho and rustic vibes."

Once the couple had their venue locked in they continued their focus on sustainability by booking small, local businesses—even the food for the day was all locally grown. Erika goes on to explain that "we reused all the floral from the ceremony into the reception so as to not waste anything. At the end of the wedding, we encouraged everyone to take any floral they wanted in order for them to be loved on for the longest time possible." 

Although the entire day was absolutely stunning, Erika notes that the "most anticipated moment of the day was the ceremony, 100%! I loved the moment I walked down the aisle (we both cried) as well as reading our own vows to each other (of course we cried some more!). It was so special having all of our closest friends and family right there with us to share that moment together and during the ceremony. Our pastor gave us a moment to turn and look around at our guests and to really take in the moment! It was all so special!"