MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. (July 31, 2007) – On July 7, 2007, near the small town of Comptche, CA, just miles from the Mendocino Coast, Stacie and Joey Shepp exchanged vows with the complete assurance that their wedding would leave no harmful environmental “footprint” behind.

“We strive in our daily lives to conserve energy, reduce waste, and save water so when we started planning our wedding our first objective was to host an event that was in alignment with our values,” says Stacie.

At the Shambhala Ranch Retreat Center and Country Inn, they found their ideal venue. Innkeepers Stuart and Tara Marcus have gone to great lengths to honor the land and the original inhabitants, the Pomo Indians, by creating an oasis that is sensitive to the environment and preserves the pristine qualities of the land. Shambhala Ranch, known internationally as a popular Esalen style retreat with a diversity of events, is completely off the grid and solar-powered. Meals are often prepared using produce from their own organic orchards, vegetable and herb gardens. Guests are within walking distance of a pond, upper elevation views, and redwood forest.

We also have a canoe, private river beach, abundant gardens and hiking trails,” says Marcus. “We are the closest Inn to nearby Majestic Montgomery Woods State Redwood Park, home to one of the tallest trees in the world. We focus on nature tourism and the land hosts watchable wildlife, birds, & stargazing. We want to keep this amazing setting as pure and natural as possible.”

Stacie and Joey, who met almost four years ago in a Green MBA program, ensured that their wedding would be as green as possible:

• All the food was organic and prepared onsite by a local caterer. Organic wine was provided by local winery Bonterra, desserts by a local raw food restaurant and they served fair-trade Thanksgiving coffee, a local socially responsible-business located just up the Mendocino Coast in Fort Bragg
• Instead of printing paper invitations with reply cards, they invited people through their website, which is .hosted by an environmentally responsible company that is powered by renewable wind energy.
• The happy couple purchased carbon credits to offset the transportation energy used by the guests.
• Whenever possible, tables were set with re-usable table settings and or biodegradable plates and cups.

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• The Bride, who is part owner in an organic leather design company, had her lovely dress custom-made from buckskin and recycled materials.
• Their engagement and wedding rings were created by local artists from recycled platinum and emeralds.
• Instead of creating a registry for physical gifts, the couple requested guests bring a “gift” in the form of spoken words or a shared song. This approach perfectly complemented the music provided by a Mendocino harpist
• Guests participated by taking photos and videos of the event, assisting the bride and groom in getting ready, or bringing handmade art.
• The couple “gifted back” to their guests and to the earth, by providing each with a carefully prepared & protected tree cutting to plant upon their return home (they even had a ribbon!).

After the wedding, the couple went off to enjoy an Eco-Honeymoon at the Maui Retreat on the island of Maui. According to Joey, “It was like a tropical version of Shambhala Ranch.”

Now that the couple has returned, they are both busy operating their green businesses including www.ecowedding.org – their own wedding site that they plan to turn into a resource for other couples who are planning green weddings.

Mendocino County Lodging
Renowned for it’s natural beauty, Aa leader in Solar & alternative energy, organic wine production and was the first in the US to ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Mendocino County has long been recognized as being eco-friendly and environmentally oriented.

Many of the B&Bs, inns, hotels and rental properties in Mendocino County have been designed for the environmentally conscious traveler, combining modern amenities with eco-friendly products and services, such as energy conservation practices, organic bedding, water filtration systems, non-toxic biodegradable and non-allergenic cleaning products, and low impact waste practices.

To learn about Shambhala Ranch visit: www.shambhalaranch.com
For more on Eco-Weddings (the Bride & Groom’s website) visit: www.ecowedding.org and their Green business: www.earthsite.net

For more information on the wonders of Green Mendocino County, call 866-782-9636 (866 STAY-MENDO), or visit: http://www.gomendo.com and search for the word “green”.