Kate Harrison 
Kate Harrison got her first environmental education exploring the beaches of Long Island Sound as a child. In college at Vassar, she majored in Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development and worked in environmental education and policy before returning to graduate school to study environmental law.
On her first day of the joint degree program (Pace Law school and The Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies) she met her husband Barry, a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental History. Three years later they had their own green wedding in New York State's Hudson Valley.
Kate brought her skills as a researcher and educator together in The Green Bride Guide: How to Plan an Earth-friendly Wedding on Any Budget (Sourcebooks 2008). The book is a comprehensive, easy-to-access resource for anyone interested in planning a green wedding. It provides readers with general advice and specific eco-friendly ideas for making their wedding more beautiful and more sustainable.
Unlike the other green wedding books on the market, Kate organized the book by price. "I wanted to show couples how easy it is to be green, and to debunk the myth that going green has to cost more." "In fact," she adds, "by making simple eco-friendly substitutions, couples can save up to 40% off the cost of their wedding without sacrificing style."
In 2009, Kate launched The Green Bride Guide website, "to help eco-conscious couples connect with local resources and to create a community where they can share pictures, stories and ideas with each other." Today, The Green Bride Guide is the leading green wedding website online.
As an instructor for The Wedding Planning Institute's Green Wedding Planner Certification Class, Kate helps wedding keep pace with this growing trend. "With 40% of couples looking for green options this year, it has never been more important for wedding professionals to understand the environmental impacts of weddings and to have the expertise to help couples incorporate eco-friendly elements into their events."
"As more companies try to move into the green wedding space, distinguishing yourself as a credentialed green wedding expert is essential. This class not only teaches planners how to go green, but helps them establish the network they need to provide every type of eco-service their clients will require."
Kate is now sharing her eco-expertise with LWPI students through her new Green Wedding Planning Certification course. To learn more, visit the course description page, take a tour, or you can enroll here.
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