Creating a sustainable event can begin with one of the very first steps of planning a wedding: choosing the wedding date.  The process of selecting a date is a complicated one.  Season, holidays, availability of key people… these all factor into the wedding date selection.  Add one more factor–locally grown product availability–and you’re on your way to a greener wedding.

For a green wedding, choose an eco-friendly wedding date by planning the wedding for the season when the best selection of locally grown food and flowers are available.  For Chicago and the Midwest, this means between between June and September for the best selection of locally grown cut flowers.  According to Molly Schemper of FIG Catering, “July through September are great months for local produce.”  Work with a caterer, such as FIG Catering, that offers locally grown organic menu options and create a menu to take advantage of the season’s best locally grown food.

To get the best of both worlds, schedule your event to feature locally grown food and flowers between July to September!  And, of course, go for organic!