Gather Well Events

When I was planning my own wedding 10 years ago, we wanted to keep it as sustainable as possile. Funny how 10 years later, I would implement the same practices (and maybe a few more). Here are my tips, many of which are as gentle on the earth as they are on your pocket book. Local Vendors Going with small and local vendors lowers your carbon footprint. Distance and gas utilization aside, local companies are often connected with other local vendors and supply sources. These connections  Flowers When choosing flowers, I always advise clients to choose their color palette and stay open to seasonal blooms within those colors. Many local florists work with growers and wholesale markets in your area. Blooms from these sources have a lower carbon footprint and generally contain far fewer chemicals (if they have any at all). And speaking of florists. Ask about reusable and chemical-free options in your arrangements (e.g. chicken wire or flower frogs) that forego floral foam, which is toxic. Re

Recently engaged? Congratulations! The decision to marry your life partner is a big one. You may already have an elopement, trip to the courthouse, or wedding in mind. In case you need a little guidance, I've outlined a few helpful questions to get you started. 1. What is our overall vision?  Do we have a season or place in mind? Snow in the mountains, barefoot on a warm beach, fall church wedding, spring in a park? Knowing the feeling or vibe you have in mind sets the tone. Having a season or month in mins can help narrow your planning down. If you can keep a date flexible until you find a venue, it will help your of locking down a place you love. 2. What's our budget? Budget impacts everything from venue to guest list to menu. Weddings happen at every single price point. Once you have a ballpark number to work with, you can prioritize where the money goes. Perhaps you want to splurge on really high quality photographs or florals but don't mind spending less on stationary

We're kicking things off with a little Friday Introduction. Hi, I'm Lauren, founder of Gather Well Events. While we formally started this little business almost a year ago, the seeds were planted when I was a small four year old flower girl. I fell in love with weddings. And parties. Really any excuse to Gather Well. While my childhood predated Pinterest, my mom created birthday parties that were just as (if not more than) dreamy. The feelings of excitement, love, magic, and whimsy she brought out in parties she hosts brings me inspiration in my own event planning.  I've always wanted to be a mom and a teacher, both goals I've achieved (we have three awesome kids and I'm a very-part-time teacher librarian). And it was probably no secret I also thought about professional event planning. In college I took event planning coursework while completing my Communication degree and teaching certification (I thrive staying busy). And I hosted parties and events pretty much an