Included on this page is an archive of the green event tips that are posted on our Facebook page. If you are looking for quick ways to green your wedding or event then take a moment to review the tips listed here. They provide great information on ways to easily incorporate eco-friendly aspects into the planning and execution of your wedding or event, and in some cases you can even save money in the process through the elimination of wasted materials. You can quickly scan each green event tip to determine those that would be feasible for you to use and then research each further as you wish. You can even cross-reference them against the articles that we publish for additional information.
Green Event Tip #30: Designing a sustainable event? Then start with the contracts. The agreements signed with your venues and vendors should include statements on their commitment to providing you with sustainable event services. Look in the terms and conditions for titles including the words “sustainable,” “environmental,” or “green.” This is normally where you’ll find their commitments written out, and if you don’t find it then request that it be included. Remember, if it isn’t in the contract then you have no guarantee of commitment.
Green Event Tip #29: Looking for a venue, vendor, or lodging that also supports your local economy? Just look on their walls! The artwork on the walls of these establishments tell a lot more than meets the eye. Is the artist locally based? Are the artworks commissioned from an area affected by financial hardships? Is the artwork environmental, meaning that it’s made of organic materials? These are all good questions that will help you find out more about how serious your venue, vendors, and lodging providers are about promoting both environmental and economic sustainability.
Green Event Tip #28: Rainwater conservation is an innovative way to decrease consumption and increase energy efficiency at your event. There are tons of benefits to rainwater conservation from reducing storm water runoff filled with pollutants collected on the streets to using properly collected, healthy rainwater to replenish the ground water supply. Ask the venues you look at if they have any practices like this. They could use rain barrels, special roofing, or rain gardens/planters to do so, and they should be able to provide you with the details on their practices.
Green Event Tip #27: Signage is an important part of any event. Whether it’s directional signage at a wedding telling guests where to find the ceremony or a welcome sign at a sponsored convention, most every event requires some sort of display. If you want to green the signs at your celebration, making them reusable is a good start. Print signs on recycled paper and fit them to reusable signboards also made from recycled materials, or if you want a modern approach and have the ability to project images in place of signage then look into digital options. Going with electronic imagery can quickly catapult the look and feel of your event upon your guests’ arrival too.
Green Event Tip #26: Sustainable audio…is there such a thing? Lucky for us, there is a lot that can be done to create an eco-friendly wedding or event AV set. Begin with the acoustics in your venue. If you have good acoustics, you won’t need so much equipment. Saves you some money too. Test your equipment early in the day and then turn it off until 45 minutes before the event. Limit the amount of microphones needed for presentation as well. Using three is much better than thirteen from an environmental standpoint.
Green Event Tip #25: Assess any risks to your green event early on in the planning process. Risk management is an important aspect to any event, but for a green event this goes a step further. You need to account for any environmental risks in addition to general event risks, so think about if your event has the possibility of causing any forms of pollution or contamination. Will guests at your bottle free event demand bottled water anyway? Is there any grass around walkways that could get damaged or trampled during the event or set and strike? Accounting for these items early on will allow you to plan your event with prevention in mind.
Green Event Tip #24: You know those little toiletries that hotels like to place in all their guest’s rooms? Shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, and so on? If you’re aiming to have eco-friendly hotel accommodations then you’ll want to find out more about these amenities before setting up any room blocks. Find out if these items are bought in bulk, if they’re organic, and if the packaging is made from post-consumer recycled materials. Another great aspect of eco-friendly packaging is that it should be reusable, so find out if those little bottles of shampoo and conditioner can have more added to them in the future. As always, it’s also best if these items are purchased locally instead of being shipped in.
Green Event Tip #23: Looking into options for your chairs, tables, and other furniture needs in your event’s design? How about considering pieces made from all natural, renewable resources like wood and bamboo or incorporating other reusable items such as antiques? Furniture like this can add ambiance to an event, help create cohesion throughout your venue’s decor, and maintain your guests’ visual interest while also ratcheting up the eco-friendliness of your event.
Green Event Tip #22: Speaking to our “Calling All Women! It’s Time to Talk Makeup!” blog post, remember to carefully choose your makeup for your special event. Organic cosmetic lines like Nvey Eco and Dr. Hauschka are amazing for both your skin and the environment, and these brands even offer organic skincare products as well as makeup. The more you stay away from parabens, petroleum based products, talc, and preservatives the more luminous and youthful your skin will look come your event day.
Green Event Tip #21: Don’t forget to communicate your event’s sustainable aspects with your guests both before and during the party. Let them know about that recycling program you implemented or about the local light rail station that operates around the corner from your venue. The more you communicate these things to your guests the more you will avoid guest confusion and ensure everyone has a good time while also having a successful green event.
Green Event Tip #20: Are you looking for a sustainable photographer? Wondering how to find out if a photographer is green? A photographer that is eco-friendly will take steps to limit environmental damages by using LED bulbs, printing with non-toxic ink and post-consumer recycled paper, using local suppliers for production needs, using digital equipment a majority of the time, and using rechargeable devices. You can also ask about their own recycling efforts and sustainability policies to determine if they are green.
Green Event Tip #19: Speaking of candles, if you want to include candles in your wedding but can’t have lit items due to fire hazards or having an outdoor venue then try using LED lit candle lights instead. You can use these lights in place of any candles, and not only will they stay lit all night but they also have very little impact on the environment. Try buying them from your local party supply store.
Green Event Tip #18: When incorporating candles into your event, remember to use those made out of renewable resources such as beeswax or vegetable oils. Stay away from candles that contain non-renewable resources such as paraffin, a petroleum based product that doubles as an indoor air pollutant. With natural candles you certainly won’t need to worry about air pollution at any point.
Green Event Tip #17: To the event marketer in all of us, we implore you to please jump into the 21st century by moving away from direct mail marketing campaigns. In today’s modern age of technology, you will receive a much higher response rate by marketing your event online through social media, event landing pages, and a well-defined registration system geared toward inviting both your guests and their third party affiliations. A forest or two will probably thank you in the process as well.
Green Event Tip #16: When you create your event’s day-of itinerary (an absolute must for any event), be sure to send out digital copies to everyone who is playing an active role in your event; this includes vendors, sponsors, award recipients, toasting guests, presenters, attendants, and anyone else with assigned event responsibilities. A digital copy will help keep you prepared as vendors can review it in advance of the event and will keep you from printing tons of copies of the itinerary for your special day.
Green Event Tip #15: If you are using fresh floral at your event remember to contact a local composter to arrange for the disposal of your arrangements. This will allow your flowers to be made into compost for future gardening and lawn care needs. Another option is to contact your city and see if they offer a public composting program such as ours in Tempe. You can compost your flowers in your own backyard then.
Green Event Tip #14: Evaluate how eco-friendly your event vendors are before signing any product or service agreements. Are they local? Are they eco-friendly? What green practices do they implement regularly, and what eco-friendly benefits will they bring to your event? Do they charge more for green services? These questions will help ensure that the vendors you choose are both green and provide competitive estimates.
Green Event Tip #13: Trying to locate a jeweler for your wedding rings or other event needs? Remember to ask your jeweler if they purchase and work with only those diamonds that have undergone the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). KPCS diamonds are guaranteed to have been mined safely and ethically and do not pose the threat of diamond profits being used to fund acts of war, terrorism, or anti-humanitarian efforts.
Green Event Tip #12: When looking into hotels for your overnight guests, look for those that LEED certified, close to either your venue or the airport, and offer full services. This will help lower your event’s carbon footprint through decreased guest transportation emissions, increased eco-friendly hotel services, and more amenities available to guests that allow them to stay on-site at the hotel.
Green Event Tip #11: If your event requires the use of disposable glasses and dishes, consider using items that are either compostable or made out of recycled materials. Compostable dishes can be made out of bamboo, sugarcane, corn, or many other items. Just remember to arrange the composting or recycling of your disposables before your event!
Green Event Tip #10: Remember to look into outdoor venues for your event if possible. There are great locations like botanical gardens, historical buildings, and even museums that offer amazing outdoor venues. Many also offer indoor locations as backup venues in case bad weather strikes on your event day.
Green Event Tip #9: Wondering what to do with the leftover, untouched food from your event? Donate it! Perishable food can be donated to local organizations like Waste Not to feed the hungry instead of being thrown out. Just make sure it’s inspected and packaged properly and you have enough to donate. Most places will even make it easy by picking up the donation from you once it’s arranged.
Green Event Tip #8: When looking into beverage options, consider placing pitchers of water and other drinks at guest tables instead of purchasing drinks that are individually sized. You’ll save money and reduce packaging waste, which also means less cleanup after your event ends.
Green Event Tip #7: When looking into music for your event, consider a live acoustic musician or group. They not only use a smaller amount of electricity while playing but also don’t have to transport as much equipment, which decreases their carbon footprint. Remember to keep it local!
Green Event Tip #6: When looking into guest book options for your event, consider getting a non-traditional, reusable item like a signing platter with the event’s name and date engraved on it. Guests can then sign the plate, which is later baked to seal in the signatures and can be used for cooking at home after your event. You’ll then have a usable keepsake to enjoy again and again.
Green Event Tip #5: Instead of paying to include paper inserts in your guest’s invitations for items like venue directions, lodging, gift registries, and more, consider creating a wedding website. You’ll not only save money but also reduce excess paper waste.
Green Event Tip #4: When considering how to transport guests to or from your event, consider using a trolley or coach that uses biodiesel fuels. This type of fuel is 100% biodegradable, reduces the toxins found in regular diesel gas, and presents fewer health risks to fuel handlers.
Green Event Tip #3: When choosing a florist, look for one who offers sustainably grown, organic flowers. This will help reduce the amount of pollutants that enter soil and groundwater through the pesticides used on non-organically grown floral.
Green Event Tip #2: When deciding on what foods will be served at your event, look for dishes that use locally grown, seasonal, organic ingredients. You’ll end up with a menu full of flavorful foods that adds some extra flair to your event while helping to preserve the environment.
Green Event Tip #1: When choosing your printed materials such as save-the-date cards, invitations, and thank you notes, look for items printed on 100% recycled paper. You can even go a step further and use seed paper that can be planted by the recipient to grow into a variety of flowers.
