AFWPi Mixer "Weddings on the Green" at Angeles National Golf Club

The Southern California Association for Wedding Professionals International (AFWPi) Networking Mixer for event professionals. “Weddings on the Green" Eco-Friendly took place at the beautiful Angeles National Golf Course on August 25th. I've had the pleasure of designing & planning many Eco-Friendly events for Brides, Grooms, & Non-Profits. This Mixer I wanted to educate other event professionals on How Easy It is to "GREEN" Your Next Event.

Meaning: Environmentally Friendly (also Eco-friendly, nature friendly, and green) are synonyms used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment To make consumers aware, environmentally friendly goods and services often are marked with Eco-labels. Candace Ketopian of Jasmine’s Garden unveiled its Eco-Friendly line of Wedding Floral at our Eco-Friendly mixer. Eco-Friendly floral designs come in all colors, shapes and sizes. They use Eco friendly materials like containers made out of recycled glass, rocks, moss, and greens makes these arrangements Eco-friendly. (JG) avoided using chemically based products like plastic, nylon and colored dyes . One of the arrangements designed was made out of succulent plants. These are drought tolerant plants, meaning that they survive in our desert /hot weather conditions and do not require much water. More and more of my clients are using succulent plants for their design decor on their special day. Using Eco-friendly materials are small things that we can do to cut down pollution and conserve natural resources and make the earth a cleaner safer place, not just for us in our lifetime, but also for others in future. (JG) Eco-Friendly Floral Line is a result of the green movement and their growing consciousness effort to create floral arrangements with bio-degradable and natural materials without chemically based plastic, nylon, and color dyes that can either be recycled or will not tax the environment. It's Quite Easy To Be Eco-Friendly “GREEN”

Green Weddings: 10 Eco-Friendly Wedding Reception Ideas

1.Reduce & Reuse The key to an Eco-friendly wedding that's still style-conscious is to simplify. Reusing accents or materials doesn't just save money, it saves resources. Work with what you've got nearby

(and in season) and feel good about your efforts. 2.Printing/Or Not Every event starts with an invitation. Should you choose to have a Green event the invitations set's the tone for the festivities. If printing go with recycled paper that is at least 10% Post Consumer Recovered Fiber Elemental Chlorine Free. Your invitation should include the Recycled Logo, this may only be included if the printing company has permission to do so. Another option is to send Evite, .Free online invitations, free ecards, birthday invitations, party invitations and birthday ecards.

3.Choose a Site with Significance Look for a space that will benefit from your event, like a museum, a cultural organization, or an art gallery. Ask how the site will use your fee (hopefully toward new programs and upkeep of the institution). Want an outdoor wedding? Opt for a botanical garden, arboretum, or the grounds of a historic home (Angeles National Golf Club is a perfect Eco-Friendly location). 4.Recycle Your Un-Used Food When coordinating an event you will always need to provide your venue with a guest count at least a week before event date. At times guest who have RSVP may not always show-up at your event. The venue has still purchase food & chef will prepare your menu based on the guest numbers you have given and typically prepares between 3-10 percent over. A good way to not waste food is to contact your local Mission and they will schedule a pick-up from your venue location for any food that is un-used. Please make sure to check with your catering director or food & beverage manager to see if they will be willing to participate. Various locations have very strick rules on food leaving there premises. I have use Los Angels Downtown Mission many times for events and its such a good feeling to give back.The Los Angeles Mission is a non-profit 501(c)(3) agency, supported 100% by gifts from the private sector. 5.Recycle Your Decor Decorate your wedding ceremony space with items you can reuse at the reception, whether it's topiaries that go from the altar to the entryway or arrangements that decorate the program table and dress up your guest book area. You'll save money and waste less. When the evening is over, plan to donate the pieces to a nursing home or hospital. Call ahead to see if you can arrange a pickup from your site.

6.Dress Your Tables Choose Linen for event that is Eco-Friendly (Hemp) or at least choose a Linen Company that takes many steps to save our environment. For the mixer I wanted linen that was Eco-Friendly and a great vendor to use is Dress My Party. Dress My Party prides itself on caring about the environment. (DMP) takes great measures to implement Eco-friendly products and procedures in their operations. For example, two of their favorite Eco-friendly cleaners are baking soda and vinegar. They reduce the company's energy usage through high-efficiency cleaning equipment and clean many items by hand.

7.Buy Organic Blooms Pesticide-free petals show off a flower's natural beauty. "Conventionally grown roses are so genetically engineered that they don't even smell like roses anymore, so they are sprayed with an artificial scent," "Organic roses smell how they should smell." If you can't find a local florist who can track down organic flowers, contact Jasmine Gardens . 8.Decorate with Bamboo A great and modern-looking option, bamboo is considered one of the most sustainable materials on earth -- it can grow up to two feet a day. Use tall stalks of curly bamboo in centerpieces, or choose bamboo chargers for your reception tables. And of course, mini stalks of lucky bamboo are always a favorite favor.

9.Arrive in (Low Emission) Style A Prius limo? That might not yet be a reality, but there are ecologically friendly options out there. If your wedding is near the water, leave your ceremony in a canoe. We've also seen couples depart on tandem bicycles, rickshaws, or old-school conveyances like a horse and buggy.

10.Light Soy Candles Candlelight isn't only romantic, it's energy efficient. Look for soy candles -- they're made from a renewable resource , are cleaner and longer burning than regular candles, plus spills are easy to clean (just use soap and hot water). They're available in nearly every size, shape, color, and scent you can imagine.

Eco-Fashionable Bridal Gift Ideas Get earthy with the natural Eco-Fashionable Tanks & Tees as Kimberly showcase at the mixer. (Shown in the photo above is the Bride Tank with emerald green crystals also available in Bridesmaid, Jr. Bridesmaid, Maid of Honor, or Matron of Honor complete with a removable soft organza butterfly pin. The tank is 100% Organic ribbed cotton, combed for softness and comfort. Accepting Pre-Order's now, please email us at: info@drezrehersal.com.

Visit our drezrehersal E-Studio for your all access pass to fabulous Eco-Friendly party favors for your upcoming wedding, bridal shower, baby shower, birthday party, brunch or dinner party. Whatever fabulous party you're having, there are plenty of favors to choose from.

For more Eco-Friendly Decor ideas or assistance in planning your wedding or upcoming event, please give drezrehersal Event Planning Co. a call to set-up your complimentary consultation. I like to express my thanks once again to the vendors who provided a service for the AFWPi mixer and believed in reaching out to other event professionals, as we educate them on taking better steps to save the environment. Please consider them when planning your next event. Angeles National Golf Club- Carrie Contreras, Director of Catering BitterSweet Treats, Danielle Keene Dress My Party, Jennifer Rice Jasmine's Garden, Candace Kentopian JazHarp Records, Lori Andrews & Bart Samolis

Special Thanks to Lucy Manalo of Manalo Empire for providing photography services for the event.