Charitable Weddings

The Growing Trend of Charitable Weddings

It’s all about me. Normally, when spoken, such a phrase sets off alarms for miles that Bridezilla has reared her (or his!) ugly head. The web is littered with terrifying stories of the excess of me, but sometimes a little more of me can do a whole lot of good.

A growing number of couples—more than 47%—are paying for part or all of their wedding expenses. For some brides and grooms the high costs associated with a wedding—approximately $20,000 on average—are hitting home and making them question whether part of that money might be spent to help those in need.

The trend of charitable weddings—weddings that find ways to give back—has exploded over the past few years. Brides and grooms all over the country are figuring out ways to bring a social focus to their weddings so that as they share their commitment to each other, they give back to their community.

Why Couples are Giving Back

Traditionally weddings are thought of as the domain of young couples in need of gifts to fill a new home. But the truth is couples are getting married later in life—brides on average are 27 and grooms 29. More than 65% of couples live together before getting married and 30% of marriages are second marriages for at least one partner. That all adds up to a household already filled china, crystal, and chotchkes, and a couple willing to think outside the gift box.

Even if you don’t fit into that demographic, the trend of charitable weddings may be right for you. Couples of all ages and demographics are touched by charitable weddings; across the spectrum they say that sharing a part of their celebration with charity helps make their special day more meaningful. They like knowing that some of the money spent on their wedding is going to a good cause.

And it’s not just the biggest do-gooders out there who are finding ways to give back. Charitable weddings are an excellent way to express what matters. From a bride who lost her mother to breast cancer, to a couple whose love of animals needed to be shared, charitable weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Some examples of what couples are already doing:

• Creating wedding registries that generate donations to a charity of their choice
• Using environmentally friendly products as a part of their wedding, from invitations on recycled paper to flowers grown without pesticides
• Donating items from the wedding, including leftover food, flowers, and even their bridal gown
• Patronizing vendors who give back to charity
• Offsetting carbon emissions from their wedding
• Making a donation in honor of their guests, in place of traditional wedding favors
• Incorporating a service component into wedding events and inviting guests to participate in a volunteer project

When engaged couples choose a charity to support, it is a uniquely personal way to incorporate their values into their wedding day—one case where a little more of me can do some good. And long after the last wedding bill is paid, they can continue to celebrate their impact.

Grant La Rouche, I Do Foundation
As the leader of I Do Foundation, Grant works to establish the idea of charitable weddings as a norm for brides and grooms. By working closely with corporate and nonprofit partners, we have established a host of ways for couples to celebrate generously™. Grant brings fifteen years experience creating social change for entrepreneurial nonprofits and businesses including Ashoka and Experience Corps. He envisions that in ten years when someone returns from a wedding, people will ask: “Who was the best man? What color were the bridesmaids’ dresses? And what was the couple’s charity?”