Impact Tip - Vendor Spotlight on Pivotal Production

This week I want to feature a girl who continues to inspire and always makes me laugh...Shannon of Pivotal Production! We met last year when we were each looking for more people in the business who were trying to make an impact and educate party goers and planners how to use less without sacrificing style and fun. Shannon is an expert in this. Although she hasn't had the wedding bug just yet, she is a fabulous party planner for charities and corporate events in Chicago. She just needs a few of my fabulous brides to get her going :)

A little more about Shannon Downey. She is owner of Chicago's premier Green Event Company, Pivotal Production. After a life altering 8 month backpacking trip around the world, Shannon realized that she needed to take her skills, ideals, passion, and 8 years of experience in marketing and events and focus them into a business that she could be proud of. Two and half years later, she couldn't be happier or prouder of her business, her B Corporation status and Pivotal's ever growing team!

Shannon is committed to changing the way people celebrate and is an avid believer in the importance of collaboration. She is a faculty member at DePaul University and is elated to be a future tenant of the Green Exchange. She is committed to a true triple bottom line and is a passionate supporter of the arts. Shannon is most thankful for all of the important people in her life that helped create and shape Pivotal. To learn more visit www.pivotalchicago.com or the blog http://pivotalproductioneventplanners.blogspot.com/

Just look at her, non-stop fun...so if you are planning a party or know someone who is be sure to look her up. Check out her facebook too, hilarious...at least to me :)
We will be back in two weeks with more tips!

Kirsten and Todd

Kirsten and Todd's wedding is coming up next weekend already, can't wait!

Impact Tip - Our impact

I am making this two impact tip's in one since I missed the last one! As you know, we are continually striving to find new products, helpful hints, and great ideas for living and planning green. This doesn't stop with you. We also are always looking for ways to lessen the impact of our business on the environment!

Two new things we have done recently is restructure our back up system for stored photos and files and get new eco-friendly CD and DVD cases for CD/DVD products.

We are now using hard drives to double back up all data to reduce the use of DVD's which will save us all that plastic and storage space to save them. The drives we found are 40% more energy efficient. Here is what Fantom had to say about them...

"Fantom Drive's GreenDrive yields an average drive power savings of 4-5 watts over competitors' drives while maintaining solid performance. That power savings equates to reducing CO2 emission by up to 60 kilograms per drive per year – the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 14 days each year, and saving up to $14 per year in electricity costs depending on the power-on-hours."

So if you need a hard drive for work or home, look into Fantom!
Our friend Chad Husar found these and passed along the info. Thanks Chad!

Each case is hand made with organic paper, twine and an organic bead. They are shipped in recycled and reused paper too. So each one is unique!

Molly Grace Shoots Whitney & Ben's Wedding

Whitney and Ben had a beautiful day, and though the weather threatened to rain it provided a grand sky for them to pose under just in time for pictures. What a fun day, a celebration of love and commitment and a great party!

Ceremony & Reception Ruffled Feathers
DJ The Windy City Hitman
Videography Sureshot Productions

Jen and John

Jen and John had a fabulous wedding with the help of her sister Lauren who is also a planner for Food for Thought (who we love!) Jen and John were surrounded by such wonderfully, loving family and friends, which is the best way to start your new life together! Thank you for sharing this day with us!

Ceremony: Union Church of Hinsdale
Reception: The Peninsula
Lighting: Frost
Band: Deja Vu

Thank you to Jen and John for being hilarious and so fun!

Molly Grace Shoots Jamie & Emma's Wedding

Truly this day was a gift for me as a person and an artist, I witnessed the love of a father for his daughter and the joining of a couple whose commitment to each other and a fun life together is contagious.

Hair: Pattie Campbell
Makeup: Darcy McGrath Beauty
Coordinator: Hope Weis
Reception: The Peninsula
Band: David Rothstein Music
Entertainment & Performance: The Three Waiters

Emma and her dad Oliver, a couple minutes in the car before a trip down the aisle.

Love this shot of the bridesmaids crossing the street:)
Putting on the garter, a little later than expected but way more fun to put it on outside!
To Emma's surprise on of "The Three waiters" interrupts dinner with a song, I love this look of surprise.
Such an amazing performance, nearly moved me to tears!
The guests waving their napkins in the air.
The ever amazing first dance of Emma & Jamie, the work of hard labor and anticipation.

Kentucky

Last week I got to go to my first annual girls weekend getaway for mom's and expectant mom's at my grandma's in Kentucky. What a treat! It was the perfect time to take a break from work to spend time just being a new mom. Thank you to everyone who made it so special. There are more on the baby danger blog!

I can't look at this picture without laughing! Peter's face cracks me up.
Blackberry picking! Ayla's clothes hangin on the line... I love the way the KY hills look blue in the distance. Peter got a little dirty playing in the sandbox :)