Reality, theme, and idealism clashed over the design of the celebration. We worked with our caterer and thought long and hard how we could represent our event, at the same time drifting farther and farther from convention (which was, after all, another implicit objective). See the list to the right for specific features we chose.

— Marisol & Jon

Gary Wilusz manages free-range chickens

Completely organic cake with logo

Organic can be fine dining as well. Notice the flags on the table and use of reusables.

Here we plant the matrimonial tree. It is an Alberta blue spruce which while not native to New Hampshire is native to North America. Peter wanted a low-growing spruce tree.

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Celebration Page

• We designed a logo based on an ancient greek symbol that unites apparent opposites (red and black circles) with a third circle (clear central circle). The yellow triangle represents channeling of energy. Also the grey outer circle can be seen as pierced by a circle hole in the middle (in which you find the triangle, green, white, and light grey part). This represents how we want to punch through the old greying worldview in place of a new worldview of sustainability.
  
  
• We chose an outdoor setting, surround by vegetation in Peter Kohl’s backyard. We did not want an artificial (and expensive environment) characteristic of traditional weddings. Although environmental conditions would prove more challenging (mostly in planning than in practice), everyone enjoyed the outdoor feel, natural light, and fresh, cold air.
  
  
• Organic food for the celebration. We ordered the cake from an organic cake bakery. The chicken was free-range not organic. Where organic food could not be purchased, all products were produced locally (with the possible exception of the champagne). Our caterer was very willing to work with our organic needs.
  
  
• Olga also made two Costa Rican dishes for us. She created an amazing bean dip which we served in traditional low-lying clay dishes. She also made milk and rice (arroz con leche) that the caterer served with the cake.
  
  
• Both for respect for the non-English speakers and the international flair, we translated a fair amount of the celebration, especially the vows.
  
  
• Instead of traditional wedding favors which often are disposed once the euphoria of the event have worn off, we chose non-trash producing plants. We liked plants as we wanted to give a gift of something alive, not fabricated and indicated our outdoors and natural flavor. We chose begonia due to the low cost and their ability to be planted inside and outside. We would have preferred more native plants but those are all designed to sleep through the winter and thus did not make good house plants. The plants arrived in peat planters with the logo and date drawn thereon in colors.
  
  
• In each begonia, we inserted a Worm Poop Paddie, a finely crafted paddy made from the richest worm poop that our Vermicultural Experts could engineer in Wisconsin. Since the paddies were made from our own foodstuffs, in each plant literally are the nutrients that Marisol and I consumed (almost).
  
  
  
• Similarly instead of a bouquet, we chose a matrimonial tree which not only represented life, lasts for a long time, is organic, but returns something to the site that lent itself for our event.
  
  
• We used almost no non-recyclable disposables for the event. The only exceptions were the champagne bottles which were recycled and the event programs (all of which were taken by guests). Our invitations were printed on fine coffee paper from Costa Rica. On their fate, we can only conjecture.
  
  
• We replaced dancing with an audio-visual production that had much more educational content. Without friends at this event, there was also less motivation to dance.
  
  
• Our table adornments represented both a union of two cultures and added a Costa Rican flair. The adornments also served as de facto party favors since people walked away with them. Marisol hand-painted small Costa Rican oxcarts in which we put nuts. A small woven basket also reminiscent of Costa Rican agriculture leaned up against the cart and contained chocolate covered coffee beans and raisins. In a soft piece of wood, protruded an American and Costa Rican flag. Two larger sets of flags also added colorful flair and reflected a mediation of opposites (despite both countries having the same colors).
  
  
• We used Spanish pop music to give a subtle background international feel. The music, although somewhat faint, served as an indicator to the audience of when events were changing.
  
  
• We chose a Justice of the Peace who reflected our values. Not only was Jim an aficionado of the New Hampshire outdoors, have a personal connection to us, but understood the notion of sustainability and what Marisol and I were trying to achieve. He blended well into the organic mediation of opposites of the celebration.
  
  
• Even our clothes instilled an international flavor. I wore a shirt given to my by a work colleague in Indonesia. Marisol chose a set of clothes reminiscent of Indian origin.