News

New Haven, Conn. '' Kate L. Harrison, author of The Green Bride Guide and winner of the inaugural $25,000 winner-take-all Sabin Environmental Venture Prize, is hosting the state''s first 'EcoChic Wedding & Home Show' this weekend in Stamford, CT.

For Harrison, a graduating student at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, turning 2.5 million weddings that reach over 400 million people a year into a market to advance 'green' products and services has the potential to significantly reduce environmental degradation and create the 'green' jobs of the future.

'Helping couples green their weddings is extremely important,' states Harrison. 'The average wedding produces more than 400 pounds of garbage and 60 tons of CO2 (which contributes to global warming). When taken together, the impact from these events is staggering.' She adds, 'Having a green wedding is a great way for a couple to make their day more unique and meaningful and The Green Bride Guide makes incorporating eco-friendly elements a snap.'

Harrison, is the winner of the Sabin Environmental Venture Prize, a new initiative to stimulate environmental entrepreneurship at Yale University. The Sabin Prize supports the creation of enterprises that provide scalable solutions to environmental problems. 'We are very pleased to award the Green Bride Guide with the first Sabin Prize,' states Andrew Sabin, a judge and philanthropist who bestowed the prize. 'The judges were impressed with Kate''s dedication, vision and ability to execute on her ideas. The Green Bride Guide has the potential to make significant environmental contributions given how large the wedding industry is today' .

The EcoChic Wedding & Home Show is a co-production of The Green Bride Guide and CT Green Scene. 'The show is an opportunity for Connecticut couples to meet wedding and lifestyle vendors who are committed to Earth-friendly and socially responsible practices.' The event will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2009 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Hotel Chesterfield at Shippan Point in Stamford, CT. The first 100 guests will receive a bag of eco-friendly products and be given an opportunity to test drive a hydrogen-powered, carbon free GM Equinox. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

For more information on this event and the opportunity to meet with the Sabin Prize winner Kate Harrison of the Green Bride Guide, go to www.greenweddingscene.com