In the year 2012, brides everywhere have been going green in multiple different aspects of their wedding. Eco-friendly weddings are the most trending theme this year and brides, planners and designers are coming up with creative ways to stay true to the environment on this special day. One of the most important details that your guests will most appreciate, is what is being served for the reception meal. When researching about these “green” themed weddings, we noticed that these bride’s were turning to sustainable and local sourcing to cater their meals. Not only are they two ways that are great for the environment, but chef’s everywhere have been coming up with tasty and creative recipes that you and your guests are sure to be pleased with.
Local and Sustainable Sourcing: What is it?
By using local sourcing, you are going to caterers and businesses in your community and buying their supplies and services in order to serve your guests at your wedding. Not only are you helping the environment, but you are also benefiting your community’s economy. If the environment is very important to you, buying locally supports it because it protects the air and water, it minimizes energy consumption and it enriches the soil. There are many benefits to using local sourcing when creating the meal that will be passed out to all of your guests. Now on to the other type of sourcing: Sustainable Sourcing. Sustainable food is mostly similar to local sourcing, but with a few differences and a few more benefits to your guests and the environment. Sustainable sourcing means you are receiving food that is healthy and does not harm the environment at all because it is completely pesticide and chemical free and guarantees that hormones were not used during the growing process. Local foods can be grown this way, but it is very rare to find a place close to home where chemicals were not used.
The Positives to Using These Sources
Obviously, helping the environment is the most important reason to use local and sustainable sourcing when catering your meal. It helps all aspects of the environment including the air, water, soil and how the animals are being raised. The economy has also been a struggle for most these last few years, so by reaching out to local businesses, you are helping not only their financial situation but the economy of your very own community. Another positive to local sourcing is that you are staying local. You will not need to travel far for a tasting or pay shipping and storage costs because it will be available to you very easily. Not only does this save you time, but it also saves you gas and the environment from gas pollution in the air. One important selfish but smart reason for using either of these sources is that it can save you a lot of money. It is less expensive than most foods and you will not have to worry about shipping or storage fees because everything is grown near you and will be nice and fresh by the date of your wedding day. With so many positives to choose from, how can you not choose a way that not only can benefit you and your guests but the important environment and community around you?
With Many Positives Comes a Few Negatives to Consider
Even though the positives outweigh the negatives, there are a few things for you to consider and research before making a final decision. Depending on where you live and where your wedding will take place, it could take some effort to find the right food source that can give you exactly what you are wishing for. Research is key when it comes to finding your perfect source that also shares the same knowledge and respect for the environment as you do. One last negative could be creating menu options that make sure that you and your guests will be satisfied. If you are working with a caterer, this might make things a little easier, especially if this caterer specializes in eco-friendly meals.
Local and Sustainable Menu Options That Could Surprise You
With today’s creative chefs, there are many different choices you can have when it comes to menu options and using local and/or sustainable sourcing. Your cake for instance can actually be created with these sourcing options. If you are thinking about a country theme for example, pies might be the perfect choice for you. By using a local market or farm, you can either purchase or make these pies yourself for the perfect dessert for this theme. Other environmentally friendly options could be a fruit cake, carrot cake or even cupcakes. Wine is another surprise delicacy that can also help reduce a negative impact on the environment. Now for the main course, we recommend choosing chicken, fish and even vegetarian dishes to serve to your guests.
By choosing these healthy and eco-friendly options, you are not only serving your guests something they will appreciate but it will be a fresh and creative option they most likely have never seen before. Americans are starting to change the way they eat and live, so why not correlate this to what you serve your guests on your wedding day.
BBFN,
Olivia
No comments:
Post a Comment