With COP26 in full swing, ways to reduce climate change are at the forefront of our minds and not just in our homes – throwing an elegant green event is possible too! The Rosebery Venues events team have put together some inspiration for ways to turn your next corporate do, wedding, family reunion (or any event you might be planning) green…

Choose a venue that is accessible

How easy is it for your guests to get to your green event? Whilst the thought of jetting off to an island paradise may sound wonderful, there is no denying that international travel is not very eco-friendly, especially when large groups of people are involved.

We recommend booking a venue that is accessible for the majority of your guests – you could even put on special transport, like a vintage red bus, to help reduce the number of cars on the road and emissions as well as spark a talking point before the event has even started! Our supplier The Red Bus is one of our favourites, with guests transported in a glorious vintage route master bus!

Barnbougle Castle, Rosebery Steading and Rosebery House are all located within a 30-minute drive of Edinburgh, so they are the ideal option for a luxury green event.


Involve local suppliers

Consider how your event catering arrives on your plate or elevates the look of your event. Do your suppliers have ethical standards? Have they travelled far to be at your event? Is produce locally sourced and seasonal? Make it a green event by doing some research and choosing suppliers who are based in the local area. Often your venue will have a list of recommended suppliers, which is a great place to start.

Remember that being sustainable is not just about the environment, it is also about being socially responsible and helping local communities to flourish. Whether it is the catering company, florist or entertainment, make them local.

For example, at Rosebery Venues we have a signature pour – Great British Vermouth, which is produced by hand using home-grown botanicals, in small batches, right here on Dalmeny Estate. Not to mention, it is delicious! We also use produce from the estate, including Highland cattle, lambs and pigs, on our event menus to minimise food miles, as well as using home-grown florals to decorate our beautiful venues for site visits.

Make use of natural light

We all want a stunning venue and we know how much a space can influence the way that our guests feel – there is no shortage of studies on it!

If you are making a conceded effort to throw a green event then opt for a venue with lots of natural light. Not only will this elevate your guests mood and make them feel more energised and present to enjoy the day or evening, it will also help you to keep costs down by hiring extra lighting and reduce your green event’s carbon footprint.

At Rosebery Steading we have our own state-of-the-art LED lighting installed as well as an abundance of natural light from the skylights and floor to ceiling doors and windows. Rosebery House is no different when it comes to natural light, with a glass conservatory for dining in as well as large sash and case windows throughout. As you would expect from a gorgeous 13th Century castle, Barnbougle Castle has grand windows, allowing sunbeams and moonlight to stream in through every room.

Work out your waste before the event

Whatever your number of guests, any event will sadly produce a sizeable amount of waste… but don’t worry, with some forward planning you can reduce how much of it reaches the rubbish bin and proudly call your wedding, birthday celebration or team gathering a green event.

A good place to start is by asking your venue and catering company about their waste management process. Do they compost leftover food? How much of their packaging is recycled?

Why not consider going paperless. Instead of having name places printed, consider using an item that is valuable, useful, (or even edible!) that can double as a favour for your guests to take home. Use reusable props like boards or mirrors that you can write on, rather than printing out menus, welcome signs or itineraries for the day. Another option is to send out thoughtfully designed e-vites rather than paper save-the-dates – plus this makes it easier for guests to RSVP!


Our team will be delighted to use our years of experience in throwing first class events to suggest ways of setting up your green event without any added stress or hassle. Simply fill out our contact form and we will get in touch with you as quickly as possible.