May 4, 2015 | Eco-Friendly Events
How can you make your gift table more sustainable? Image by theblondephotographer.com.
Any time you throw a party–birthday, wedding, anniversary, whatever–people will bring gifts. If you want to steer your guests to gifts that are green or sustainable in some way, there is more than one option.
One way is to ask people to make donations to a cause, possibly even an environmental cause. If you want to do a formal donation gift registry, organizations such as the I Do Foundation can create a Charity Registry for you. You can also let your guests know your preferences in a more informal way, if you prefer. (But Miss Manners insists that there should be no mention of gifts with the invitation. That’s one thing your wedding website is for.)
Some people will give you tangible gifts, and I’m not going to discourage them. If you want to reduce the amount of garbage that goes to the landfill, however, you can suggest to your guests that they use recycled wrapping paper to wrap it. You can also steer them to less wasteful gifts, such as things you really need or gift certificates for services you enjoy.
Finally, you can make a point of recycling or reusing as much packaging as possible from your gifts. Cardboard boxes, most wrapping paper, and some kinds of plastic packaging can all be recycled. It’s a little thing, but it all adds up.
Apr 27, 2015 | Budget Planning
A DIY sweet table can keep your costs down.
I was part of a conversation among wedding professionals recently discussing the proposition, “Can you have a wedding for 100 guests for under $5,000?” The overwhelming majority of professionals weighing in on the subject were adamant that it wasn’t possible. I beg to differ.
I think differently because I ask the question, “What do you mean by ‘a wedding’?” I agree with my colleagues that if you want to throw a lavish Saturday night party with dinner and dancing for 100 guests, it’s unlikely you can do it on such a limited budget. But if you want to get married with 100 people present and give them some refreshment afterwards while you greet them, it’s certainly possible.
As I like to remind my clients, in order to get married (at least in the state of Illinois), all you need is a marriage license and someone to sign it. That can be obtained for under $100. A Cook County marriage license costs $60 and you can have a friend become ordained for free through an online source such as the Universal Life Church. Put all the pieces together, and you’re married.
That’s the bare-bones version without any more guests than you can fit in your living room. If you want to invite 100 people and give them a meal, it will cost a wee bit more, but I believe it can be done for $5,000. At a restaurant, you could have a breakfast reception at $20 per person. (We’re up to $2,060, for those who are keeping track.)
If you use only the equipment that comes with the restaurant (linens, dishes, etc.), your only decor costs could be centerpieces for the tables. Figure 10 centerpieces at $75 each (if you hire a good florist), and we’re at $2,810.
Figure $1,000 for clothing if both spouses are buying all new clothing off the rack, and the total is $3,810. That leaves close to $2,000 for invitations, postage, cake, favors, etc.
Professional photography is going to be too expensive, as are many other things that are considered necessary for a wedding these days. Or, you could re-arrange your priorities and put the money toward photographs by spending less on food and centerpieces. There are many ways to have a wedding on a small budget if you’re creative and keep an open mind.
Apr 20, 2015 | Eco-Friendly Events, wedding planning
This was one of the most popular posts I ever wrote. I have updated it with new information.
What do you do with leftover mini-cakes? Photo by HappyBuddy Photo Art.
One thing that often gets overlooked in party and event planning is what happens after the party is over. If you are planning a wedding, party, or other large event, now would be a good time to think about what happens when the fun is done. Beyond the basic logistical question of who is going to transport stuff from one place to another, there are the considerations of what to do with left over items. Here are my thoughts on several of categories of those items.
Food: If you didn’t run out of food at your party (heaven forfend!), then there will be leftovers. It would be a shame to throw them out. In some places, a local food bank can pick up your extra food and distribute it to food pantries and shelters. (See the Feeding America food bank locator to find a local food bank.) Some states and municipalities do not allow this practice, though, and not all food banks are set up to handle it, so check with your food bank ahead of time. And unless you’re a food safety expert, don’t try it on your own. Even if you can’t distribute your leftovers to hungry strangers, you can probably find some friends and relatives who would be happy to take some of it. Prepare for this possibility by having appropriate containers available, and instruct your caterer how to distribute extra food. Whatever you do, talk to your caterer ahead of time!
Flowers and other decorations: The nicest way to take care of flowers and other centerpieces is to donate them to a local hospital or nursing home. As with donating food, this is both eco-friendly and socially responsible. Not only do flowers get a second use, but they may also brighten the day of someone who could use a little cheer. Perhaps you already have a relationship with an institution where you can send your flowers. At one wedding that I coordinated, they announced at the reception that all the flowers would go to the hospital where a family member had received treatment in his last illness. It seemed like a most fitting thing to do. If you don’t have the resources to do this yourself, in Chicago and a few other cities, there is an organization called Random Acts of Flowers who will do it for you.
Favors: Extra party favors can be a real problem. This is one area where you will really need to plan ahead. For one thing, you will almost definitely have extra favors. If you plan for one per guest, there will be some guests who don’t take one, or who take one for a household, instead of one per person. But you don’t want to have too few, either. When deciding what kind of favor to give your guests, consider how easy the extras will be to get rid of. If you have a common item that is usable by anyone (like decorated pencils, for instance), then you can give away extras on Freecycle or to an organization that can use them (like your local school). Food favors are even more difficult to get rid of than catered food. Novelty items will probably be sitting in the back of your closet for years. You might need to turn to an organization like Special E in order to find a second use for some of these things. One couple I worked with gave away beeswax candles (tied with ribbons in their wedding colors, of course). There were plenty remaining at the end of the evening, but I imagine they were perfectly happy to have a supply of such a useful item.
Decor and Clothing: If you have decor items (candles, table runners, pennants, table numbers, etc.), clothing or jewelry, you can donate them to The Great Wedding Recyclery in Chicago. They are sold to people who want sustainable and inexpensive wedding items and the proceeds benefit the Green Wedding Alliance.
Be sure to talk to your planner or coordinator about what happens to everything when the party is over. You can save yourself some headaches, bring joy to friends and strangers, and keep things out of the landfill with just a little extra effort.
Apr 13, 2015 | wedding planning
A pair of dice in a net bag was the perfect favor for a board game-themed wedding. Photo by Johnny Knight.
I had an interesting experience lately with a client who was from South America. He was not familiar with what we mean by a wedding favor, and that got me wondering: What, exactly, is a wedding favor? How is it defined?
A wedding favor is a small gift given by the couple to their guests as a token of their appreciation for being there.
What types of things are typically given as favors? Sugared (or Jordan) almonds are one well-known type of favor. A small handful of almonds (sometimes five) are tied in a net or lace bag. I’ve also seen a pair of chocolate candies in a presentation box as favors. These are probably the more traditional types of favors.
Other things I’ve seen as favors have a very diverse range: a flowerpot with seed paper with the couple’s names and wedding date; handmade soaps; a pair of dice; cat-shaped cookies; beeswax candles; trivia books; and trilobite-shaped chocolates.
The trend I’ve seen is to have the favor reflect the couple’s interests or tastes, or to coincide with the wedding’s theme, if it has one. It’s a nice touch if the favor has a personal meaning that is communicated to the guests.
It’s possible to go overboard with favors. Think small and personal, rather than large or outrageous. With care and good taste, almost anything can be a favor. And if you’re in doubt, be sure to ask your wedding planner.
Apr 6, 2015 | Eco-Friendly Events, wedding planning
The Great Wedding Recyclery.
For the third year in a row, the Green Wedding Alliance brings you The Great Wedding Recyclery, on Sunday, April , 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Loft on Lake, 1366 W. Lake St., Chicago. A $5 donation benefits the Green Wedding Alliance.
The Recyclery is the only place in Chicago where once-used wedding decor and clothing are sold so they can be used another time. It’s like a huge garage sale for wedding items.
The last two years, this event was a huge success, with a line around the block of people waiting to get in. Many of those waiting found some amazing bargains. Everything that was bought and sold was one more thing that never went to a landfill and didn’t require manufacturing and transport from a distant location. Everyone wins!
Be sure to keep your Sunday afternoon clear so you can check out the Recyclery. And plan to get there early.
Mar 30, 2015 | Eco-Friendly Events, Weddings
A tent wedding can be a green option.
In case you’re planning an eco-friendly event in the near future, these words still apply:
One concern I hear about making events eco-friendly is that it is going to be too expensive to be eco-conscious. While it is true that some sustainable choices are more expensive than their conventional alternatives, others are less expensive. There are always trade-offs, and, in the end, it is up to you to make the choices.
Organic food and flowers are almost certainly more expensive than conventionally grown or raised food and flowers. Organic growing is more labor-intensive, and so the price goes up. Also, retailers raise the price of organics when they can because it is a niche market. But much of the increased cost is due to the high quality of the product. On the other hand, local food and flowers in season may be less expensive than their counterparts from distant locations because they may be abundant and cheaper to transport. You can get local, organic; local, non-organic; or non-local, organic products. Each of these is more environmentally friendly than non-local and non-organic products, so you can figure out what best meets your budget and your expectations.
When you’re thinking about decor, you can save money and go green by reducing the quantity of decor items at your celebration and by reducing the potential waste. For example, edible or grow-able favors with minimal (or reusable) packaging might save you money over an elaborate knick-knack that may end up in the landfill. Finding a location that doesn’t require much decoration can save you a lot of money (and time) on decor.
A little creative thinking can both save you money and increase your green quotient. And you don’t have to have a perfectly green event. There are always trade-offs and purity shouldn’t be the goal. But if there’s something you can do that suits your style and your budget, you can make your event just a little more green.
Mar 23, 2015 | wedding planning
Keep those precious rings safe!
The three-year-old nephew or seven-year-old cousin is going to be the ring bearer. He will be almost painfully cute in his suit, bow tie, and boutonniere. He’ll carry a lacy, satin pillow. But what will be on that pillow?
Many people assume that the actual, real wedding rings are on that ring-bearer’s pillow, tied to it with the satin ribbons provided for the purpose. My unwavering advice is never, ever to let a young child carry the real wedding rings. It’s a lovely tradition to have a small child ceremonially bring the rings to the couple. In reality, it is a much better idea to have the rings safely in the pocket of a responsible adult, such as the best man or the officiant.
If you are concerned about appearances, you can put a couple of cheap rings on the pillow instead, but in my experience no one is paying attention to details like that. They are much more interested in seeing the radiant bride(s) or the happy groom(s).
Mar 19, 2015 | Weddings
The talented and generous Neil Dixon Smith, a fellow member of the Green Wedding Alliance, interviewed me for his podcast series. Take a listen!
Mar 16, 2015 | wedding planning
Do you have a bad weather plan? Photo by Allison Williams Photography.
This is a story I heard from a friend who lives nowhere near Chicago. It’s about a wedding that took place on a November day in a northern climate, and it is one more reason to consider hiring a professional planner or coordinator if you are planning your wedding.
As my friend tells the story, the bride and groom chartered a bus to bring all their guests to their home in a rural area for the wedding. While the wedding party prepared in the house, the guests were left outdoors in the scenic and windy location where the ceremony was to take place. After the guests sat freezing in their dress clothes for about an hour, the ceremony finally took place.
Then there was a cocktail hour, also outdoors. Finally, the guests were permitted into the heated tent for dinner. By this time, everyone was cold and grumpy. And many of those who would have liked to leave early couldn’t go because the bus wasn’t scheduled to return until after dinner.
If this couple had hired me as their planner, I would have recommended strongly that they have a plan for bad weather. This was November, after all. They could have had the ceremony in the tent, cocktail hour in the house, and dinner in the tent. Or they could have rented a second heated tent, one for ceremony and one for cocktails and reception. Whatever their choice, their guests’ comfort should have been higher on their priority list.
Mar 9, 2015 | wedding planning
I have a confession to make: Until the first time I was involved in acquiring a wedding cake, I had no idea what the process involved. Maybe you’re in the same situation. How do you go about getting a traditional cake for your wedding?
Here's one style of wedding cake.
There are two parts to wedding cake: the cake itself and the decoration. It’s important to give some thought to both parts.
When you visit a bakery for a tasting, they will give you some options to taste. You’ll have choices of cake, of fillings, and of frostings. Chocolate or vanilla or carrot? Whipped cream or custard or fruit? Fondant or buttercream? It’s a tough job, but you’ll have to taste all of them and decide what you like.
Your choice of frosting also affects what the cake looks like. Fondant gives a cake a rounder edge, while buttercream frosting allows for sharp corners. Also, some types of decoration work better with one or the other type of frosting. There is one more consideration: My experience is that very few people actually eat fondant. If you get it, you may be paying extra for something that will only be thrown out.
A very different kind of cake. Photo by Johnny Knight.
The decorative aspects of a wedding cake can be even more complicated. You’ll need to decide on the shape (round, square, or something else), the number of tiers, the color, the texture, and the decoration.
Be prepared with some ideas, but also keep your mind open to suggestions from the bakery’s gallery of cakes. Or maybe they have made the perfect cake before and you can ask them to replicate it for you. Whatever you decide, remember that bakeries can offer you their expertise in what will work well on your cake, and on what will not work.
Cake shopping can be a lot of fun. It is even more fun if you know what to expect and are prepared for it.
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