Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Reclaim the Earth!

Its THE latest trend throughout our culture.  But what it actually means and how it applies to events and weddings can be often times be confusing.  In the broadest sense, being “Green” means partaking in practices that are environmentally sustainable.  And sustainability is being able “[to meet] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
So how do we apply that to large scale events and weddings?  Well, we have to be conscious about how the decisions we make impact the environment…and it is in each decision you make.  But there are varying degrees of “green” so you may elect to be “light green” rather than “dark green”….but at the end of the day you are still making conscious decisions about your event and the environment!
So what “Green” options are available to you then?  Well here are some ideas to get your started!

• Venue - Is the landscaping comprised of native plants?  Especially in California (which is in a drought!), landscaping that is native and requires little watering is a big plus!
• Food - Locally Grown, Organic, Free Range & Wild!  Those are the buzz words you should be looking for when creating your menu.  There are seasons for fruits, vegetables and even fish!  So look up what items are in their prime at the time of your event.
• Rentals - Don’t go custom!  Use stock linens and ask your rental company what their green policies are.
• Dishes & Glasses - Its best if you use the real thing…but if you must go disposable then use corn or potato based products (amazing what you can find these days!)
• Wine - Organic Wines are tricky….but you get credit for using wines made from Organic Grapes!
• All else fails….PLANT A TREE!  Here’s a great website that will measure your event’s carbon footprint and estimate the number of trees to plant to make your event carbon neutral.  You can even go so far as to make the trees the “favors” for your guests!

Check back for more details and ideas on Greening your event!