Many engaged couples are sharing their happiness by including charitable organizations in their wedding plans. They make a donation to a charity in honor of their guests instead of giving out favors at the reception. Others ask guests to donate to designated charities in lieu of gifts. Still others buy invitations and wedding supplies through vendors that give a percentage of their proceeds to charity.
There are many resources to help engaged couples. JustGive has a wedding registry that allows couples to customize their web page. JustGive has inspired nearly $1 million in gifts through its wedding registry. Another group, the I Do Foundation, was created by a group of nonprofit leaders who wanted to offer new avenues for those wishing to give back. Couples can register with the Foundation and select a charity that the Foundation supports, suggest a nonprofit to support or create a family fund to support one of the Foundation's focus areas.
The most convenient method though is to contact the nonprofit organization and let them know what you would like to do. Nonprofits can then help supply marketing materials or 'how-to give' information. They may also help you set up a fund in the couple's name.
For example, movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein and British designer, Georgina Chapman, asked their guests to make contributions to Robin Hood's education programs for underprivileged children in New York City and to Give2Asia's program in support of the disadvantaged in India, in lieu of wedding gifts.
People Magazine reported that the couple exchanged wedding vows before a star-studded crowd that included Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Cameron Diaz, Renée Zellweger and Naomi Watts. Other attendees included Rupert Murdoch, Revlon head Ron Perelman, Quentin Tarantino, Vogue's Anna Wintour, Vanity Fair's Graydon Carter, and models Karolina Kurkova and Helena Christensen.
The couple co-founded the Marchesa fashion label. Weinstein and his brother, Bob, co-founded Miramax Films in 1979. Miramax produced films such as Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Shakespeare in Love and The Aviator.
Give2Asia is based in San Francisco and helps donors give effectively and responsibly to charitable projects run by local leaders all over Asia.
