A Generous Celebration

What better way to celebrate your nuptials than by sharing your blessings with those who need it? These are the exact sentiments the modern bride who uses her wedding as a way to give to a special charity or organization. It would seem more modern couples opt to contribute, rather than merely consume, when it comes to their wedding.

One of the most common ways to contribute to a charity through your wedding is to make a donation instead of give favors to each guest. This idea is becoming so popular that organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society, will send you cards to set at place settings to explain the wedding donation to your guests. If you love animals, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will also send you place cards explaining your donation. The number of charities that will provide you with tasteful ways to inform your guests of your donation are growing by the day! You should know that it’s not necessary to disclose just how much you’ve donated in each guest’s name- that can be a personal decision between you and the groom. A word of warning when it comes to making donations to charities and organizations that are special to you: out of consideration for your guests, you should avoid making contributions in their names because they may not want their name to be associated with the organization the donation was made to.


American Cancer Society Wedding Scrolls

Many couples own more stemware, glassware and cutlery than they know what to do with, so asking guests to make charitable donations to a specific organization in lieu of favors is an option some couples find very appealing. For that reason, couples may decide to register with charity clearinghouse, such as Just Give, instead of with Crate and Barrel or a store of the likes.
There are even more ways to give through your wedding:

• Purchase products tied to charities, like LiveStrong wristbands to give as favors to your guests
• Ask your caterer to donate the leftover food from your reception to a homeless shelter or food bank
• Suggest that your bridesmaids donate their dresses to organizations that give dresses to underprivileged teens for their proms. Send your bridesmaids to Donate my Dress to find out how they can help!
• Send the flowers from your big day to a nursing home or hospital. If you want to go even further in your giving, deliver the flower yourself and visit with the patients. Either way, you’re sure to brighten the day of someone who is sick or elderly.
As long as your donation is given from the heart and thoughtfully, your guests will appreciate and admire your decision!