Feb 20, 2012 | Eco-Friendly Events, vendors
A little bit of natural beauty.
I wrote a post a while ago about compostable disposables. I mentioned in that post that the thicker compostable plastic could only be composted in a commercial facility, and that is not always easy to find access to those facilities. Well, I have found a resource to help eco-minded people solve that problem.
Collective Resource is a business based in Evanston that is committed to helping you have zero-waste events. The owner, Erlene Howard, is tremendously knowledgeable about how to compost, what to compost, and why to compost.
For a fee, Collective Resource will bring compost buckets to you for your event (or to your home for household composting), help you figure out what goes into the buckets, and pick them up after the event. All food scraps and other compostables are taken to Land and Lakes in Chicago where they become nutrient-rich garden soil.
Jan 30, 2012 | Eco-Friendly Events, vendors, wedding planning, Weddings
I have to tell you about a wedding show I am participating in next month: Committed, An Avant-Garde Wedding Event. It will be on Sunday, February 26, noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Greenhouse Loft, 2545 W. Diversey. You can buy tickets in advance.
Committed is sponsored by the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance, Chicago’s premier group of wedding vendors with a sustainable focus. Not only is this the greenest group of wedding professionals you’re likely to come across, they are also some of the hippest, most creative, most interesting businesses and people in the industry.
There will be caterers like FIG Catering and City Provisions; venues like Logan Square Kitchen; and even unusual vendors such as Collective Resource, a composting company. I’ll be there, naturally. Check out the full list of vendors at the link above.
And don’t expect your standard trade show with rows of look-alike booths. This should be a very fun and unique event. Buy your tickets now!
Apr 5, 2011 | Eco-Friendly Events, Family Parties, Other Events, Parties and Special Events, vendors, wedding planning, Weddings
Rickshaw Rick, as he appears on his website.
Do you want something a little different for your next celebration? Try hiring a bicycle rickshaw to take you from place to place. Having a wedding at church and the reception down the road? You could have unusual and memorable transportation.
Rick Carter of Rickshaw Rick provides a service that is, I think, unique. He has several styles of bicycle rickshaw and a number of drivers, so he can accommodate large or small parties. There are covered cabs and open ones; colorful ones and wicker ones. And they are all powered exclusively by pedal power. Now, there’s an eco-friendly option to consider for your next party!
Oct 6, 2010 | vendors, wedding planning, Weddings
Reverend Rebecca, as she appears on her website.
As a non-traditional wedding planner, one of the things I am often asked for is a referral to a non-traditional wedding officiant. There are many people who fit that description and I don’t even pretend to know all of them. But one such person I have worked with is Reverend Rebecca Armstrong.
The first time I worked with Reverend Rebecca, it was with a very traditional couple, and she created for them a warm, personal, and very traditional ceremony. The next time, my clients were a lesbian couple who wanted to include some non-traditional elements in their ceremony. Reverend Rebecca accommodated them with the same ease and grace. Her flexibility in working with people of all sorts has given me the confidence to recommend her to just about anyone.
Aug 24, 2010 | Eco-Friendly Events, vendors, wedding planning, Weddings
One of Lynn's designs. Shamelessly stolen from her website.
I’ve been wanting to tell you about Pollen floral studio for a while. Lynn Fosbender, the owner, is definitely someone to know if you need flowers for an event. While her primary interest is in eco-friendly floral design, the thing that impresses me the most about her is her creative thinking. She recently worked with some clients of mine who were mostly interested in creative ideas, and they loved her and the flowers for their wedding.
I like her approach to eco-friendly flowers, as well. She tries to use local, organic flowers whenever possible. And she composts all of her plant waste in two 50 gallon composters on the roof! You can see the extent of her commitment to all things sustainable on her website.
And I know this won’t impress most people, but I love the fact that Lynn has thorough contracts with her clients. You may have heard me griping about the contracts most florists have. Lynn is a major exception to that rule. She tells you what you will be getting, how much it will cost, and when it will show up.
And did I mention she does beautiful work and is fun to work with?
Jul 6, 2010 | Eco-Friendly Events, vendors, wedding planning, Weddings
I generally like to feature vendors I have worked with directly, but I have been so taken with Tweedle Press that I thought I ought to pass along the good news. Nina, the owner of the press, does all letterpress printing. I didn’t really know what letterpress was until I visited her studio and she showed me the 70 year old, heavy machines that print by putting an impression on the paper. This is printing with texture. She also makes her own paper sometimes, which makes for even more texture.
She also does design, so it’s a one-stop shop for wedding or party invitations; menus; thank-you cards; or any other paper goods. Her commitment to environmental practices is strong, too. The only possible drawback is price: Her prices are best for large orders. It’s beautiful work, though, so you might find that it’s worth it to spend a little more for beautiful, stylish, eco-friendly paper goods.
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