Nov 5, 2012 | Eco-Friendly Events
Going green doesn't mean looking less than fabulous. Photo by Happy Buddy PhotoArt.
When we think of eco-friendly events, probably the clothes you wear are not at the top of the list. But even in this area you can make choices that are better or worse for the environment. While venue, transportation, and food probably have a bigger impact, if this is an area where you would like to make a difference, here are some ideas:
- Instead of buying entirely new clothes, try rented, borrowed, or vintage outfits.
- Wear clothes made of organic fabrics.
- If you buy clothes you think you won’t wear again, minimize their impact by donating them somewhere they will be worn.
- If you’re wearing dry clean-only clothes, find a wet cleaner or a CO2 cleaner.
These are just a few ideas for greening your event apparel–or your everyday wear.
Oct 29, 2012 | Weddings
Here are some photos from another recent wedding. This one was special for me because it was my usual wedding assistant getting married. They planned a wedding that was as quirky as they are, and it was a tremendous amount of fun.
The wedding’s theme was games, since bride and groom had met at a game night and are fervent game players. They carried the theme through everything–including the ceremony. One vow for each of them was determined by the roll of a six-sided die.
Each centerpiece used a different board game. Here is Trivial Pursuit.
And here is the game of Risk. Table "numbers" were the name of each game.
Chutes and Ladders!
Monopoly, too.
All the flowers were wacky and fun, as suited the day.
Here you can see how well the flowers suited the room.
The bride made the card box to resemble a six-sided die.
The bride's Italian family created a proper send-off for them.
Oct 22, 2012 | Budget Planning, DIY, wedding planning
You might look at the cost of professional photography and think you’d be better off without a professional photographer. You might be right. Or you might be very disappointed. It all depends on how important photos are to you.
Here's a photo I took with my point-and-shoot camera and limited photography skills.
If having high quality photos of your entire wedding and reception is not your first priority, you can ask a friend or relative to document the day for you. Someone with good photography equipment can probably take decent photos for you.
But if having professional quality photos is important, it’s difficult to get them without paying professional prices. Professional wedding photographers have equipment and skills that ordinary mortals lack. The best consistently take copious, excellent photos that capture the essence of your day. They are on the spot and don’t usually miss any important moments. It’s also important that they are not guests, but are hired to work for the entire time, so they will be alert and sober until the time they leave. They know what to look for and how to take good (and often stunning) photos of your wedding.
The same cake in a photo taken by Agnes Malorny, professional.
As with all DIY projects, think this one through before you make a decision. There is a definite difference in quality between amateur and professional photos. Decide what is important to you, and then pay a professional if you can’t live without those photos.
Oct 15, 2012 | Weddings
Labor Day weekend I was fortunate enough to work on a lovely wedding reception that took place in the back yard of the groom’s parents. The couple’s vision of the wedding was one of utter simplicity and elegance. They focused most of their attention on the entertainment, with a jazz trio playing during cocktails, a DJ for dancing after dinner, and a photo booth. Here are some photos from the day to give you a taste of what is possible under a tent.
The only table decor was a floral centerpiece.
Here's a longer view of the guest tables.
The sweetheart table and tables for the wedding party had slightly darker linens.
The bride and groom made the cute seating board.
The backyard was already a nice place to have a wedding.
A close-up of the bridal bouquet.
Oct 9, 2012 | Weddings
I’ve done three weddings recently that I wasn’t able to post anything about. Here are a few photos from them. Stay tuned for more on all three.
The state fair theme of this reception was reflected in both the table and room decor.
You almost couldn't get more contrast to the last reception than this funky, game-inspired decor.
And here's something completely different from the third wedding.
I’ll write a little something about each, so please check back. I should have full photos from all three before long, too. Those will go in the photo galleries.
Oct 4, 2012 | Uncategorized
If you look forward to a new blog post from me every week, I have to apologize for the state of this thing for the last 6 weeks or so. Apparently, there was some kind of .php error. My good pal Joe Bowen–who, in addition to being a fabulous actor, is also versed in all things .php–just fixed it. Thanks, Joe! I’ll be back to regular posts very soon. Thanks for your patience. In the meantime, you can catch up on the last two posts from August that never got posted (see below).
Aug 27, 2012 | Eco-Friendly Events, wedding planning
Photo by MWD Photography.
Probably the largest environmental impact from any kind of celebration is from the transportation involved. Guests from other places and in-town transport cause inevitable carbon emissions. To reduce the environmental impact, you might encourage your guests to arrive by rail, by bus, or to carpool. Of course, if you have your event where public transportation is an option, you can help your guests to get around by local transit. If possible, reserve hotel rooms for your guests within walking distance of the party. If they will have to travel some distance, charter a bus for them. Or, try a pedicab.
Carbon offsets are one way to mitigate the environmental consequences of travel. Although there are some who question their effectiveness, you might know of a program you feel comfortable with. You could ask your guests to pay for carbon offsets instead of bringing gifts. Or it can be your gift to them in place of favors.
For an eco friendly honeymoon, try these ideas: honeymoon close to home; honeymoon at home (turn off the phone and tell everyone you’ve gone away); honeymoon by bicycle; or, most romantic of all, honeymoon by rail. (As my sister says, “Anyone who says romance is dead hasn’t been on a train lately.”)
Aug 20, 2012 | Budget Planning, DIY, wedding planning
How many cake plates do you need? Photo courtesy of Artisan Events.
When you see the total cost of rental dishes, you might be tempted to go to Ikea and buy dishes instead of renting them. Depending on your circumstances, that might be a good choice–or it really might not be.
I know someone who bought enough dishes to serve about 50 people at her wedding. They got married in their own home, had a good caterer, and had places to store all those dishes after the wedding. It can work.
On the other hand, if you are having 150 guests at a rented venue, you might run into some unexpected difficulties. For example, keep in mind that everything may need to be washed before it is used. Your catering staff probably won’t do that for you without an additional charge. Next, think about what will happen to all those dishes at the end of the night. The kitchen staff will scrape them and pack them up in whatever boxes you provide for them. Then you or your representative will have to pick them up from the venue the day after the wedding and take them somewhere to wash them. And then you’ll have to figure out what to do with 150 place settings. That might not be how you planned to spend the first day of your honeymoon.
This is not to say you shouldn’t buy dishes, but you should think it through all the way to the end before taking the leap.
Aug 13, 2012 | vendors
The Kenilworth Club, as it appears on their website.
As you may recall, I coordinated a wedding at the Kenilworth Club last spring. I really can’t say enough good things about the club as a wedding venue. I have been a guest there and I have worked there, and I find it to be one of the nicest halls on the North Shore.
The Kenilworth Club is located on Kenilworth Ave. just east of Green Bay Road in the heart of the North Shore. There is easy parking at the train station opposite. The hall is located on a large lot with areas for an outdoor wedding ceremony, if you choose. It is also possible to have your ceremony in the main room; have cocktails in the adjoining large foyer; and return to the main room for dinner and dancing.
The building itself is a prairie-style jewel that is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has unusually nice amenities: a working fireplace in the foyer; a stage for your band; and some of the nicest restrooms I’ve ever seen. The staff is extremely accommodating. And the price is a lot less than I had expected. This is one place I can recommend without hesitation.
Aug 6, 2012 | wedding planning
Sometimes, the nicest weddings are the ones that don't do what they "should." Photo by Paul Grigonis, pplusgphoto.com.
I try to keep tabs on the current bridal publications. There are certainly a lot of ideas and some useful information to be had from reading them. There are also snares to watch out for, as with many things in the wedding industry.
One thing I notice is how often articles use the words “should” and “must,” generally when referring to items or services to purchase. Then, when looking at the advertisers, I see that most of the things they say are required are things the advertisers sell. Based on what I know about the publishing industry, I know this is no coincidence. So, my advice would be to take the “shoulds” and “musts” with a grain of salt. Decide what is important to you and make your decisions based on that.
Recent Comments