Planning an Eco-Friendly Affair

It seems that everyone is going green these days so we thought it would be a great idea to share some tips on how to make your next party an eco-friendly event. Keeping modest budgets in mind, here are our tips to creating a green event:

1. 
   Start with invitations. Instead of paper invitations, try free online services such as Evite.com to send out your party announcement. For those that really love the idea of a paper invitation, look for recycled paper options.
   Want to take your new tree-hugging lifestyle one step farther?  Check out what the folks over at InvitationTwist.ca have to offer. Their eco-friendly seeded invitations (that's right, you can plant them in your garden) are an innovative way to reduce, reuse and recycle and, they won't break the bank either.
   
   
2. Ask your guests to reduce their carbon footprint by carpooling to your shin dig. Better yet, if they live close by, ask them to bike or walk to your house.
   
   
3. Buy organic food if possible and remember to compost.
   
   
4. Rather than using paper plates and plastic cutlery, consider using your regular everyday plates and silverware. We know it's crazy to think that you'll have to wash all of those dishes or use more water with the dishwasher but, trust us, boycotting the paper and plastic will reduce unnecessary waste.
   
   
5. Set the mood of the party with different lighting options. Dim the lights and place candles all over the house to create a cool lounge type vibe. Can't live without your light switch turned on? Try switching your bulbs to LED lights and think about how much energy you'll be saving.

The sky is the limit when thinking of ways to be more eco-friendly. Your challenge this weekend, should you choose to accept it, is to think of more ways you can make your next event an eco-friendly affair.
Tell us, how are you saving the environment one party at a time?