Aristide Event Center was featured in the Mansfield News Mirror
Presenting June Bride: Tips on how to lessen your wedding’s carbon footprint
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Couples look for ways to go green
Wearing Green
In the hopes of getting everyone in the eco-friendly frame of mind, we’ve gathered together some easy tips and projects to make going green for your wedding more accessible than you’d think.
1. Use the same location for the wedding and the reception.
This saves fuel and emissions to the environment, since guests don’t have to drive to more than one place. Plus, it’s economical because you’re not paying fees for two locations. Or consider leaving your reception in a gas-free ride such as a “Just Married” bicycle or horse-drawn carriage.
image via Elizabeth Ann Designs
2. Rent or borrow
Rent or borrow decorations, serving ware, and other items that will likely be of little use after the big day. Aristide Event Center provides tables, chairs, linens, and flatware as apart of our services, which helps reduce costs.
In fact, a venue’s built-in aesthetic values can eliminate the need to acquire a lot of decorative items. “Using our indoor ballroom or outdoor terraces for your wedding and reception reduces the amount of (outside) floral arrangements and decorations, due to our own elaborate décor and flourishing landscape,” said Rachel Grossman, director of Aristide Event and Conference Center in Mansfield.
3. Share your flowers and food
Let your special day live on a little longer by sharing it with people in need. Rather than toss all your still-gorgeous flower arrangements, donate them to a local hospital or convalescent home. The same goes for any leftover food—most soup kitchens and homeless shelters can arrange to have someone swing by your reception to pick up unused refreshments.
4. Use less paper
Think about how much paper is used in a traditional wedding: save the date cards, invitations, response cards, double envelopes, bridal shower and rehearsal dinner invitations, programs, menus, escort cards, table numbers, gift wrap…the list goes on and on! It is actually pretty easy to reduce the amount of paper you use for your wedding. Skip the response cards, save the dates, and double envelopes. Write the reception menu on a chalkboard, bistro style. Wrap the bridesmaid jewelry gifts in pretty scarves instead of wrapping paper (plus the scarves will be nice bonus gifts in addition to the bridesmaid jewelry!). And for the essentials like the wedding invitations, opt for recycled paper or an alternative fiber paper like hemp or bamboo.
Aristide Event Center has a retractable projector screen that would be perfect for one big wedding program that all your guests can see.
5. Plant a tree
Plant a tree together as a couple during the ceremony to symbolize new life together, while also giving new life back to the environment. This is a wonderful option, instead of a unity candle because it allows the couple to transplant the new tree to their home to watch it grown throughout their lives.
