Repost: Recycled Bride's Eco-Wedding Cakes

I love this article from Recycled Bride!  They cover many options to have an eco-friendly wedding cake!  If you're in the market for an eco-friendly cake, you should definitely read this.  If you're a baker in or near Dane County in Wisconsin who uses organic, locally sourced ingredients or can work with vegan, fair-trade or other needs/desires, please contact me or leave a comment!


Recycled Bride: Eco-Wedding Cakes


Below are some beautiful Eco-Friendly wedding cakes pictured in their article!

Photo: Sweet and Organic Vegan Organic Wedding Cakes

Photo: Beautiful Vegan Wedding Cake by BabycakesNYC, photo by Tamara Wilm

Photo: Organic Wedding Cake with Fruit and Herbs, photo by Annie McElwain

Photo: Organic Wedding Cake by Sarah Magid

Venue Spotlight: Badger Farms

I’m really excited about planning events that celebrate our connections. I think one of the driving forces behind many celebrations is a deep seeded- hard wired desire to be connected in community. Two people getting married not only celebrate their connection to one another, but also traditionally host a large party to celebrate their union within their community! When we celebrate in a rural setting, we not only celebrate our connections with each other, but also our connections to nature and the Earth. Earlier this month I got to visit Dave and Betsy Muehl, Owners of Badger Farms in Cottage Grove. They were gracious and welcoming hosts.


From their Website: “Stroll through the double-door entryway into three levels of custom designed hardwood floors complemented by rustic log staircases and railings. Complete with Air Conditioning and in-floor radiant heating the Barn is ideal for any type of Wisconsin weather.”


“The newly refurbished 1920’s barn is tucked away in the serene Wisconsin Countryside.” It’s perfect for parties between 80 and 200 guests. It’s located in a quiet country setting just east of Cottage Grove.


As I was talking to Dave, he said that one of the neatest things about being the owner of Badger Farms is seeing it transform each weekend and hearing the guests’ reactions as they recognize what a fabulous venue it is!


Badger Farms has three distinct settings to offer for an event.


The Barn itself has a fun rustic feel. There are multiple levels of balconies for sitting spaces and a DJ balcony overlooking the dance floor. It’s a really cool multi level effect for a party. It’s a great venue for a ceremony or for dancing!


Outdoors they’ve got spectacular spaces with a backdrop of trees or of open spaces to hold a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Once they had a night time ceremony outdoors under their oak tree. Talk about enchantment! The space was decorated with beautiful lighted trellises.


The Shop is connected to the Barn. Despite it’s inelegant name, it’s a lovely-high
ceilinged banquet hall with lots of natural light, built in candle sconces and large doors that open to let in the scenery if the weather is gorgeous. The walls are white with sconces that provide perfect decorating opportunities. The state of the art lighting and sound system facilitate perfect ambience and accentuate your décor.


They only host one event per weekend. For a Saturday wedding, they’re happy to have clients set up on Friday and do a leisurely tear-down on Sunday. This means…no middle of the night clean up after the reception!


The final thing which I find refreshing is that they don’t have a list of caterers they require clients to use! You may use any licensed caterer!


So, here are some specs!


Location: 1682 County Road BB- just east of Madison, Wisconsin—within driving distance from Milwaukee, Chicago, or Minneapolis.
E-mail: dave@badgerfarms.com
Capacity: 80-200 is a good number for each of the spaces.
Price: Pricing is per person with a $750 minimum. See their website for a menu of specific details
Catering: You’re welcome to use any licensed caterer.
Bar: They work with a licensed Bar Tender who charges $25/hr for her services and sells the alcohol to the clients at cost. Cash Bars are NOT permitted.

Barn Dances

My entrée into the events and weddings industry was as a dance caller. I fell in love with contra dancing in 1992.  I started calling in 1994.  I met my husband at Kimmswick, 2000.  We had a wonderful contra dance at our wedding in 2001.  I took some time off from dancing after I started having babies, but I’ve been back at it for a year and a half now, and I love it more than ever!

While it’s a lot of fun to call a dedicated contra-dance where everyone knows the moves, there’s a very special place in my heart for community dances (like most weddings) where people just want to have fun, and they’re game for trying something new. That’s really where the folk tradition thrives!

As a caller at dozens of wedding receptions, I saw a lot of things that were really creative and beautiful, and developed some opinions about weddings and community celebrations. Oddly enough, though, I’ve only recently seen the possibility of incorporating my hobby as a caller with my profession as an event planner!

I would love to plan and coordinate more “country” weddings and celebrations.  If you’re looking for a barn dance or just a wedding in a more rustic venue with a natural feel, I’ve a ton of resources for you! (Think locally produced flowers, and beautiful country venues)  Coming soon to the Planned Spontaneity Blog will be some Business Spotlights.  My first two interviews have been with owners wedding barns in the region. 


Check back soon!

The First Three Decisions

If you're newly engaged, you’ve probably shared the joyous news of your engagement with all of your friends and family. Once you've been toasted and congratulated, the reality of wedding planning may begin to sink in.  You may begin to ask yourself, "Where do you start?" Here's a hint... All other wedding planning decisions will be easier after you answer the following questions:

1.  What is the style and theme of your celebration?

2.  What is your budget?

3.  How large is the guest list?

First, give some thought to the style and theme of your wedding. This decision will guide you in determining everything from food and venue to attire and favors.  Consider your personal values and background and incorporate them into your theme.   Your wedding is in some ways an introduction.  You and your partner can showcase what’s important to you as a couple!  What a great way to start married life! For a more in depth article on color theme and motif, check out my previous blog post here.

Next, look at your budget.  How much do you want to spend on your wedding?  Look at CostOfWedding.com to see what the averages are in your area, but keep in mind You are not average!  Knowing what others spend is only a starting point. You can create a fabulous celebration that is tailored to your own values within your budget if you can keep perspective about what’s important to you.

Finally, determine the size of your guest list. Advantages of a larger guest list include being able to share your joy with your larger community. Advantages of a smaller guest list include a smaller carbon footprint, and the ability to stretch your budget further. It’s really a very personal decision that needs to be based on what’s important to you. This is also a good time to talk to interested parties (like your parents) about what their expectations are. Create a gathering that is a comfortable size for you and your partner, while still including all of the people you want to share your day with.

Wedding planning can be overwhelming, so please don't hesitate to call for help! Planned Spontaneity has the tools and experience to help you create a celebration that fits within the framework of your personal values, your aesthetic, and your budget!  Contact me today for your free consultation. (608) 446-0346 or events@plannedspontaneity.net. 

Also, as a bonus offer in celebration of re-launching Planned Spontaneity, I'm offering a free budget analysis to the first 4 people who e-mail me a link to this article.  I'm offering a free highly personalized budget analysis- a $200 value!  I'll interview you to determine where you'd like to allocate your resources, and give you a very detailed budget that you can use to create your perfect wedding!  This is completely different from the freebies you can find in any bridal magazine or on the internet.  It is a highly detailed budget that includes all the wedding items you want, and none of the items you don't!  I'll even include the service fees and gratuities as well as postage for your invitations an thank-you cards!

I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Marilee Karamanski,

Celebration Specialist