The Wedded Bliss of Generosity: How You Can Give Back through Your Registry

By Yolanda F. Johnson

A new toaster. A state-of-the-art coffee maker. The most unique excursions during your honeymoon, perhaps? All of these are great ideas for any bride’s registry. However, while giving loved ones a chance to give you the things you need to start a new married life with your husband, you can also use your wedding registry as the perfect opportunity to give back and be generous during this time of celebration.

Here are a few ways you can give back through your wedding registry.

Have a Good Beginning:

The Good Beginning charity wedding registry site, founded by wedding planner, Beth Helmstetter, is one of the most popular ways to directly create a charity registry, allowing your guests to contribute to charity in honor of your big day. Branding itself as “a wedding registry for conscious couples,” it is relatively easy to use and navigate, and is a great way to incorporate giving back into your wedding.

Start a New Tradition of Giving Back Together:

Research from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy has indicated that more than half of all couples still make joint charitable decisions together. Philanthropy is also an important way for you to better understand each other’s values and bond as a newly married couple. You can learn more about what truly matters to your spouse and how important giving back is to them. What causes are most important to you and what would you like to support? Why? Take this as a wonderful opportunity to establish how you’ll make a difference in the world – together. This is something that, should you become parents together in the future, you can pass down to your children as a shared value.

Lead the Way as You Give or Get:

Are you already a member of a nonprofit board of directors? Most often, there is an annual donation given or encouragement of those in your network to give. A wedding registry is a perfect way to engage those around you, while chipping away at any expected annual donations to that charity. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to introduce new supporters to any organizations that are important to you.

Other Creative Ideas:

One even more direct way to give back through your wedding day, is to ask guests to partner with a local food bank, by bringing at least one non-perishable food item to your bridal shower or wedding reception. Create a designated space, table, or box for these items with clear signage for a quick and easy drop-off. Send photos to your guests of you and your new husband dropping them off to show how they contributed to a good cause. Likewise, you can donate some of those expensive flowers back to a nursing home or hospital to brighten patients’ day.

You, of course, should include items that you want or need, but including a special place in your wedding registry that draws your guest’s attention to charity is a great way to be creative and help the greater good through your special day. And that, my dears, is the beauty of giving back.