How to be Charitable with your Wedding

As a Toronto Wedding Planner, I often get couples who are interested in paying it forward. They want an amazing day with their friends and families but they also want to be able to give back to their communities in some way.

Here are just a few ways that I think are fabulous ways to have your wedding be a new beginning for you and someone in need as well.

Pre-Wedding:

Purchase your dress from a fundraiser or charity.

Places like the Brides Project, who is a 3rd party fundraiser for various cancer charities, have dresses that have been donated by bridal salons, top wedding dress designers and past Brides. Many Brides have found their dream dresses for a fraction of the cost they would at a boutique. Typical prices range from 300.00 - $1250.00 and all profits go to charity.

Wedding

Donations in lieu of favours.

The possibilities are endless. You can select one charity that is close to your heart or you can select more than one and have a fun game that guests select which charity they prefer. Maybe incorporate it as a wish board. Guests can write a wish for the two of you and pin it on the board under the charity they prefer.


Many charities will also provide you with a favour tag for your guests. It would typically read something like:

The Bride & Groom
have made a generous donation
in honour of your presence
at their wedding.

To get a full list of Charities in Canada that are registered and in good standing, CRA has an amazingly detailed and easy to use list here.
Post-Wedding

Donations and Consignments

Donate any leftover 'untouched' food to be donated to a foodbank. Discuss with your venue or caterer that this is feasible. Some foodbanks like Second Harvest or North York Harvest Foodbank to name just two will typically arrange pickup from the venue if it is pre-arranged. In Ontario food donors are protected by Ontario's Donation of Food Act, 1994. This legislation protects those who, in good faith, donate or distribute fresh food. Please look up legislation within your own province (or State) so that you are not liable for any prepared food you have donated.

Sell your dress to a Consignment Shop. Armed with your original receipt and your dress, you may be able to recoup some of the cost of your wedding dress. Usually about 50% of the consignment price is passed along to you once the dress is sold.

You can donate your wedding dress or bridesmaid dresses to your local church, a Dress Charity like Inside the Dream or Brides Against Breast Cancer, Goodwill and make a difference in the life of someone less fortunate.

Donate your flowers to a children's hospital, Seniors Home, Medical Center, Disability Center or a Home for the Underprivileged. Nothing like brightening someone's day by passing along the gift of flowers.

We all know how expensive a wedding can get, so it's great if you can share your special day by performing a special act of kindness for someone else.