More and more people are looking to make their weddings and celebrations eco-friendly, to reduce their impact on the environment and bring their sustainable events to life.

But green event planning isn’t easy. With so much information online it’s hard to know what will give you a truly green wedding and what’s just a red herring. But if you’re a little overwhelmed, don’t panic. We’ve put together these five tips to make your green event planning easier than ever.

1)     Get your venue right

Choosing the right venue is a must when you’re trying to bring a sustainable event to life. So, what is the right event venue for your green party?

Try to partner with an event space that has a strong track record of sustainability, one that has green credentials and is as committed to creating sustainable events as you are. You want a venue that…

• Has an eco-friendly waste solution
• Sources renewable energy
• Implements their own eco-solutions – like water waste management
• Cares about the environment and shares your commitment to hosting green events

Outdoor venues offer a simple venue solution to your green event planning. Because of the eco-friendly nature of marquees, we often provide our movable sailcloth venues for those looking to throw sustainable events.

Eco-friendly marquee hire allows you to place your venue anywhere and reduce the impact that a traditional brick-and-mortar venue has. Then, when your event is finished, your marquee is simply packed up to be used again another day – and the landscape goes back to how it’s meant to be.

2)     Tackle the tricky transportation

Transportation is a tricky one and often the most environmentally unfriendly element of green event planning. You’ve invited guests to your wedding or event and – even if they car share – they will be creating emissions.

But there are a few things that you can do to reduce the impact of transport on your event’s green credentials…

• Choose a venue that’s in the middle of your guests to reduce travel
• Find a venue that’s positioned close to public transport links
• If guests do need to travel, organise shared transport

For many, eco-friendly marquee hire offers the perfect solution to the eco issues presented by travel. Your marquee can travel and be set up, just about anywhere which presents an easy way to reduce travel time for all your guests. And if that wasn’t enough, we have local marquee providers across the country which means your venue doesn’t travel far either.

3)     Go green with your catering

When it comes to catering for your event, every bite must be perfect. But the last thing you need is for your tasty treats to scupper your sustainability. So how can you keep your event catering as eco-friendly as possible?

• Go local: find local caterers, bakers and brewers. Not only is this greener but it also feels great supporting local businesses.
• Cut waste: pay close attention to what food you’re ordering and if it will all be used. If there is waste, can you put it to use or partner with someone who can?
• Choose seasonal: choosing seasonal ingredients means your food won’t have as far to travel from farm to table.
• Kick the packaging: sourcing food without all the plastic packaging can drastically reduce your waste.

4)     It’s all about efficiency

Everyone wants an energy-efficient event, but no one wants their ceremony guests to be eating in the dark. So how can you go greener with your energy usage?

• Prioritise a venue or event space that sources renewable energy
• Use natural light when you can – it’s green and free!
• Consider LED lighting where possible
• Switch the heating off or why not hold your event in summer?

Energy efficiency is one of the key benefits of eco-friendly marquee hire as it ticks all of the above boxes. You don’t have to heat your marquee, you can choose smaller more eco-friendly lights, and you can harness the natural power of the sun to both warm up your guests and light the way – it’s why so many people are choosing marquees for their sustainable events.

5)     Pay attention to the little things

When it comes to green event planning, it’s the little things that add up. While you may be thinking about leaving the brick-and-mortar venue behind in place for a more eco-friendly option, you may have forgotten that your catering is coming wrapped in plastic!

It’s easy to lose sight of the smaller things when you’re planning your sustainable events so here are a few things you should remember to make your celebration just a little greener.

• Reduce plastics and any single use items.
• If it’s a corporate event that includes merchandise, consider eco-friendly and reusable products.
• Opt for reusable or recyclable furnishings such as tablecloths rather than plastic covers.
• Choose local, seasonal flowers, dried floral decor, or potted plants as these can reduce the carbon footprint and promote sustainability.

When we collaborate with people on their dream, eco-friendly wedding or event, we’re always looking out for these little things to help make their celebration even more environmentally friendly.

Take flooring, for example, we’re always advising our clients on how their marquee flooring choice can impact sustainability – grass can be greener than matting, matting is greener than single-use carpets and polished hardwood floor gives the event an unbeatable look while being used again and again. It’s the little things that count and that’s why we’re here.

Need more help planning your dream sustainable event?

At Wills, we help people build their dream events, from brand birthdays to eco-friendly weddings and beyond. If you need more information about how eco-friendly marquee hire can take your event to the next level, or if you need a hand making your green event planning even greener, get in touch. We would love to help.