6 Must Have Tips For Throwing a Green Event
I love big, elegant, fun, understated, noise-making events (okay, I love great events, period!). But parties, large and small take a toll on the environment. I am seeing more and more corporations as well as individuals implementing various elements of eco-friendly entertaining. I have a few clients that want to make sure everything we use for their events is Earth-friendly. In most cases you have to educate the client, letting them know the options that are out there and the costs involved. When most people think of the words "organic", "biodegradable" and "sustainable", they tend to think bland food, earth-tone colors and very expensive options, come to mind. Well girls and boys, in 2009 that is simply not true. While I will say that being eco-friendly will absolutely cost more than the more traditional route, incorporating green elements into your event will not break the budget and will in fact give your corporate clients something to crow about in the press and with their customers. People are looking for our corporate citizens to be more environmentally friendly. And when it comes to "social" clients, they get to brag to their friends that the invites were made from recycled bamboo and the ink was actually vegetable based, the fruits and vegetables served were locally grown and free of pesticides, and that the beverages consumed were biodynamic.
Eco-entertaining will also push you creatively since you might have to do more research and phone calling to find what you want, but with the internet, you can literally find anything you need, probably within driving distance of where you are. The fact that caterers and party supply houses have their own eco-friendly sources, your job will be as easy as ever.
The Tips:
1. Venue: If you are truly going "green" throw your party outdoors utilizing the daylight sun. No electricity or air conditioning will be necessary. I recently produced a quinceañera outdoors and utilized elements that would have been just as dramatic indoors such as candles (yes, candelabras with long beautifully lit candles, outdoors and with the sun shining. It was fabulous.) My client chose the location because it was centrally located and easily accessed by public transportation, thus cutting down on use of cars. Once people arrived at the bus and train stops, we had hybrid vans waiting to pick the guests up. It made quite an impression on everyone. It was a conversation starter for sure, but more importantly, it got people talking about how they can become a greener consumer.
2. Invitations: There are a huge amount of options when it comes to eco-friendly invites. If your event is not a formal affair, electronic invites from Evite or Pingg can be just the answer. These are free services where you can choose from dozen of invitation templates. Most events that you produce however will require a more formal announcement. In this case there are plenty of recyclable papers made from bamboos, post consumer waste and hemp with vegetable skins just to name three out of hundreds if not thousands of choices. The ink used can be soy or vegetable based, which is all in keeping with environmentally friendly practices.
3. Tableware: You might be surprised to read this, but renting your plates, glassware and flatware is extraordinarily "green" because these are constantly being re-used, so nothing, or not much is being thrown away and filling up land fills. There are also very exciting new products from companies that promote recycling and biodegradable living. Branch Home for example has beautiful biodegradable tableware made from sugar cane fibers that are sturdy, colorful and quite frankly architecturally designed. Another company, Preserve Products uses 100% recycled plastic in all their offerings. There are also a number of companies that sell re-usable plastic ware, but these tend to look "plasticy" so, you need to gauge your event and the level of sophistication that is necessary.
4. Food: These days everyone is aware of pesticide free food. And with the growth of specialty food stores such as Whole Foods Market and Trader Joes, organic, sustainable and biodynamic farming has become part of the everyday lexicon of party planners and their caterers. In case not everyone is aware of the differences, here are some short to the point definitions.
* Organic farming is produced/grown without the use of conventional pesticides and chemicals.
* Sustainable farming utilizes environmentally friendly methods of farming that allows the production of crops or livestock without damage to the farm as an ecosystem, preserving the long term fertility of the soil
* Biodynamic farming is a method of organic farming that emphasizes using composts, excluding artificial chemicals.
When producing a green celebration you want to source food that is locally grown
using one of the above methods. Hormone free, grass fed meats, free range chickens, cheeses made by artisanal makers and organically grown fruits and vegetables are so delicious and I daresay you will not believe that you are eating for example, a simple apple! Also, this might sound like common sense, but buying food in season will be easier to source locally, cutting down on transport and fuel usage and of course will be fresher.
5. Beer, Wine & Spirits: If you haven't tried organically grown beer and wine from some of our nation's microbrewers and organic vineyards, you are truly missing out. There is a great range of tastes that can rival your favorite champagnes. No, I am not comparing, I am just stating that growers have come up with some delicious product. Check beertown.org that features a "brewpub" locator, so you can source beer close to you or will assist you in finding outlets that sell organically produced beer. Purchasing from smaller, locally based beer producers and wine vineyards also support businesses, usually small and family owned, which is always a great thing to do when able.
When it comes to organic wines, some of the biggest names in the wine business are placing large amounts of their vineyards under organic designation. To be designated organic, the grower must grow grapes in accordance with their states organic certifying agencies.
6. Pulling It Together! Producing a green event can be overwhelming at first. However once you do one, your vendors and other sources will be in place, so your job will get much easier. Further being able to say you have produced eco-friendly parties is great to have in your portfolio with accompanying photos that show "green" doesn't mean cheap looking or tacky. There is nothing wrong with being pushed creatively. If things are too easy, then what's the point. Each event you do, should top the last.
Marley Majcher is the CEO of The Party Goddess!, a nationally acclaimed full service event planning and catering company and is a regular on air contributor to national TV shows discussing all things lifestyle, entertaining and the importance of Job Costing for small companies. With her continuing desire to be on the leading edge of gastronomy and design for her company and clients, Majcher has blanched, flambéed and fricasseed her way through the Smithsonian Institution's culinary series and cooking schools in both Paris and Normandy. She is constantly seeking out cool and creative individuals with style and personality to work with and attends premier design exhibitions whenever she can. Majcher currently spends any free time she might have, usually between 10:45pm and 11:15pm on Tuesdays planning her own annual blowout party every November.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marley_Majcher
Eco-entertaining will also push you creatively since you might have to do more research and phone calling to find what you want, but with the internet, you can literally find anything you need, probably within driving distance of where you are. The fact that caterers and party supply houses have their own eco-friendly sources, your job will be as easy as ever.
The Tips:
1. Venue: If you are truly going "green" throw your party outdoors utilizing the daylight sun. No electricity or air conditioning will be necessary. I recently produced a quinceañera outdoors and utilized elements that would have been just as dramatic indoors such as candles (yes, candelabras with long beautifully lit candles, outdoors and with the sun shining. It was fabulous.) My client chose the location because it was centrally located and easily accessed by public transportation, thus cutting down on use of cars. Once people arrived at the bus and train stops, we had hybrid vans waiting to pick the guests up. It made quite an impression on everyone. It was a conversation starter for sure, but more importantly, it got people talking about how they can become a greener consumer.
2. Invitations: There are a huge amount of options when it comes to eco-friendly invites. If your event is not a formal affair, electronic invites from Evite or Pingg can be just the answer. These are free services where you can choose from dozen of invitation templates. Most events that you produce however will require a more formal announcement. In this case there are plenty of recyclable papers made from bamboos, post consumer waste and hemp with vegetable skins just to name three out of hundreds if not thousands of choices. The ink used can be soy or vegetable based, which is all in keeping with environmentally friendly practices.
3. Tableware: You might be surprised to read this, but renting your plates, glassware and flatware is extraordinarily "green" because these are constantly being re-used, so nothing, or not much is being thrown away and filling up land fills. There are also very exciting new products from companies that promote recycling and biodegradable living. Branch Home for example has beautiful biodegradable tableware made from sugar cane fibers that are sturdy, colorful and quite frankly architecturally designed. Another company, Preserve Products uses 100% recycled plastic in all their offerings. There are also a number of companies that sell re-usable plastic ware, but these tend to look "plasticy" so, you need to gauge your event and the level of sophistication that is necessary.
4. Food: These days everyone is aware of pesticide free food. And with the growth of specialty food stores such as Whole Foods Market and Trader Joes, organic, sustainable and biodynamic farming has become part of the everyday lexicon of party planners and their caterers. In case not everyone is aware of the differences, here are some short to the point definitions.
* Organic farming is produced/grown without the use of conventional pesticides and chemicals.
* Sustainable farming utilizes environmentally friendly methods of farming that allows the production of crops or livestock without damage to the farm as an ecosystem, preserving the long term fertility of the soil
* Biodynamic farming is a method of organic farming that emphasizes using composts, excluding artificial chemicals.
When producing a green celebration you want to source food that is locally grown
using one of the above methods. Hormone free, grass fed meats, free range chickens, cheeses made by artisanal makers and organically grown fruits and vegetables are so delicious and I daresay you will not believe that you are eating for example, a simple apple! Also, this might sound like common sense, but buying food in season will be easier to source locally, cutting down on transport and fuel usage and of course will be fresher.
5. Beer, Wine & Spirits: If you haven't tried organically grown beer and wine from some of our nation's microbrewers and organic vineyards, you are truly missing out. There is a great range of tastes that can rival your favorite champagnes. No, I am not comparing, I am just stating that growers have come up with some delicious product. Check beertown.org that features a "brewpub" locator, so you can source beer close to you or will assist you in finding outlets that sell organically produced beer. Purchasing from smaller, locally based beer producers and wine vineyards also support businesses, usually small and family owned, which is always a great thing to do when able.
When it comes to organic wines, some of the biggest names in the wine business are placing large amounts of their vineyards under organic designation. To be designated organic, the grower must grow grapes in accordance with their states organic certifying agencies.
6. Pulling It Together! Producing a green event can be overwhelming at first. However once you do one, your vendors and other sources will be in place, so your job will get much easier. Further being able to say you have produced eco-friendly parties is great to have in your portfolio with accompanying photos that show "green" doesn't mean cheap looking or tacky. There is nothing wrong with being pushed creatively. If things are too easy, then what's the point. Each event you do, should top the last.
Marley Majcher is the CEO of The Party Goddess!, a nationally acclaimed full service event planning and catering company and is a regular on air contributor to national TV shows discussing all things lifestyle, entertaining and the importance of Job Costing for small companies. With her continuing desire to be on the leading edge of gastronomy and design for her company and clients, Majcher has blanched, flambéed and fricasseed her way through the Smithsonian Institution's culinary series and cooking schools in both Paris and Normandy. She is constantly seeking out cool and creative individuals with style and personality to work with and attends premier design exhibitions whenever she can. Majcher currently spends any free time she might have, usually between 10:45pm and 11:15pm on Tuesdays planning her own annual blowout party every November.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marley_Majcher
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