Donation as a Wedding Gift?
An interesting trend on the rise in the world of nonprofits is that of more and more couples asking for donations to a favorite charity or organization as a wedding present. Why is this on the increase?
The fact is that people are getting married later in life, often when they already have a home so they have little need for traditional wedding gifts. This same effect occurs when someone is getting remarried. When two people are combining furniture, dishes, kitchen appliances, and so on, there is often little room (and little need) left for new items. While some couples will simply request that guests not bring a gift, many other couples are recognizing that people still want to give them a gift anyway. Thus, the idea of requesting gifts that benefit charity has become more and more popular.
If you are about to walk down the aisle and like this idea – it is easy to do! Typically, couples will select an organization that has significant meaning for them, such as a cause they feel strongly about, an organization they or someone they love has benefited from, or a local organization for those with a high value of community. Ideally, you should try to select two or three different types of organizations; some of your guests may not support the same cause that you do. While you certainly don’t have to accommodate for those guests, by simply providing more than one option, you can help more organizations get important funding they need and allow your guests to feel positive and comfortable with the organization they choose. Obviously, guests appreciate you selecting an organization that can take donations online (or even over the phone) for their convenience and usually like knowing that you will be notified of their gift.
Sites like Just Give enable you to set up a custom giving site for your wedding, or you can simply direct people to the web sites of the charities you have chosen.
Getting married is a joyful time. By making “giving back” a part of it, you will make the day even more special. Mazel tov!
