Joining the “green” movement in the event industry is still proving to be a great challenge. I am in the business of building and transforming spaces from tents to empty raw spaces, not to mention constantly using thousands of blooms flown in from remote parts of the globe.
Yes, I have heard more than once that we should try using flowers in season (most of the time, these are not my client’s favorite). I am the first to admit that even though a few years ago I was oblivious to making a commitment to try and save the planet, I have made more than a conscious effort to try my best.
Here are a few of the practical ways I introduce some green into my events:
- Re-use materials for other purposes after the event is over. Last weekend, I did a wedding in Carmel where I used these wonderful dark wood floors for the dance floor. We donated them to Habitat for Humanity after the wedding. Most of the materials and vases we purchased for the event were also given to our clients for future use.
- Use local vendors. I needed a small army to execute this event, so I brought only my key designers and backed it up with amazing vendors from the area, saving on fuel. We used local fabricators, lighters, rentals, landscapers and more. Thank you to the amazing Karen and Lisa from Exhibit Floral Studio for your help on the floral design.
- Use flowers from the area. Carmel is an amazingly beautiful place with tons of growing flowers. For this event, I worked with a great landscape architect to create a magic garden, taking most of the plants back to the greenhouse for future use or leaving some for the client’s garden.
Being “green,” for me, is a work in progress. I am still trying to find the balance in creating great designs and being aware of the small changes I can make to create a difference.
What practical ways have you introduced “green” into your company or daily activities? And, I hope you are not like a good friend of mine who is trying to force me to live in almost total darkness to save electricity. (You know who you are!)
PREVIOUS
George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Suzanne Smith
June 9, 2010
Hi Preston,
I am An eco friendly/Organic floral designer in So. CA. I have been since BEFORE it was a buzzword, LOL But it isnt always easy to get clients to see the benefits. Many seem to think it is Far more expensive to use organics, Thankfully this is changing rapidly, and I hope that more folks will see they can have an event with less impact.
with more farms and growers using non reactive and sustainable processes for fertilizers and water consumption. Hydroponics with recycled water etc. its getting to be more mainstream.
I try to use as many local growers ( lucky to have so many in CA) as possible, BUT you will find that some farms that “import” are actually as sustainable and have a low Carbon footprint as well. There are MANY misconceptions over just WHAT is green. Checking with suppliers for their certs or Verifications such as Rain forest alliance, and CA grown Organics is a good way to balance the eco issues.
A good place to start is in your studio. replacing toxic paints, fixatives and containers with more safe and sustainable products. Calling your favorite mfg. and asking for more eco friendly floral foams and basic supplies.
Using safe Soy candles and the LED re-usables are a great decor option. New Solar powered lanterns, fountains and mood lighting is wonderful.
Knowing which fabrics and ribbons are eco friendly ( hemp silks, bamboo, acetate…)
Re Purposing found decor like old doors and windows for backdrops. Old Chandeliers hanging from trees, vintage Chic fabrics for tables, recycled hand crafted papers. I like to say “Seeing with a new eye!” it takes creativity to transform what once was a discard into a high style piece, but the WOW factor and delight of the guests as they figure out what they are actually seeing becomes a big part of the event.
I have an all eco wedding featured on my website using lots of CA Organic Veggies in place of some focal flowers.
Purple artichokes, eggplant, beets, kale, mint, apples , lavender and so much more, Guests went home with the wooden table garden totes with enough goodies for a meal, LOL
So when someone calls and laughs at the suggestion of a “Hippie Eco wedding” I ask them to pick out the organic events in my portfolio.They go for the simple ones, bypassing the galas with old silver, BUT Then I smile and say well, they are ALL Eco & Organic.
Aleah + Nick
June 9, 2010
There are so many subtle and effective ways that couples can “Go Green” with their wedding celebrations.
These are perhaps the most common tips we give to our clients:
1. Use recycled paper in your stationery suites.
2. Go local. In our Seattle and Southern California offices this is easy to do with our clients. There’s an abundance of local farms and wineries that produce quality products. You’re not only reducing a carbon footprint, but supporting local businesses.
3. Gift wisely. Instead of giving each guest a take-home gift, why not give one thoughtful gift per couple?
4. Donate your flowers to a nursing home or hospital post-wedding. Not only are you reusing, but you’ll surely make someone’s day.
Cheers, Aleah + Nick Valley
Sharon Auld
June 9, 2010
As an eco-friendly wedding vendor I have to say that I love this post! I appreciate your honesty about your efforts, that you are a work in progress and most importantly that you are making a conscious effort to do your best to make a difference…if everyone did that! I really believe that even small efforts can have a huge impact.
I love the idea of donating your wood dance floor to Habitat for Humanity! Even if you think some of your efforts are small you have such an opportunity to make a difference! Thanks for a great post!
I think that going green is a work in progress for many of us and every decision is a balancing act. There are so many choices and so many ways to go green (and often pros and cons to our decisions). Something that I have initiated is giving a percentage of my profits to a favorite charity or environmental initiative. I will even ask my clients if they have a favorite charity where the money should go or if they would like to match my donation or contribute in anyway (absolutely no obligation of course).
Big or small every green act helps
!
SERENE
June 10, 2010
Being part of the same industry (www.exoticaemirates.com), we recognize that ‘going green’ is easier said than done. For wrapping our flower bouquets and arrangements, we use eco friendly cellophane so already the end product leaving our store is already ‘green’. We also include green tips in our monthly newsletter to make our readers aware of things they can do to go green themselves, so we basicall ‘preach green’.
There is also the use of ecofriendly tea lights which are amazing in the event industry as we use a LOT of them for events, sometimes thousands.
We rent out all of our materials for events and re-use them to reduce waste. We also dedicate one month of the year to promoting of ‘pure air’ plants so that more people buy plants and add green to their home to increase O2. We hope to be able to do more and we consider our initaitive minimal, however our goal includes taking on drastic green measures so that we are better able to save our planet.
Anliette
June 10, 2010
I have just established my new Floral Design business in Sydney, Australia. After having worked with many florist shops who mixes their green waste and cellophane and other unimaginable things which can’t be recycled, I thought I have had enough. Here at Palais Floral, I tend to minimise (or not use at all) the use of plastic wrapping for our bouquets. I use vintage fabrics and laces and other materials that can be submerged into water. So, when a recipient receive a bouquet {let’s say in an office}. They can just put these bouquets straight into a vessel with water without opening the packaging. This way, the flowers will be in water for the duration before it gets home to be put into a vase. They can then, keep the fabric as a souvenir. Instead of wasting and throwing all the rest of the packaging away. Typically, other florists will ‘wet pack’ these arrangements with cellophane, etc. Then, once the flowers are received, they will throw away these packaging. I think it is a massive waste of money and bad for the environment as well. Thank you Preston for posting this, you are a true inspiration. I am still new in the industry and have lots to learn and have big dreams. If you like to look at my work, just jump to http://www.palaisfloral.com. Thank you once again!
John Chance
September 1, 2010
It is great. Try using orchids, its really beautiful.
Asian Wedding Decor
January 12, 2012
It is very hard going green, need to find the balance between being a great designer and a caring designer