Sustainability: A Trend That Is Here To Stay
Events leave a lasting impact on our memories and our planet. A wedding produces, on average, 500 lbs of waste. In the past, we built weddings on grander and frivolity; let’s produce weddings that will sustain our love and our planet.
Planning a wedding is challenging enough without the added pressure of sourcing sustainable products and vendors. We have compiled a list of actionable ways to create a green wedding and forward-thinking vendors carrying out the mission to produce sustainable events.
If you want to produce a more sustainable event, the first step is hiring vendors with the same goal.
Venues and Catering.
Photo By: EmmetJoseph Photography
This is one of the most forward-thinking venues in Seattle. I can speak firsthand on how every decision made here has applied the question: "what is the lasting impact? Is this sustainable?”. Before opening Prologue, I was their Sales and Event Manager.
Carbon Offset Program
Sustainable Menus
Ethically sourced food
Extensive vegetarian and vegan options
Restrictions on single-use plastics
Donates untouched leftover food
Everything is composted or recycled.
Building has solar
2. Hyatt 8
50% of food is locally grown, and 60% of seafood is sustainably harvested
Partner with food distributors and businesses dedicated to ocean conservancy and the application of sustainable practices
Leftover and untouched food is donated to a local hunger-eliminating nonprofit
Composts
Silver-certified by LEED,
Green rooftop retains 75% of rainwater, helping to mitigate stormwater runoff, and insulates meeting spaces to reduce energy for heating and cooling.
LEED Gold
Collects Rainwater
Sustainablly sourced ingredients
Profits go towards environmental education programs
Runner Ups
-Olympic Rooftop Pavilion Stoneburner- Locally sourced food
-Dockside at Dukes- Sustainable Menu
-Rays Boathouse
- 12 Baskets Catering
-Plum Bistro
Florals- There can be some ugly truth behind your beautiful blooms. It’s essential to do research to see where your florist is buying their product. Many flowers are imported from overseas and are raised with heavy use of dangerous pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides and under deplorable labor conditions. I know that is a lot of social weight for a centerpiece!
Look for a florist that will use foam alternatives and make it a mission to source local, sustainable, and ethical flowers.
Florist with a floral and vegetable farm in the Cascades
Use beyond organic and regenerative practices, rebuilding soil organic matter, providing habitat for pollinators, and restoring soil biodiversity.
2. Floravore
Works with local growers
Sustainable designs
Support local, woman-owned flower farms
Reduce waste caused by packaging & shipping flowers to a wholesalers
Enjoy flowers that aren’t treated with chemicals to preserve freshness
3. Cama Designs
Locally sourced florals
Donate to senior centers
4. Donate your flowers the next day to senior centers and hospitals.
Attire- Seattle has some great options for buy a dress second hand.
Nonprofit organization- they support Loveland Foundation, Dress For Success, Girls Inc., and others
Other Alternatives
-Heirloom Pieces
-Rent Your Suit: Men's Wear House, The Black Tux
-Rent Formal Attire: Armoire (Seattle Company <3) , Rent the Runway, Nuuly
Invitations
Seattle Company
Invitations printed on paper that you can plant and it will produce flowers
2. Digital- Paperless Post
Miscellaneous ways to create an eco friendly wedding
Look at offers and Facebook market place for wedding decor
Go vegetarian or vegan with your selections
Use rentals and compostable options
Eco Friendly Wedding Registry
Think about travel and pick a venue that is centrally located
Skip the sparkler exit
Please leave a comment of other vendors in the PNW that are leading the charge to create more sustainable events, we would love to work with them!