Enjoy the Party, Respect the Guests

Animal- and Eco-Friendly Celebrations

Introduction

Weddings

--Animals

--Rice and Confetti

--Gift Suggestion—for You, for Your Guests

--Wedding Attire

--Invitations

--Food

Birthday Parties

Family Reunions

--In the Park

Leave Only Footprints

Take Action

Introduction                                                                                  Back to Top

No matter what the occasion—wedding, birthday, family reunion—use it as an opportunity to celebrate the natural world, too. Making celebrations animal- and eco-friendly brings us pleasure as well as peace of mind. It is possible to have the most fun while doing the least harm to the natural world.

While balancing the desire for fun at parties and keeping the local animals and their environment safe takes a bit of doing, with some forethought and a little planning, it can be done and is well worth the effort.

Weddings                                                                                     Back to Top

Weddings remind us of new beginnings, selfless affection, and unconditional love. What better opportunity to spread an animal- and eco-friendly message to your family and friends. There are several factors to consider when planning a wedding, regardless of whether it will be an indoor or outdoor service and reception.

Animals                                                                                          Back to Top

Please do not include live wild animals in your festivities. Having boxes of butterflies ready for release is inhumane to them and often upsetting to your guests. Many of these creatures die before they are released—imagine your guests’ reactions when they open the box only to find dead butterflies. The same is true for doves. Keeping boxes filled with doves is inhumane to the birds. Once released, they are often disoriented and may fly straight into buildings or other structures only to be killed.             

Displaying live animals, such as swans, is also equally inhumane. Although swans may represent love, these animals are most likely not in their native environment and may become disoriented by the noise, the presence of people, and the unnatural setting. As a result, they may not display love but aggression instead.

Rice and Confetti                                                                            Back to Top

Often, as the bride and groom leave the wedding ceremony, guests will celebrate them under a shower of rice or confetti. Rice, often thought to be hazardous to wildlife, especially birds, is not dangerous to them but is to us. The kernels can act like ball bearings, causing guests to slip and possibly fall. In addition, rice left on stairs, walkways, and lawns creates a mess. Confetti can bleed color over the surfaces where it lands. Consider instead having guests blow bubbles. This alternative is just as romantic without the negative impact on animals and the environment.

Gift Suggestions—For You, For Your Guests                                     Back to Top

Now that you have considered ways to help animals and the environment remain healthy and alive, consider having donations to animal-friendly charities made in your name rather than registering your pattern at a local emporium. Tax-deductible donations to your favorite animal or environmental charity will have a far-reaching impact. After all, just how many toasters can you have? Sending this humane message to friends and relatives may also encourage them to adopt similar principles.

You may want some reminder from your wedding to give to each of your guests. Use wedding favors as another opportunity to spread a humane message. Making seed packets is fun and easy—especially if you recruit the help of your wedding party. Include seeds that are native to where your guests live, so they can bring home and plant seeds in their own gardens. When the flowers bloom, they will think of you.

Wedding Attire                                                                                Back to Top

Rather than purchase a new wedding gown, go for a classic vintage gown. Some of these dresses are very beautiful, and you will have the comfort of knowing you have not contributed to animal- or human-maltreatment with your purchase. Plus, vintage clothing can often be less expensive than a brand new gown. Your wedding party can also benefit from your decision if you look for vintage clothing for them as well.

Invitations                                                                                       Back to Top

Something else to consider right from the start of your wedding planning is invitations. Use invitations made on recycled paper. There is no reason not to. Recycled paper invitations are every bit as beautiful as non-recycled paper invitations, and you will be helping the environment by not contributing to deforestation and pollution. You might also consider paperless invitations. E-mail, although not the norm for formal invitations, might set the right tone for an informal wedding celebration.

Food                                                                                              Back to Top

Choose a vegetarian/vegan menu for your reception. Your vegetarian/vegan friends will thank you, and you will be contributing to a cruelty-free meal. Who knows, your delicious wedding food may inspire a friend or relative to go vegetarian/vegan. Added bonus: vegetarian/vegan meals are often less expensive than meat meals and just as easy to prepare.

Birthday Parties                                                                            Back to Top

Birthday parties are all about making memories, especially childhood birthday parties. But just because little Jackie asks for a monkey at his party does not mean it is a good idea to “rent” one for the afternoon. Animals used for entertainment are rarely treated with the respect and care they deserve.

Wild animals specifically, including monkeys and large reptiles, are kept in cages the entirety of their lives—or at least until their performing days are done. These animals have not been fully domesticated and still have a level of uncertain behavior. They have been taken out of their environments and dropped into unfamiliar worlds where they are lost and frightened.

People who claim to have tamed these animals for use at children’s birthday parties can never fully be sure they have eliminated every wild instinct these animals possess, especially when these creatures are mistreated. Beating, shocking, and starving these animals only contributes to their uncertain dispositions.

Using live animal entertainment puts children at risk and supports the cruel industry that forces these animals to breed so that more animals can enter this type of work. These animals have no choice—you do. You can, instead, choose other party activities that do not harm innocent animals: moon bounces, clowns, face painting, etc. You want your celebration to be cruelty free.  

Family Reunions                                                                           Back to Top

Family reunions are a great time to visit new places, eat new foods, and enjoy new scenery. Often these reunions are large enough to require a special location, such as a hotel, resort, or park. Consider choosing locations that support the environment and that are gentle on the surrounding wildlife.

In the Park                                                                                     Back to Top

Reunions at parks require a lot of advanced planning. Be sure to research what is and is not permitted in that area. For example, there may be prohibitions on open fires, cooking of any kind, or bringing breakable items. There is a reason for these prohibitions: They ensure a safe and healthy environment for the animals who live in the surrounding area.

While you are picnicking, make sure you contain your trash. Wild animals will be very interested in it. Some trash can seriously injure or kill animals—those plastic rings from six-packs can strangle wildlife; metal tabs from soda cans can cut paws and if swallowed, cut throats; and glass and plastic containers can become stuck on an animal’s head causing the animal to panic and possibly suffocate. If you leave food out, bears, ants, and bees, among others, will find it. Treat the outdoors with as much care as you treat your own home. Try not to disturb nests, burrows, or other wildlife homes; and do not pick flowers or disturb the flora in any way. Also, make sure you separate your trash so you can recycle as much as possible. There might even be receptacles you can use at the site for such a purpose. Leave the area better than you found it. If other party goers left trash, pick it up along with yours. The lighter our footprint when we leave the great outdoors, the better wildlife can live their lives in safety and peace.             

If you bring your own grill for cooking, make sure it is not harmful to the environment. Fuel spills can seep into the ground and pollute not only the soil but ground water as well. Be a gentle, caring steward of the land. You are bringing a group of people to an outdoor setting who may not have much experience in outdoor living. Educate them on the dos and don’ts. Your reunion will be far more enjoyable with fewer insect bites, cuts, and injuries.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) found "43%, or more than 3.5 million of the acres burned in 2000 were the result of human-caused fires with over 5% of that acreage being burned by escaped campfires." To help prevent "escaped" campfires, build a campfire only where it is legally permitted and always be aware of the weather and wind conditions. When the fire is no longer needed, properly douse the flame and sift through the ashes with water and any sort of rake to ensure the remaining embers are totally out before you leave the campfire site. 

Leave Only Footprints                                                                    Back to Top

Whether attending a special event or simply going out for a walk in nature, remember to think about your actions and their impact on wildlife and the environment.

Whether your celebration is one mentioned above or a graduation, anniversary, business celebration, rite of passage, etc., remember that you are celebrating life, love, and prosperity at these events. Include the local ecosystem in your celebration by keeping it free from harm.

For example, many celebrations include a balloon release; but unfortunately, the release may bring harm to wildlife and pets. All balloons eventually will land in our waterways, trees, and other natural areas creating unnecessary and avoidable sources of pollution. Also, the balloons can be deadly to mammals and fish if they are mistaken for food.

In addition, help children learn good environmental stewardship. Encourage children not to litter, even with the smallest piece of trash. Many wild critters will try to eat garbage and this is neither healthy nor safe for the animals. Wildlife rehabilitators often find themselves trying to help animals who wanted what they thought was a special treat.

There are some “destination” celebrations you should consider avoiding altogether; namely, those that involve animals as entertainment, such as petting zoos, rodeos, and circuses. These so-called forms of entertainment exploit the animals who often travel long distances to perform, live in substandard conditions, and are brutally trained to perform unnatural acts for your enjoyment. What kind of enjoyment can you have if they are suffering?

An animal- and eco-friendly reunion involves not just seeing Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Jesse under the great canopy of mother earth. It involves treating that canopy with care and respect. When it comes to enjoying wildlife and natural environments, remember: "Leave only footprints; take only photographs."

Take Action to Protect Animals and the Environment

What can you do to protect animals and the environment while you are celebrating special events in your life and the lives of family and friends? First, keep in mind, as you plan your event, there are others who will be affected by your decisions—the animals in your environment and the environment itself. Other humane actions include:

·         Find party planners who respect animals and the environment to give you tips/suggestions on how to plan your event.

·         Share your insights into protecting animals and the environment with your prospective guests.

·         Contact local animal- and environment-related organizations to find out how to protect both animals and the environment while you enjoy your celebration.

March 2009                                                                                         Back to Top