Brilliantly Green Havana Nights Wedding

Are you a couple who is both tropical and caliente (“hot” in Spanish)?  Does the rhythm of a salsa band get your feet moving? Are you and your significant other big fans of coffee, cigars, and tropical flowers?  In that case, you might want to consider a sustainably stylish Havana Nights wedding reception.

With this wedding theme, you can really highlight the beauty of Cuba. Focus on this colorful tropical island’s sizzling music scene, local Cuban vendors, delicious dishes & national exports of coffee, cigars and tropical fruits.

Sustainable Havana Nights Wedding – Local Cuban Culture

As with any cultural wedding, you have an amazing opportunity to support your local Cuban vendors.  By supporting these small businesses, you are sustaining your local community in two ways.

 1.  You are supporting your local economy by hiring local talented small businesses.  Your event money makes a bigger difference to a small business than it does to a large conglomerate. Those small businesses tend to spend their money nearby at other small businesses which continues to strengthen the area’s economy. 

2.  By financially supporting them, you are encouraging  your local cultural vendors to grow, teach & keep those traditions and talents alive for future generations.  The bonus for your guests is a truly authentic slice of your heritage.

In a Havana Nights wedding, local Cuban talent generally includes traditional cigar rollers, salsa bands and dancers, and Cuban traditional and inspired restaurants for catering.  You can also look for Spanish & tropical looking architecture in churches & reception venues.

Sustainable Havana Nights Wedding – Cuban Cocktail Hour

You can’t start a Cuban cocktail hour with a few traditional signature drinks like Cuba Libres & Mojitos.  If you want a few more cocktails that are a little less obvious, why not try an El Presidente  or a Cubanito Caliente, (a Bloody Mary with a spicy Cuban twist).  Make sure to use local fruits and vegetables & sustainably sourced rums to give your drinks a Brilliantly Green twist!

For Havana-style event décor, place some vintage travel posters or large blown up photos of Cuban people and places on the walls. Rent or buy some large tropical looking plants to place around your venue. Finish the look by scattering empty cigar boxes (which can be recycled from local cigar dealers), burlap sacks filled with coffee beans, pineapples  & straw fedora hats around as décor.  For a Hemingway feel to the guest book area, layer in some old novels, bottles of Rum and a vintage typewriter on which your guests can type their messages of congratulations.

If you plan on having a traditional cigar roller, designate an outdoor area a little distance from the rest of the cocktail hour as the “Cigar Club” where your guests can watch the cigar rolling demonstration (which is quite fascinating by the way) then enjoy the hand rolled cigars and a cocktail.  This way the cigar aficionados don’t disturb the guests who don’t wish to be around the smoke. 

Eco-Chic Havana Nights Wedding – Sustainable Cuban Colors

Generally in a Cuban wedding, the guests wear white or light colors.  If you want your guests to follow that tradition, make sure to include the request in your invitations. 

Tropical green shades and flowing white gives a very Havana Nights vibe to any venue.  Check out Ecopartytime’s green and white event supplies as a sustainable addition to your party décor.  And as the sun goes down and the reception starts, the white accents are a wonderful foil to the bright disco lights which usually accompany the Cuban night club vibe of any awesome Havana inspired event.

Some local Cuban clubs have dancers who will come in to teach your guests some sizzling Salsa moves.   Your guests will love the extra attention to detail! 

Vintage American cars are such a big part of Cuban culture.  Make sure to drive away in classic Cuban style in a rented or borrowed auto from the 40’s or 50’s for truly hot Havana  flair!

Please post pictures of your brilliantly green Havana Nights Wedding with the hashtag #Ecopartytime so we can share in your big day! This is Melissa Wagner-Gens, Chief Chica Verde of Emerald Events & Weddings & your Ecopartytime Green Event Guru, hoping  your Ha vana Nights  wedding day is one that’s “Sustainably Caliente”!!

Photo Credits – True Photography, Cuba Absolutely

About the Author

Melissa Wagner-Gens is Ecopartytime's Green Resident Expert. She is also a Green Event Educator, certified event planner & owner of Emerald Events and Weddings.