9. WEDDINGS - Sustainability

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.  Take a listen and drop us a review or give us a cheeky star-rating! Also please subscribe and stay with us on this crazy journey! You can comment on our social media accounts with your questions and suggestions for future conversation: Follow us on twitter & Instagram: @TTAT_Podcast Follow us on facebook: @TheThingAboutThatPodcast 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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Modern life for women is better than ever! But isn't it time to unpack the stumbling blocks that remain unspoken? From marriage to the workplace and beyond. Let us be your tribe! In Series 1, our recently engaged hosts discuss the beautifully complicated journey of getting married. If you've ever interrogated tradition, juggled in-laws or struggled to navigate your own personal aesthetic (it's a lace-fringed mine-field) this is the podcast for you. Hosts Rebecca, Hettie and Lucy are here to cover all the topics that made them go “why did nobody ever tell me it would be like this!"