Hey Brides, Here’s Your ‘Something Green’
An all-organic wedding cake is just one possibility for eco-conscious couples using The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte’s new service “Something Green.”
“There has been an interest at the hotel level to be as mindful as we can in terms of resources used to make a beautiful wedding, and more brides are showing an interest in designing an environmentally friendly wedding,” says Ritz-Carlton Media Relations Specialist, Bonnie Crail.
According to The Knot, the average wedding is now about $27,800! However, there are ways to green your big day while saving some cash without cutting corners. Photo: Flickr/annstheclaf
Other options for betrothed couples include sipping cocktails and wine made with all organic ingredients, decking tables with linens made from recycled fabrics and wedding favors of seed packets or small greenery that guests can take home for planting.
“We have a team of special event managers who help the bride customize her green wedding’s package,” says Catering Sales Manager, Kimberly Bachelder.
Brides can also taste local and organic fare at nearby farmers markets to create a personalized cuisine menu and choose to use only live plants for wedding decor.
These offerings can also be beneficial for the community. Buying local flowers and menu ingredients helps the neighboring gardening businesses and farmers, while eliminating long-distance trucking.
“Our florist knows what’s in bloom and when in North Carolina,” Bachelder says.
The price for a Something Green wedding? On average, it costs about $189 per guest. While other wedding packages range from $150 to $170 per guest, they don’t include centerpieces, linens or favors, Bachelder explains.
Bachelder adds that the slightly higher price for the Something Green wedding may be worthwhile.
“Not only do the brides feel like they’ve had a great time celebrating with friends and family, but they also feel good about planning a responsible event and making sure that they have left a good impact on the environment as well.”
Not planning a wedding in Charlotte? There are several ways you can green your wedding without breaking the bank.
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Lyn Hicks
posted on January 28th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Love to see you doing this “Something Green” in Carolina! I am up in PA. near the Philadelphia Market and hope to see the Ritz_Carlton do something like this as well. I grow and design organic flowers here on my farm for green weddings and events! Great job to see you using a local farm for your flowers! Just love it! It is quite exciting watching this market grow and people making more local and ecological choices!