The Thing About That: A Modern Woman's Guide to Getting Married

9. WEDDINGS - Sustainability

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We've got all the top tips on how to make your wedding eco-friendly, and not 1 of them is about plastic straws...

The reality is that to truly go green on your big day, you really ought to not have a wedding at all! But if throwing an enormous event to celebrate your love is a non-negotiable, there are all sorts of things to consider if you want to make the day as kind to the planet as possible. And we at The Thing About That can help! When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, there's loads to consider from plants vs. flowers to vegan menu choices to rental wedding dresses. With a little help from Stylist journalist Alessia Armenise, in Season 1 Episode 9 we lay down the law for you and give you a brilliant sustainable check-list to adhere to. 

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Series 1, Episode 9 length: 47 mins 51 seconds

05:50 - Summary of tips

  • Reduce your guest list
  • Pick your location wisely
  • Avoid imported flowers
  • Source local food
  • Second-hand bridal gowns

    • 10:00 - The problem with the industry

    • The wedding industry is all about newness and uniqueness, so we need to force them to change.

      • 14:13 - Alternatives for wedding presents

      • Your presence is our presents
      • Donations to charities
      • "Something old, nothing new, something borrowed, something renewed"

        • 16:56 - Sharing/re-using

        • Rent your bridal gown, but also encourage your guests to rent their outfits
        • Can you share decorations/crockery with bride friends?

          • 23:05 - Interview with Alessia Armenise

          • International weddings are difficult
          • Can guests travel to your wedding by train rather than plane
          • Limit the stationary

            • 25:06 - Lesson 1: HAVE FEWER PEOPLE

            • Gathering large numbers of people in one place and entertaining them is an unsustainable activity.
            • Request no gifts, or experiential gifts rather than material products.

              • 28:58 - Lesson 2: PICK A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION THAT NEEDS NO EMBELLISHMENT

              • Look at the location in a naked way and imagine how it would be with not that many things in it.

                • 29:44 - Lesson 3: HOLD BACK ON THE FLOWERS!

                • They are compostable, so throwing them away is not the issue so much as their location of origin.
                • Big carbon footprint
                • Use potted: lavender pots, lemon trees, olive trees.

                  • 32.09 - Lesson 4: SECOND-HAND OR RENTAL BRIDAL GOWNS

                  • One-wear fashion is the worst!
                  • Re-use by changing the hem or dying a different colour
                  • Vintage dresses or second-hand bridal boutiques in Hackney, East London

                    • 35:16 - Time for sustainable wedding planners

                    • The challenge of keeping all the activity spikes of a wedding without being unsustainable
                    • Don’t have a wedding that needs a Plan B.

                      • 42:06 - Lesson 5: BUY LOCAL

                      • To vegan or not to vegan: vegetarian and vegan wedding menus are not always as sustainable as meat from a more local region.
                      • Vegan can be a bold choice to make without getting your guests’ back up.

                        • 42:40 - Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.


                        Find Alessia Armenise here:

                        www.prettyslow.life

                        @alessiaarmenise


                        Thank you for listening!

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