It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and no doubt a lot of you out there will be celebrating with the one you love this weekend into next Tuesday — and possibly, some will be busy planning a special day with that special someone.
If you are getting married, you might want to keep green and sustainable ideas in mind when planning the wedding and reception. A wedding is a big party, and big parties can produce — guess what? — a whole lot of trash.
The book “The Green Bride Guide” estimates the average wedding creates 400 to 600 pounds of waste, and in addition produces 62 tons of carbon dioxide. (That’s from start to finish, from paper invitations to the making of the bride’s gown to individual packets of rice.)
If you’re getting married — or for that matter, organizing any kind of event or party in the Monterey Bay area — there are plenty of greener choices, but you need to do your research.
Among the initial questions to ask caterers and venue representatives are how food and drink for the event will be sourced, what the venue will use for tableware and food service, and how recyclables, food scraps and garbage from the event will be handled.
People in general aren’t aware of how much waste an event like a wedding can generate, said Heidi Schlecht, co-owner of Feel Good Foods in Santa Cruz, an organic catering business.
“The garbage is shocking,” said Schlecht, who often is asked to arrange for trash disposal for the events she caters.
Feel Good Foods is among a growing number of local caterers composting food scraps, reducing plastic usage, and buying organic produce from local farmers and vendors to make events more earth-friendly.
Another is Jamie Dolan, the owner/chef of Sea Stars Catering in Big Sur, who maintains a zero-waste standard for every event she organizes, in addition to using sustainable or wild meats and fish as well as organic and foraged produce. Dolan sees her work as an opportunity to educate people about the importance of keeping weddings and other big gatherings green and sustainable.
Dolan said some couples at first are resistant.
“But I push for it, and I explain to them, “You don’t want that (non-sustainable food), and this is why,” she said.
When you’re talking to different caterers and bartending services, ask these questions: What happens to food scraps and other food waste from the wedding? What about recycling of wine and liquor bottles, in addition to any soft drink cans? Are the glasses, cutlery, dishes and servingware disposable, or are they the real deal that can be washed and used again? If disposable items are used, is there any chance they could be composted (such as in the case of paper plates and plant-based disposable cutlery)?
Aside from the food and drink, you can also choose your venue carefully. Some restaurants and venues that host weddings follow green and sustainable practices, and typically it’s easy to figure this out — it’s most likely stated on their websites or Facebook pages. If not, then ask when you are making your plans.
There’s much more to say about making your special day a sustainable one, and I’ll continue with more tips in next week’s column.
Do you have questions or tips about sustainable living around the Central Coast? Send them to Kathryn McKenzie at kathymckenziewriter@gmail.com. Follow Kathryn McKenzie at www.facebook.com/kathrynmckenziewriter.
