So the ladies from CBL [and friends] decided to take a little trip to Sin City. Three days of soaking up the hot desert sun, lounging by the pool and partying like a rock star. We arrived late in the evening, checked into our hotel at the Mirage and immediately met up with friends to hit the club. Talk about hit the ground running. We had very little sleep during our trip but had so much fun. Being a female in Vegas definitely has it benefits; no cover charge, no waiting in line and free drinks! There’s a saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” so enjoy the stock photos of the places we visited. ;0)

It has become abundantly clear to me there is a huge amount of waste associated with weddings. How many times have you been to a wedding with beautiful floral arrangements that can’t be taken home? These arrangements are eventually tossed out in the garbage the following day. You don’t have to do the whole carbon footprint thing to make a difference. With a bit {not much} of extra planning small choices can make a huge impact on the environment.

Here’s a list of ideas I’ve put together to help you reduce the amount of wedding waste:

• Look for a reception site or a caterer with a solid recycling plan
• Set up a donation plan for leftover food and beverage
• Team up with a charity to have their volunteers come in and rearrange the floral centerpieces and donate it to nursing homes and/or hospitals the following day
• Send RSVP postcards instead of RSVP cards (you’ll reduce paper waste and save on postage!)
• Use live plants and/or flowers for centerpieces and give them away to your guests

Here are some ideas to reduce carbon emissions:

• Have the ceremony and reception at the same location or within ease of public transportation
• Ask your caterer to provide you with food options using locally grown ingredients and raised products
• Encourage your guests to carpool or set up shuttling service for your guests
• Request the rental company to use bio-diesel fuel for your rental delivery
• Go on an {eco-friendly} honeymoon. Check out REI Adventures for some fun ideas!