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25 Ways to Share the Love
Posted 04-14-2008 at 02:02 PM by Mandee
Helping others is easy while you're on the road to wedded bliss.
by Elena Donovan Mauer (Bridal Guide Magazine)
by Elena Donovan Mauer (Bridal Guide Magazine)
Incorporate a charity into your shower.
Your bridesmaids can ask each guest to bring canned goods to donate to a nearby food bank. find one at secondharvest.org, and call for information on what's needed and where to drop off the goods.
Rent a nonprofit's space.Your bridesmaids can ask each guest to bring canned goods to donate to a nearby food bank. find one at secondharvest.org, and call for information on what's needed and where to drop off the goods.
Think of how unique and beautiful your reception would be if it took place at a museum, historical site or botanical garden. Even better - you'll know your site fee is supporting a favorite cause.
Register for charitable gifts.First, set up a Bridal Guide Registry at bgregistry.com. Then go to your favorite charity's website and find its donation page. With the "Add Gifts" tool, you can easily put it on your regitstry list. The I Do Foundation and firstgiving.com also make it to arrange for guests to give in your honor.
Reuse your flowers. Call a local nursing home or hospital and ask if you can contribute your reception blooms after the big day. Appoint a trusted friend or family member to transport the buds - and spread some cheer!
Involve the wedding party. Instead of having a bridesmaids' tea, ask your bridal party to spend a day on something worthwhile. Together you can help your state park by leading visitors on a group hike (nps.gov), or you can pitch in to build a home for a needy family (habitat.org). (You can still provide lunch or dinner afterward.) For more group ideas, go to volunteermatch.org.
Shop and share online.Check out goodshop.com's list of retailers (including airlines, jewelers and department stores) that will donate a percentage of your purchase to a good cause. Choose what you like - and click to start shopping.
Forget the favors.Give the money you'd spend on trinkets to a beloved charity. If you make the donation through idofoundation.org, you can order place cards for your guests that explain the gift you've made.
Or select favors with a purpose.Still want to give guests a sweet treat? Order tins of cookies from Feed your Soul (feedyour soulcookies.com); a varying amount (up to 10 percent) of the proceeds will go to the charity of your choice.
Don't waste the leftovers.Arrange to have any extra food from your reception "rescued" to feed hungry people in your area. Find out more from secondharvest.org.
Set up some QT.Make a date with your fiance to spend some quality time as volunteers. See charityguide.org for ideas.
Charm your bridesmaids.As a thank-you, consider buying pretty charm bracelets or necklaces from Charity Charms. They will donate 25 to 75% of the purchase price to the 'maids' favorite charities. Visit charitycharms.com to shop.
Save a bundle.Got your wedding party's gifts on sale? Give them the amount you saved in the form of donation certificates form charitychecks.us. Then, your groomsmen and bridesmaids can choose the organization where they'd like to have it go.
Consider posterity.Record your granparents' life stories-including their own wedding day. StoryCorps (storycorps.net) can help. Not only is the recorded CD a gift to your grandparents, but it's also a keepsake for future generations.
Be honeymoon helpers.You can join an effort to build a much - needed school or clean up a beautiful valley - experiences you'll always remember with pride. To explore these trip ideas and more, check out i-to-i.com, americanhiking.org and charityguide.org.
Check your cause.On some websites, all it takes is a click. (Sponsers contribute each time someone clicks on a specific button.) We like thebreastcancersite.com and thehungersite.com Make one of these your homepage, so you're reminded of it each time you go online to research flower arrangements or limo services.
Charge it. With the Working Assets credit card, every purchase you make - your shoes, your dress, your catering bill - benefits a charity of your choosing. Check out workingassets.com for more information.
Create care pacakges.
Gift baskets are a nice touch for out-of-town guests. but consider making up some extras for troops overseas - they need snacks, aspirin and soap, too. Go to adoptaplatoon.org for more information.
Choose invitations that give back.Create care pacakges.
Gift baskets are a nice touch for out-of-town guests. but consider making up some extras for troops overseas - they need snacks, aspirin and soap, too. Go to adoptaplatoon.org for more information.
Buy Carlson Craft stationery on the I Do Foundation's website (idofoundation.org) and 10 percent of your purchase will go to the charity of your choice.
Spread the word on your wedding website.Create a "badge" at sixdegrees.org and post it on your site; it's like an add, telling visitors what cause you endorse and why - a little extra exposure never hurts. If your guests feel inclined to make a monetary contribution, they can simply click on the badge to begin.
Hire nonprofit entertainers.Many cultural dance troupes and community performers practice their art to promote diversity and music or dance education. Know one you like? Hire them to do a number at your reception.
Teach good values.Your littlest guests will love this project; making colorful pictures of the wedding day to give to loved ones who couldn't be present.
Donate your dress. You'll never wear it again, right? After the big day, hand it - and other accessories - to Brides Against Breast Cancer. The organization will resell them and use the proceeds to help a woman with cancer. Go to bridesagainstbreastcancer.org for details.
Ask your bridesmaids to do the same.The gals can give their gowns to an organization that provides prom dresses for disadvantaged high school girls; The Glass Slipper Project in Chicago is one. Glassslipperproject.org, the organization's website, lists similar charities nationwide.
Go the extra mile.After the honeymoon, give your frequent flier miles to the family of an injured soldier (heromiles.org). Or call your airline's customer service to find out what charitable groups they've partnered with.
Make a sale.Unwanted wedding gifts that aren't returnable are definately resalable. Do it through eBay Giving Works (givingworks.ebay.com), and a percentage of sales will go to your favorite organization - and you still profit.
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