Sustainable Weddings & Events

Summers in Sun Valley, Idaho are a beautiful and magical time to visit, vacation and live in the Wood River Valley. The Big Wood River is flowing down from the Sawtooth Mountains and the hillsides are varying shades of green with wild flora and fauna. This beautiful landscape along with the thriving communities and top-notch catering and event services available make this a popular wedding and private event destination. Over the years we have been part of hundreds of special celebrations and gatherings in Ketchum, Hailey and beyond.

The topic of sustainability is the core of who we are. Rasberrys truly believes in being local and organic and sustainable whenever and wherever possible. Earth Day is everyday for us and we love to share with and collaborate on these practices with clients and businesses - as well as events.

Here are a few ways your next Sun Valley event can be sustainable:

1. Marry or gather in the great outdoors - Sun Valley has endless daylight in summer

2. Look for built-in decor and backdrops - think scenic backdrops, backyards, parks and botanical gardens

3. Bouquets & Flowers - seasonal blooms, grown locally and potted plants

4. Confetti - dried petals or leaves, fresh blooms, vintage bells

5. Opt for sustainable meals - Local, sustainable and seasonally sourced menus

6. Food waste - plated meals rather than buffets, caterers who compost waste

7. Welcome bags - locally sourced goods and products

8. Wedding registry - choose charities

9. Rentals - rent, not buy one-time use items

10. Vendors - book local vendors to minimize travel

11. Travel - group transport when possible

Garden Green Pesto

We love a good classic basil pesto as the next person, but did you know a pesto can be any ingredients? That’s right, any fresh young green(s) can become a beautiful pesto - the combinations are endless really. So next time instead of just eating the vegetable and throwing the tops away, consider creating a small batch of your very own homemade pesto.

The basic proportions of pesto are nuts, greens, cheese and olive oil. You can go old-school and use a mortar and pestle, but a food processor works just as well. Add all ingredients to the bowl of the machine and puree until smooth; add more oil for consistency and season to taste with salt. Pesto can be used right away or stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

Rasberrys Pesto Inspiration:

• Dill, Parsley, Lemon and Almonds

• Tarragon and Pistachios

• Cilantro with Peanuts and Sesame Oil

• Cilantro with Pecans and Jalapeno

• Basil with Lemon and Almonds

• Carrot Tops

• Spicy Mustard Greens

• Broccoli Leaf

• Beet Greens

Pro Tip: Use fresh grated cheese and toasted nuts, the flavor will be better.

Plant a Bee Garden

Bees and water are both important ingredients to growing the fresh food our community enjoys.  Rasberrys takes these major contributors very seriously as many of our fresh, seasonal ingredients and dishes depend on them!  This spring we overhauled our gardens in a major way.  We brought in more veggies, bee friendly plants and flowers and overall reduced our water use.  It was a project, but we are looking forward to seeing increased production.  The next time you taste a fabulous ingredient as us - it may have been grown right here in the Wood River Valley.  

Here are a few ways to make your gardens bee friendly too:

• Rethink your lawn, can you add a few flowering plants?
• Select single flower tops like marigolds and daisys, the nectar is easier to access
• Skip the hydbridized plants, they don't produce alot of pollen
• Plan for blooms season round, providing a constant food source
• Build homes for native bees, this may mean things like loose soil, hollow reeds, water or mud
• Create a bee bath - fresh clean water source
• Consider a window container or rooftop if you do not have land

There are many free resources available on this topic a few are The Honeybee Conservancy, High Country Gardens and Pollinator Partnership