How to support local charities at your wedding

Your wedding day is a day of celebrating love, marking the beginning of a new chapter in your lives as a couple. It also presents an opportunity to make a positive impact on your local community. By making conscious decisions throughout your wedding planning process, you can seamlessly incorporate charitable elements that can have a lasting impact on causes close to your heart. In this article, we explore several different ways that you can support local charities at your wedding.

Invite a representative to speak

Speeches are commonplace at weddings, so why not invite a representative of a local charity to speak at your reception? This can provide an opportunity for your guests to learn about the organization and the work that they do, bringing a deeper meaning to any further charitable elements you include in your big day.

The representative can share stories about the charity’s impact, speak about their mission and encourage guests to make a donation where possible. It’s a great time for your guests to learn about something they may otherwise not be familiar with, and what better time to encourage people to part with some spare cash than a wedding?

Donate leftover food and decor

Most weddings will inevitably have some leftover food and decorations. Instead of letting these items be thrown away, you can donate them to local charities. Perhaps an expected guest doesn’t show up and their meal is left; this food can make a significant difference in the lives of those who are struggling and would only be thrown away otherwise.

As for decorations, they can be donated to local charities to be resold, or flowers can even be donated. Several organizations will accept them to be repurposed, whether it’s into bouquets that continue spreading joy to veterans and the elderly or local community centers. If you’re not sure if something could be of use to local charities, it’s always worth reaching out to ask before you throw it away.

Include charitable wedding favors

Wedding favors are a traditional way to thank your guests for coming to your big day, but they can often generate a lot of waste. Little trinkets will typically not have a use for most guests, and may be thrown away. Instead of contributing to this issue, consider handing out wedding favors that support local causes. For example, you could include ethically sourced honey that promotes wildlife conservation, or handmade soaps made by charities. These favors are not only more likely to be used but also add a personal touch that can make the gifts feel more meaningful.

Think globally, act locally

With all of your loved ones gathered together in one space, your wedding day is the perfect opportunity to spread awareness of local causes that are close to your heart. These small additions to your big day can have a lasting impact on not only the causes that you’re supporting, but also on your guests. So, as you plan your dream wedding, consider incorporating some of our charitable suggestions to make your day feel all the more special.