Meet Theresa Brighton | Zero-Waste Event Enabler

We had the good fortune of connecting with Theresa Brighton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Theresa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I love celebrating the good things in life and feel coming together to share a meal with family and friends is one of the best ways to enjoy our time together.

I started BrightHeart Decor after years of working for the most beautiful wedding venues and talented caterers along the Front Range. While I loved being a part of meaningful celebrations, I came home afterwards feeling sickened by all the trash generated during the event. It’s difficult to imagine the amount of trash generated at a wedding, until you are the one lobbing it in the dumpster at the end of the night. I layed awake in bed wondering how we could change this pattern of wasteful celebrations until the lightbulb went off and I realized we could solve the problem if hosts had an easy way rent cute, useful supplies and decorations, vs. buying them for a one time use. I decided that if I could raise awareness, and provide a roadmap for hosting sustainable events, I could make a big difference in our community. That’s how Brightheart Decor was born.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a self described “Zero-Waste Enabler” because I help folkes plan and host events that minimize the amount of trash thrown away at the end of the day. We’ve grown so accustomed to disposables, they have become normalized. Yes, it takes much more effort to prepare for a party using durable goods, like actual plates, cloth napkins and silverware – and it takes way more cleaning up. I understand why disposables have become so common – however the cost of disposables are becoming less and less hidden as our culture is coming to grips with the fact that resources are finite, human beings are working in unsafe conditions, and global warming is real. It’s estimated that the average wedding produces 400 lbs of trash. The belief that “no detail is too small” or to “spare no expense” on a wedding just doesn’t make sense for those of us who care about our impact on the environment. It’s entirely possible to host a beautiful, meaningful and joyous wedding, without generating hundreds of pounds of trash. In my opinion, excess materialism at a wedding only buries the true meaning of the occasion.

My mission is to make it easier for folks to host celebrations, sustainably. I help with the planning, the materials, the preparations and the clean-up. I have a studio full of supplies and decorations that are needed to make a great party beautiful. From everything needed for the tables, to fun activities like a photo booth and typewriter station, to lighting and signage. No need to buy more chalkboard signs, vases or candle holders. No need to search on Amazon, Facebook Marketplace or Hobby Lobby. Folks can rent what they need for their celebration, and go on their merry way. The supplies and decorations will be washed, and used again, and again. No shipping, no packaging, no waste.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?         If I had a friend visiting Lyons for a few days, I would encourage them to book a stay at Wee Casa – a tiny home hotel right on the St. Vrain river. Another cool experience would be to camp at Lavern Johnson park – also along the river. There’s also a cute new motel in town called the A-Lodge. From any of these places, you can walk to Barking Dog, or Stone Cup for coffee and breakfast. Then I would head up for a hike on Picture Rock trail, or a bike ride down Old St. Vrain road. I’d grab a sandwich for lunch at The Market and check out a few shops downtown, like Rosey’s, Western Stars, and Red Canyon Art. I’d spend the afternoon chillin’ along the river at Bohn or Lavern Park. Bring some gear, like a frisbee, volleyball, or river tube. For dinner, I’d grab tacos and a margarita at Mojos, and then try to see a show at WildFlower Pavilion, the Distillery or Oskar Blues. That would be a killer weekend, for sure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my husband, who has given me so much support and encouragement throughout the stages of my business. He knows this is a creative outlet for me, and has never put pressure on me to work harder or make more profit. He was willing to significantly reduce the size of our garage so I could build a studio, has listened to a lot of talk about weddings, and has helped me back up on my feet after the pandemic.

Website: https://brightheartproductions.com/decor-1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightheartdecor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightheartdecor

Image Credits
Gina McLaughlin Photography