Rod Houck Presents Eco-Friendly Events
At Rod Houck Presents, we are personally committed to leaving less environmental footprints on our planet and in doing this, leaving more for the future. In doing this, we are committed to supporting environmentally-friendly events at all of our special occasion venues. From caterers who recycle, use organic local produce whenever possible, to our rental provider using the most up to date environmentally-sound equipment, we are proud to be a contributor to leaving a legacy for generations to come.
We believe that you can have a gorgeous, well-designed event and also make good consumer choices that will benefit our world and environment. Below are some suggestions for ensuring your wedding is "environtmentallty-stylish" using the three main principles of eco-friendly living: Reducing, Re-using and Recycling.
Wedding Invitations
Reduce:
- Send invitations earlier than normal so a Save the Date card is not necessary.
- Consider hand-made paper so no trees will be cut down
- Consider e-vites. Have a graphic artist (or friend) design the wedding invitation and send it electronically
- Have only one guest list and adhere to it. Do not have a second "plan B" list of guests
- Consider "European style" and have a postcard with email or phone number for all RSVPs.
Reuse
- Ask your printer if there is extra paper left over after making your invitations and get creative using this for thank you's after the wedding.
- Make your invitation something guests can re-use themselves; for example, a keepsake like a poem, seed-packs for plants/trees in honor of your wedding; or an item that is a gift that they can wear to the wedding itself so there is a look of uniformity for group photos at the wedding.
Recycle
- Use traditional moisten and fasten stamps as self-adhesive stamps come with non-recyclable plastic sheet backing.
- Get recycled or recyclable paper for all your invitations, response cards and thank you notes
Florals
Reduce:
- Find out if your florist works with organic and/or sustainable growth flowers/farms
- Find out if they use local suppliers
- Use more candles in decorating
- Feature an "edible" arrangement – this is fruit arranged to look like a spectacular floral arrangement that guests can enjoy and eat at your buffet/hors d'oeuvres table or dining table.
- Minimize the number of flowers used by just floating a few flowers in a shallow bowl.
Reuse
- Ask if you can use your own vases or bowls (or get creative with your own pots or other centerpiece items) – it is considered passé to have everything matching now, so diversity in creativity is "in"!
- Use ribbons and fabric that can be used after the wedding
- Is florist willing to pick up and deliver left over centerpieces to local charities for a fee?
Recycle
- Ensure as much as possible used in décor can be recycled or composted
Wedding Favors
Reduce
- Consider not doing favors at all and making a donation to a favorite charity with the money you would have spent on favors.
- Edible treats such as cookies or candies for guests to take home help minimize environmental impact.
Reuse
- You've invested in flowers – make the flowers the favor. Give each person their own potted flowering plant and use this plant as part of your décor during the wedding.
- Make the favor serve two purposes – something that the guests can use after the wedding like a placecard holder that can double as a picture frame after the wedding is a great idea.
Recycle
- Make candles from melting down old candles and using muffin tins, tart molds, cookie cutters.
- Give something recycled
- Give something recyclable
Above article excerpt printed with permission by author and Southern California wedding planning expert Kerry Lee Dickey of Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events
