Smaller wedding cakes and environmentally friendly decorations
Catering – Choose a caterer that uses locally grown organic ingredients, not canned, frozen, or packaged ones, in the preparation of their food. Not only will the food taste better, but you will save on all of the packaging and on the pollution associated with transportation.
You can prevent a great deal of waste by asking your caterer to use real dishware, not disposable plates and plastic utensils. Also rent coffee cups and glassware rather than using plastic or Styrofoam. Avoid using plastic tablecloths or paper napkins. Though it may cost a bit more to rent dishes, glasses, and linens, and they will all need to be washed (by the rental center, not you), you will keep a huge amount of refuse out of the landfill. If you choose to use disposable plates, eating utensils, and napkins, choose ones made from recycled paper, sugarcane, cornstarch, or other biodegradable materials, such as those found at http://www.earthwarebiodegradables.com/.
Ask the caterer what happens to the left-over food. If you are having your reception at a hotel, restaurant or another facility that has an in-house kitchen, you won’t be entitled to leftovers. If you are using the services of an outside caterer to bring prepared food to your location, ask for those leftovers that can be safely consumed later. You paid for them, so you should get them. Health laws require that foods containing eggs, cream, seafood, mayonnaise, and some other ingredients must be disposed of after setting at room temperature for a period of time. Other items, such as pasta salad, green salad (minus the dressing), some meats and cheeses, fruits, and breads should be fine for you to take. Be sure to bring zip-lock bags and coolers with ice in which to store the food. If you don’t have a need for the food, donate it to a homeless shelter or soup kitchen.
Ask your caterer and bartender to provide containers to sort cans and glass for easy recycling later. You will need to arrange for someone to remove the items from the reception site and take them to a recycling center.
Wedding Cake – If you are inviting more than about 100 guests, order a smaller wedding cake and supplement with sheet cakes. The sheet cakes require less icing and decoration and therefore cost less, as well as saving on ingredients. If you have left-over cake and you don’t think you will eat it soon, take it to a shelter. The residents will enjoy the treat.
Check back next week for environmentally-friendly wedding transportation options!
-Submitted by Glenna Tooman, Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC
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