Green for New Year’s Eve….hello 2010 Resolution!

Another year is coming to an end…let the celebrations begin! Throwing a party is a great way to celebrate all the events of the year with friends and loved ones. It can also be an expense to the pocket book and the environment with all the favors and goodies and drinks in bulk. Throwing a ‘Green’ New Year’s Eve party is not just trendy…it’s hot! Make your party ‘green’ and be the envy of all your guests. The design of your social event can still be fresh, modern, swank and sexy – ‘green’ events are no longer captive to hemp linens and rolls of brown paper towels!

We all know the importance of the ultimate New Year’s Eve cocktail. Why not serve your martinis and champagne in real glass rather than paper or plastic cups? Glass is way classier and it’s environmentally friendly. Using glass ensures less trash the next day, and you’ll have collective pieces to accentuate many parties to come! Colored glass is a fresh, modern enhancement to your overall party décor, its eco-friendly, and you’ll get to use them again and again! Fantastic finds  for recycled glass champagne flutes are more abundant than ever and make a great addition to your collection. Atwestend.com offers a variety of beautiful, recycled pieces at affordable price points.

Instead of serving plastic bottles of water, purchase a few beautiful glass pitchers, also made from recycled glass.

Purchasing a set of recycled glassware to go along side the water pitchers makes a gorgeous addition to any party or everyday use (consider it your 2010 green investment!) Clearly, designing a more intimate New Year’s Eve bash is more affordable and offers more focus on ‘green’ party pieces, foods, drinks and dining accessories. Setting a table or cocktail party for 12-20 guests can include more personal mood-infusing touches, such as recycled green glass candles and recycled glass stemless wine glass, and other pieces that will easily become staples in your home and the hit at any soiree you’re hosting!

The stemless wine glasses are oversized and perfect for you collection of unique wine accessories.

Heavy, hand blown recycled windshield glass with occasional bubbles. These glasses are 4″ d x 4.5″ tall and hold about 18 oz! Wow – who wouldn’t want to be a part of your festivities!?  (all above photos via atwestend.com)

If you’re not in budget to buy eco-friendly party essentials…rent them! By using a local party supplier, you’re reusing product that is already made and available and you’re avoiding trash. Rental companies will offer a large selection of plates, platters; stem ware, candles and more. Rental companies can offer modern designs, high-end pieces and décor ideas to suit a small or large event. Being a Seattle Event Designer, I often use Pedersen’s Rental’s for weddings and private parties. I love the bubble bowl, which is perfect for any style of event – the simplicity in the design can work for a modern New Year’s Eve Party or an informal one. Perfect for chips or truffles.

Add some color with bamboo curvy servers courtesy of Bambu, one of Bella’s favorite home stores! Bambu provides design solutions made from renewable materials that excite and delight people about sustainable alternatives for modern living. Simply delicious!!

Skip the paper invites, and design an e-vite that is uniquely your design and matches your event. You’re saving time & the planet!

Look for organic wines and champagnes. Organic wines and champagnes are made from grapes that are sans pesticides or additionally preserved with sulfites. Many organic cultivators also respect biodiversity on their vineyards and grow vines in healthy soil with cover crops planted between rows of vines. Umm…did I mention the best part? Organic wines won’t give your guests a hangover. Skipping the sulfites provides for less headaches…your guests will thank you! Serve up a variety of organic cheeses and locally grown seasonal fruits and veggies on bamboo platters and cutting boards. Modern, simple & eco-friendly!

And, what will every guest need to ring in the strike of midnight and roll into 2010? White Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Confetti in recycled paper cones is a perfect addition to the party. White is a very modern trend in winter parties, so skip the colored silly string and infuse a modern twist that’s earth-friendly.

Don’t forget to toast to your 2010 New Years Resolutions ~ Cheers to a greener New Year and happy party planning!