PLANNING A GREEN OR ECO FRIENDLY EVENT!!

So you are getting married! Congrats! Now the planning can begin!

Helping to make your event Eco friendly, or green can begin now! Our planner has put together some information that can help you as you travel down the planning highway! If you are hiring a planner, talk to them about making sure they look for venues and vendors that can help you achieve your goal.

Here are some tips that you will want to look at and try to use in planning your  Eco friendly event!

1.      Plan to stay local.  Choosing a venue that is closest to the majority of your guests enables a maximum number of people to save gas and commuting time while helping you to celebrate.  If you also work to utilize one location for both ceremony and reception, you save even further.

We know that many brides still dream of their beautiful church wedding, but if you do not have a church that you belong to, you can certainly plan on having your ceremony at the same venue you have your reception. Many venues have separate rooms that can be set up for the two different events, or they can do a flip.

2.      Our Certified Wedding Planner can help in identifying Eco friendly venues in the area for you.  The planner will know about energy efficient locations that practice recycling and other green procedures. Our planner has taken several courses on green planning and can help guide you through the process.

3.      Catering is one the high dollar expenses of a wedding, so deciding on the proper one will mean discussing things with them to find out their procedures and Eco friendly practices. Many  local catering firms  specialize in serving seasonal foods that are locally grown, and many are working with local organic farmers to insure the quality of the products.

      Another issue that will need to be discussed is the use of green products in serving the foods to the guests. Real dishes versus disposable. If you insist on disposable, make sure that they are recyclable and disposed of properly by your caterer.

4.      Your planner can also help you locate organic gardeners who specialize in locally grown flowers and greenery.  Choose in season flowers and consider re-purposing the floral pieces you’ve chosen for the ceremony site and using at the reception. Our planner/florist rents her vases to the clients when she does their arrangements. She suggests that the reception centerpieces are recycled, by taking them to local nursing homes or hospices for the patients and families to enjoy. When the flowers have died, she will go to the facility and pick up her vases, clean them and reuse.
      
When she is able to do this, it also helps the client by reducing the cost. Everyone benefits from this practice.

5.      Our planner can also help you choose Eco friendly print items, such as invitations, save the dates, etc  We have resources that specialize in 100% recycled paper and use non toxic inks. There are several local companies who are Eco friendly and will meet your needs.

6.      A number of wedding gown designers have included Eco friendly fabrics in their designs.  Fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo and peace silks are available and lovely.  Some brides lucky enough to have access to heirloom gowns are choosing to wear them and updating them with headpiece and accessory items. 

7.      Many couples are choosing natural gift items for favors.  Currently popular are tree seedlings, organic bulbs and plants. Items made from bamboo are popular, such as coasters.

8.      Wedding gift registries are showing gardening, lawn and recycling equipment in the couple’s choices. Registries are a great way to let your guests know what you need!

9.      Even wedding rings can express concern for environment.  Many couples are seeking the origin of the engagement diamond – refusing to purchase stones that are from areas that practice unsafe mining or which export “blood” diamonds.

       We can all step up to help preserve our land! Think green and Eco friendly in all the planning

        you do!!!! You will not be sorry!

Be sure and talk to your Certified Wedding Planner and let them help!!!!!

Best Wishes,

Marilyn