Be Green and Charitable! Where to Donate Your Wedding Food, Dresses and Flowers in Greater Nashville
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Hello All!
Hi all! It's guest eco-blogger Ashley Currie of iHospitality, not to be confused with Ashley (of Ashley's Bride Guide).
At my cousin’s wedding over Labor Day weekend, I had a bird’s eye view into all it takes to execute a great wedding. It got me thinking, what happens next? I have a bridesmaid dress, can I wear it again? The food was great, but were the leftovers tossed? Did the pretty bouquets end up trashed?
Your leftover wedding goodies can help make a difference in the lives of others by taking a few extra steps during your planning. Here are a few ways to recycle your wedding food, dresses and flowers.
The Food - Partner with Your Caterer on Food Recovery
Food is a big part of any big day, heck that is probably my favorite part of any great event. Buffet or plated? Chicken or fish? Ask your caterer “Will you recycle/donate any unused food after my wedding?" Food recovery is becoming more common as people in the event world start taking notice of all the things that are wasted during one special night. Many menu items are in perfect condition to transport to a needy family or organization instead of being tossed after your event or wedding.
ABG Note: Vegetable platters are rarely totally consumed. You can talk to your caterer about donating the food. (Image by Down South Delights)
Images courtesy of Good Food For Good People
I recently spoke with Laura Little, Food Recovery Coordinator for Good Food for for Good People. Laura partners with local businesses to recover perishable food items that would normally be tossed. They then prepare and serve meals at the West Nashville United Methodist Church allowing anyone in the community a chance to eat a healthy meal.
Laura said she would love to work with more weddings and events and encourages brides and planners to ask what happens to their remaining food after their wedding. Together, we can encourage more caterers to include food recovery efforts in their total package.
To learn more about how you can include food recovery efforts on your big day contact Laura Little at 615.573.6242 or lauraanne_little {at} hotmail {dot} com.
The Dresses - Reuse or Donate Your Gown, Bridesmaids Dresses
Let’s talk gowns. The one thing you search high and low to find for your bridesmaids, flower girls and the list goes on. Once you have the perfect dresses and all key players have made their walk down the aisle, the question is “what next for the dress?" The answer… reuse or donate. I became a fan of the blog New Dress A Day, where one chick set out on a mission to reuse old garments and dated items by turning them into a trendy new look. When I first saw all her great transformations I thought "so green, but so chic"! It is definitely a neat idea and a great way for anyone to reuse that bridesmaid or wedding dress for another party or girls night out. Altering a dress is always fun either as a DIY or enlisting the help of your go-to seamstress. (The ABG team recommends Oakwood Cleaners for wedding gown alterations.)
Images courtesy of NewDressADay.com
I also had a great conversation with Danielle Loeffler with Catalyst Weddings & Events (a wedding planning company that specializes in charitable weddings). Danielle is a part of The Fairy Godmother Project of Music City that takes your previously loved bridesmaids dresses and gives them to Nashville girls to make their prom day special.
They have partnered with Brides Against Breast Cancer and now offer the opportunity for women to donate their gently used wedding gowns too. Contact either organization for donation details.
Images by Catalyst Weddings & Events
The Flowers - Give them to Your Guests or to a Nursing Home
Flowers are the quintessential part of any wedding and also pretty damaging to the environment. Cut flowers normally have between 10-12 pesticides used during their growing process. But, donating the flowers allows us to undo some of the damage by giving them a second life.
After my cousin's wedding, I spoke with her florist, Teri Davis of Elegant Weddings by MTD. Teri reused my cousins wedding bouquets by turning them into centerpieces for the reception. Teri also provided some great suggestions for what to do with your flowers after the wedding: she gives the centerpieces to guests after the wedding, and donates the bride's flowers to a local nursing home or hospital, where residents truly appreciate the beautiful arrangements. Flower recycling/donating is a simple step that could really make a huge impact on the environment and in someone else’s life.
To donate your flowers to patients at Saint Thomas Hospital, contact Debra Baker in the Volunteer Office, 615.222.2129, between 7:00am - 4:30pm.
ABG adds - Random Acts of Flowers in Knoxville, TN offers floral collection which we think is great! Wouldn't it be great if someone started this locally. Hint hint. C'mon Nashville community! This would be awesome!
Image courtesy of Danielle Loeffler, Catalyst Weddings & Events
ABG Note: Beautiful altar arrangements can be used at the reception for a centerpiece or on your buffet table. (Image by Jason McNeal Photography)
Okay, I hope you have taken notes and are ready to step up your wedding game by adding in a little after the wedding recycling. Many of the things discussed can be easily handled with no additional cost or stress, so why not? Remember to always let the ABG team know how green you went for your big day by leaving a comment on the monthly green post that inspired you.
Until next time…
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Posted on September 8, 2011 |
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