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Get Some Green Back at your Eco-Event

March 13th, 2009 By: Doug Hahn

These days if you want your next event to be in a league of its own, you have to go green. Weddings and social events are more memorable when guests know you’re doing the right thing, and any company’s image is enhanced when it’s eco-savvy. Here are some tips for designing an earth-friendly event that won’t bust your budget.

Your Party Planner

Finding a party planner that shares your inspiration is the first step to creating events that go off without a hitch – green or not. And after decades of waste, many in this industry understand the significant impact their operations can have on Mother Earth.

Establish a great rapport with your planner, and talk to her about the green initiatives her company already has in place. Find out whether your planner’s suppliers can create quality products from recycled materials: everything from recycled chairs, to bamboo dance floors, to sustainable plywood is readily available from the right producer. Event companies that are already reusing and recycling can save you time money, because they’ve already found savvy ways to go green while making a profit.

Paper & Peripheries

Everyone knows that you can save a bundle by switching to e-vites, and save the environment to boot. This may be an excellent option for conferences and meetings, but many brides-to-be want their guests to receive something a bit more personal. Recycled paper is a must here, and, contrary to a popular misconception, organic soy ink can save on printing costs because it’s more vibrant than regular inks, meaning less can be used to create more.

Organic fibers can be used in lieu of linens for your tabletops – this helps support the farm communities that don’t use pesticides and defoliants in the growth of cotton, and doesn’t cost much more than the traditional material.

At your conference, make sure to minimize paper based inserts in gift bags, and use electronic technology to your benefit in order to reduce printing cost and save paper by the bundle. Consider creating displays that can be re-used next year too – plan ahead, and create these items in unity with your brand so that they can be re-used or flipped over and re-designed.

Hors’ Devours

Bottled water is a big no-no, from an environmental and a stylistic standpoint (this was a very fashionable thing to see at events three years ago, but not anymore). Simply putting carafes of water at every table saves money, helps the earth, and keeps your guests from going thirsty.

Going local for your produce saves on transportation and drastically cuts down on the carbon footprint your delightful delicacies leave on the planet. If you must have lobster at your wedding in Anchorage, well… you should know you’re not doing the earth any favors. While organic food can generally be more expensive, the veggie and poultry dishes are priced competitively; it’s the organic beef that gives this food the myth of being much more expensive.

Your caterer plays an important role in this aspect of your event. If you are planning your special night at a venue known for being earth-friendly, consult its list of preferred caterers: these will likely be the greenest and most talented chefs in town. At the very least make sure your caterer is responsible with waste, and has an established recycling program. Some even take the idea further by composting all the leftovers from their events at no cost!

Plan Ahead

The better you plan your green party, the smaller the footprint it will leave behind. Perhaps the most important aspect of going green and saving money is that while many of these options can cost less, they aren’t as readily available as traditional products. This is why its important for you to have a clear vision of what you want, and how you want to go green. Communicating with your planner and all those involved with your event is the first step to creating a night that your guests will remember for its elegance and sustainability.

Local Green Vendors & Caterers

Green Wedding Planners: Twirl Management
Hemp & Organic Linens: Napa Valley Linens
Certified Green Caterer: Global Gourmet Catering
An original San Francisco Green Caterer: Melons Catering
Award winning & Organically local: Back to Earth Catering

E-vite Resources

About the Author

Doug Hahn

Douglas Hahn is a copywriter, creative writer, and avid reader. He’s been working in the industry for nearly a decade, and wants to see the world become a greener place.

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