How to Create a Sustainable Wedding Day at The Red Earth Venue
Despite its rough and often wild exterior, the Moab, Utah desert is actually a very fragile place. Working as a full-time wedding and event photographer in Utah for over a decade I saw firsthand the negative effect that events can have on the landscape. It was through witnessing these tragedies that a seed was planted in my heart to do something about it. That landed my husband and I with the desire to create a sustainable wedding venue in Moab, Utah!
Why a Sustainable Wedding Venue Matters in Moab
At The Red Earth Venue, we emphasize a natural, peaceful experience with minimal environmental impact. Getting married at the venue provides an eco-friendly environment that protects our local parks and public lands.
When poorly executed, events with large groups can devastate area resources: crushing plants, forming trails off the designated paths and destroying fragile soil crusts. Trash from these events was also frequently left behind including lightweight materials that easily were blown about by the wind. Sometimes the impact on the environment was small and sometimes it was huge.
Whether you realize it or not, opting for REV as your Moab desert wedding venue means you have chosen sustainable wedding planning. Sustainability starts with celebrating in a singular location that is managed and cared for by a team trained in such practices.
These are just some of the many environmentally conscious solutions we offer for your sustainable event:
Protection of the Cryptobiotic Soil Crusts which play an important part in Moab’s ecosystem and can be destroyed by a singular footprint. We watch over the landscape through guarded paths and parking that keep guests in designated areas.
On-site staff trained in educating and keeping guests on trails and in designated areas, while also removing and properly disposing of waste.
Remote location that minimizes impact on the community by limiting light and noise pollution.
How We Built A Utah Wedding Venue Focused on Sustainability
Building a venue for sustainable weddings was inspired not only by our experience as Park Rangers but also from being the parents of four daughters. We can’t help but think about caring for the future of our planet on their behalf! Combining these desires with my own experience as a Utah wedding photographer led to this red earth venue’s carefully curated design.
The foundation of our Moab desert venue aesthetic was first informed by what I knew I didn’t like. I knew that I didn’t want blinking lights from mounted projectors or nearby telephone poles that would require editing out of your desert wedding photos.
Well lit and open spaces that catch the sunlight were the requirements for capturing the best outdoor wedding venue photography. Many couples are surprised to find that the road to the venue (formerly a cattle corral) is a scenic byway that dead ends into Canyonlands National Park. All design choices were made in line with what would age beautifully with the land and hold visual interest without being distracting.
We also selected a structure that could easily offer options and variety depending upon your wedding decorations. The sturdy arches of the Iron Arches Brick Patio can be customized with florals, drapery, chandeliers, lighting, tenting, etc. or left as is to frame the landscape. Tiles were utilized alongside light switches installed at the top of walls for custom lighting installations inside the venue.
Of greatest importance was creating a space for all of the wedding timeline events from the first look to the ceremony, reception, and the send-off. We built durable surfaces that can handle epic dance parties with your sustainable wedding in mind!
Ways To Turn Your Day into a Sustainable Wedding
The natural next step after choosing a green wedding venue is hiring a team of wedding vendors who prioritize sustainability. An example is a vendor we work with often: the local Moab florist, Farm Yard. They practice sustainability across the board in their business practices which extends to the way they create the wedding floral arrangements themselves.
The following are the top sustainable practices and tips we recommend for your wedding:
Rentals: tables, chairs, reusable dishware and glassware.
Flowers: potted plants, dried or artificial flowers, locally-sourced wedding florals, donating your florals after the event.
Decor: rent instead of purchasing new, create DIY wedding decorations that upcycle various materials.
Food: opt for locally sourced, organic, and seasonal food. Donate leftovers to area shelters and compost any food waste.
Accommodations: Moab offers many places to stay that are easy to find in this small but robust Utah resort town.
Transportation: the venue is located close enough to town that shuttle services or carpool options are available for guests. Another bonus is the fact that both your ceremony and reception can be hosted at the same location which eliminates a need for additional transportation.
The most common reaction we receive when couples’ tour the venue is that it is larger and more beautiful in person than they expected. Visitors are surprised to find that there really isn't anything to disrupt their view in any direction! From its natural beauty, to the responsiveness and care of our on-site managers, our couples have an incredible experience.
Learning how to create these amazing days responsibly always inspires us to continually improve REV to meet the needs of our couples. Start imagining your own REV sustainable wedding day by getting in touch or reading our FAQs!
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