Destination Tie the Green Knot

Green weddings and receptions range from large regal affairs to small intimate gatherings of family and friends. Not only is today’s eco-friendly bride committing to a future with her groom, family, and friends; she also loves and honors Mother Earth. Very important in making her day special is choosing a venue that represents the bride and her commitment to the environment. In the Triangle there are a variety of venues to answer her requirements to love, honor and cherish Mother Earth through sustainable practices. Here is our “Sustainable Seven” (hyperlink) list of favorite spots in the Triangle area to “Tie the Green Knot!”

1

The NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill N.C.

Tie the Green Knot: Back to Nature

The Setting: Display gardens, nature trails, and all natural wood LEED-certified buildings provide just the spot for our “Mother Earth” brides! North Carolina Botanical Garden honors tree huggers while providing a special space for upscale bridal parties. At theBotanical Garden proper, there are three contemporary, LEED-certified buildings that are connected by breezeways as well as open and vine-draped garden gathering-spaces. For the bride wanting a rustic yet literary setting, she will adore playwright Paul Green’s log cabin. Surrounded by NC natives (plants, not people) this is one of the garden’s best kept secrets. Other venues booked through the botanical garden include Forest Theatre and the Coker Arboretum. Forest Theatre is perfect for the bride requiring a formal setting or desiring a medieval flair, and the Coker Arboretum the first choice for the bride who wants to walk down the aisle under the the ultimate vine-draped arbor. Inside or out, all options honor a commitment to a sustainable future.

2

AIA NCCenter forArchitectand Design, Raleigh, NC

Tie the Green Knot: Modernist Chic

The Setting: A futuristic salute to environmentally sound ideas combined with cuttingedge design, The American Institute of Architects, NC offers an upscale venue for the modern bride. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls optimize natural light and creates space without sacrificing the cozy feeling of a small venue. The minimalistic third-floorbalcony offers one of the best and most romantic views of downtown Raleigh. Themulti-purpose, eco-friendly terraced parking patio easily converts to a stunning outdoor space. From food trucks to DJs, there is place for it all on the patio. Designed by architects and celebrated by brides, this LEED-certified venue ensures maximum dazzle with minimum energy use.

 

3

The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill, N.C 

Tie the Green Knot: Southern Formal

The Setting: Historic Inn in the heart of one of the most beautiful college campusesin the  nation. It is the go-to-place for visiting UNC alumni and often pinned by green brides. Bridal events can range from small intimate private settings to large gatherings in spaces such as the grand “Old Well Room,” defined by its signature black and white checkered floor. Perfect for the pampered bride, the staff at this venue excels in rollingout the green carpet of hospitality and sustainable dining traditions. The Carolina Inn is  part of the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, which has implemented over 100 environmental initiatives since the inception of the Destination Earth® program inJanuary 2009. The Inn uses local and organic food and beverages whenever possible and recycling, and reducing water consumption are but a few of the ways this inn is ensuring more Carolina blue skies for the future!

4

The Washington Duke Inn, Durham NC

Tie the Green Knot: Sophisticated Grace

The Setting: Southern hospitality abounds at the luxury hotel and golf course adjacent to the Duke University Campus, Duke Chapel, Duke Forest and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Surrounding charm overlaps as brides often choose to marry at legendary Duke Chapel and celebrate their reception at “The Inn.” The Gothic Cathedral is made from the same locally quarried stone as seen throughout the Duke campus. The Inn accommodates weddings, wedding receptions and the overnight needs of the wedding party. Booking a destination wedding  at one location saves the bridal party travel time and conserves natural resources. The only AAA four-diamond hotel in Durham, the Inn has been recognized by the City of Durham for its conservation efforts, and they are striving for AHLA/green seal certification with the American Hotel and Lodging Association. This venue is good fit  for the green bride that enjoys entertaining her guests in an beautiful outdoor or indoor Southern setting,  especially delightful for the guests that are Duke Blue enthusiasts.

5

The Inn at Celebrity Dairy, Siler City, N.C

Tie the Green Knot: Down Home Charm

The Setting: Ancient oak trees greet guests at this 300-acre sustainable farm and forest just outside Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Producing the best chèvre in the triangle, the Inn at the Celebrity Dairy offers an agrarian retreat for a charming wedding. Brides may choose to gather family and friends on the porticos of the Greek Revival farmhouse, dance under the moonlight, or dine by the soft light of an expansive tent. The bride that celebrates her day on a sustainable farm has a treasure chest of pastoral memories rather than creating a blemish on nature.

6

The Borden House in Fletcher House Park, Raleigh NC

Tie the Green Knot: The Smart Bride

The Setting: Secluded park in the middle of the capital city offers the smart bride a reasonably priced venue to say her “I do’s”. If hosting a large bridal party, the charming amphitheater offers unlimited seating. Or for an intimate affair, there are several cozy garden spots throughout the park. While the property is a plant collector’s dream, the historic Borden House offers a back-up for inclement weather, or is a good first choice for a guest list of less than 75. The bride that ties the green knot at this venue creates a fabulous wedding and conserves green in more ways than one.

7

Home is where the heart is!

Tie the Green Knot: Your Home

Setting: Grandmother’s mid-century farm house, Uncle Bob’s beach house, or your own back yard allows the bride to maintain her cool in the ultimate feel-good place; her home or the home of a loved one. Start by setting the date when Uncle Bob’s hydrangeas are due to bloom. Not enough flowers at home? Smart brides work with local farmers or near-by nurseries to select live or sustainable plant cuttings for floral decorations. Live plants make great bridesmaids’ gifts, or can become part of the home’s landscape. Kick it up a notch and invest in the property by making home improvements such as installing energy-efficient light fixtures, ceiling fans or creating a new outdoor space for the ceremony. An at-home venue is suited for down-home comfort food. For example, the fried chicken served at Drew Barrymore’s recent home wedding was a big hit. Alternately, cut down on litter and stress by booking your favorite food truck for the day. A wedding is a very special party, so if you want to have a great space for many parties to come, go green and use what you home and and enjoy what you created for your wedding day every day of the year!