A Northern California Retreat Center and B & B

Reviews and Testimonials

Making Your Wedding Green in Romantic Mendocino, published by TravelRoads.com, published a Web review of Shambhala Ranch, Spring 2008. By Richard Evans.

Stacie and Joey Shepp recently exchanged vows with the complete assurance that their weddig would leave no harmful environmental "footprint" behind. This momentous occasion took place on July 7, 2007, near the small town of Comptche, just miles from the romantic Mendocino Coast.

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

At the Shambhala Ranch Retreat Center and Country Inn, they found their ideal venue. Innkeepers Stuart and Tara Marcus have gone to great lenghths to honor the land and the original inhabitants, the Pomo Indians, by creating an oasis that is sensitive to the environment and the pristine qualities of the land. Shambhala Ranch, known internationally as a popular Esalen-style retreat, is completely "off the grid," relying on renewable energy such as solar power and on-site water sources rather than traditional public utility sources. Meals are often prepared using produce from their own organic orchards, vegetable and herb gardens.

"We have a private river beach, abundant gardens and hiking trails," says Stuart Marcus. "We are also the closest Inn to Montgomery Woods, a forest of ancient Redwoods that is home to one of the tallest trees in the world."

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

* All the food was organic and prepared onsite by local caterer. Organic wine was provided by the near by Bonterra Winery and they served tair-trade Tahnksgiving coffee, a socially reponsible business located in Fort Bragg.

* Instead of printing paper invitations with reply cards, they invited people through their website, www.ecowedding.org, which is hosted by a provider company that is powered by wind energy.

* The happy couple purchased carbon credits to offset the transportation energy used by the guests.

Where possible, tables were set with re-usable table settings.

* The bride, who is part owner in and organic leather design company, had her 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 that guests bring "gifts" in the form of spoken words or a shared song.

* 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 provideing each with a tree cutting, carefully prepared to that it would be ready for planting upon their return home.

After the wedding, the couple enjoyed and eco-honeymoonat the Maui Retreat. According to Joey, "It was like a tropical version of Shambhala Ranch."

The couple is now busy operating their environmentally-friendly business, including www.ecowedding.org - their own wedding site that they plan to turn into a resource for other couples who are planning green weddings.

For those wishing to tie the knot, or simply experience a romantic getaway in a greenenvironment, the Mendocino Coast area of California is a great option. Many of the bed and breakfasts, inn, hotels and vacation rentals in Mendocino County have been designed for the environmentally conscious traveler, combining modern amenities with eco-friendly products and services. At many of the properies you will find organic bedding; water filtration systems; non-toxic, biodegradable and non-allergenic cleaning products; energy and water conservation; and low impact waste practices. A leader in solar energy, organic wine production and conservation, Mendocino County was the first county in the United States to ban genetically modified organisms (GMO's).To learn about Shambhala Ranch, visit: www.shambhalaranch.com

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