| The first thing that often comes to peoples' minds | | | | instead of bottles of water. Also, have a separate |
| when they think of going green is that it's going to | | | | bag that you can throw empty plastic or paper cups |
| be expensive. Of course there is some truth to that | | | | that can be recycled. Some of these measures will |
| perception but there are ways to hold a green event | | | | also save you money. In fact, an event planner |
| and, also save money. | | | | saved $50,000 for Microsoft on one event by using |
| Go Local | | | | water coolers instead of water bottles. |
| One of the highlights of any successful event is the | | | | Use the Internet or Social Media |
| food. Good food makes for happy guests. When you | | | | Use e-invitations. You can use websites such as Evite |
| hold an event, one way to go green and save | | | | to send invitations to your guests. You can also |
| money on food is to go local. Pick fruits and | | | | market larger events through social media such as |
| vegetables that are in season and grown locally. | | | | Facebook. By eliminating paper, electronic invitations |
| Often, locally grown produce saves you money since | | | | will save you money on postage and printing cost as |
| you are not paying for high transportation costs. This | | | | well as reducing the environmental impact of your |
| also helps the environment by reducing the carbon | | | | event. |
| footprint of the food item as well as helping a local | | | | Decor |
| business. In this scenario everyone wins. | | | | You can also save money and go green by using |
| Reduce Waste | | | | flowers that are local. Tell your florist that you want |
| It would be wonderful if all events could be held using | | | | arrangements that are as local as possible. If flowers |
| silverware and stoneware, but that isn't always | | | | are not part of your event you can instead use |
| practical. When this happens we often turn to paper | | | | edible decor. You can use food that is part of your |
| goods. The ideal scenario would be to use paper | | | | menu, snacks, or desserts. Perhaps, even make |
| goods made from sustainable materials such as | | | | edible arrangements. If appropriate use potted plants |
| bamboo or recycled goods. However, this can be | | | | that can be given to guests or give as part of a |
| more expensive. If you can use bamboo goods that | | | | raffle. Dominic Phillips, an event planner for Swissotel, |
| is wonderful, if not, there are still some other ways | | | | uses items from local parks and makes centerpieces |
| to reduce waste. | | | | using medicine bottles or pails. |
| Use a marker or stickers on paper goods so guests | | | | Going local, reducing waste, using the internet for |
| can identify their cups. Using a marker will reduce | | | | invites, and being creative with decor are some easy |
| consumption of cups since guests can identify their | | | | ways to reduce the carbon footprint of an event |
| beverage. Try using water from a pitcher or water | | | | together with save you money. |
| cooler which guests or the host can pour into cups, | | | | |