I bet you’re here because you are interested in having a (partially) charitable wedding.

Huzzah! Kudos to you!

The Whimlets are passionate about giving back and staying grounded and mindful at every stage of life. This is especially important during wedding planning. It’s so easy to get tied up in the larger than life razzle dazzle that come with modern weddings. We urge you to consider giving back a little and have a few tips that will make it super easy and fulfilling!

Host your wedding at a non-profit venue

If you are in a major city, a great way to give back to your community is to host your wedding and pre-wedding events in not-for-profit spaces. These spaces often support the local arts and other honourable causes. This way, the largest part of your budget will be spent supporting important causes in your community. Recently, our team had the pleasure of planning a wedding at The Design Exchange in Toronto, which used to be the old Toronto Stock Exchange building, and is now a patron of the arts.

Skip favours for donations

Wedding favours are fun and all, but how often are they just stuck in a drawer and forgotten about, or even worse, forgotten at the wedding and ultimately thrown away? We say skip the fluff and put your dollars toward helping other people. There are tons of charities both locally and internationally that need your help. For extra style points, consider asking your stationer or calligrapher to write up a cute note for each place setting that works with your theme letting your guests know that you’ve made a donation in celebration of your big day. Chances are your guests will love the gesture and not miss the favour at all!

Donate flowers to nursing homes or hospitals

A growing trend we LOVE and are 100% on board with are groups that come to your venue and collect centrepieces and arrangements leftover after the wedding festivities and deliver them to nursing homes and hospitals. Don’t you love the idea of your centrepieces doing double duty of wowing your guests and warming the heart of someone who could use a pick me up? If you’re in the Greater Toronto Area, check out the Violet Heart Project. This group of good guys take on all of the work and make sure that your arrangements go to those that need them,

Donate that dress

While not every bride is into the idea of buying a gently used gown, you can totally still make weddings more accessible and support a great cause by donating your own dress after your big day. More and more brides are opting for this option, and almost every major city has a shop that caters to this. In Toronto, you can check out The Bride’s Project, which donates proceeds from every single dress sale to cancer research. They also have pretty banging gown options for brides on the hunt for a great deal!

Add a volunteering component to your bachelorette/bachelor party and give back to your community

Not everyone is into getting sloshed and singing off-key karaoke (or whatever else you get up to), but even if you are, there are plenty of ways to give back a little while still having a blast with your besties. We suggest contacting local soup kitchens, food banks, or even do a charitable sporting event to raise funds for your favourite causes. We don’t see why giving back can’t also include celebratory drinks afterwards!

A few final thoughts…

Staying grounded and mindful is the best way to enjoy your festivities and walk into married life with the best possible mindset. Consider kicking off the next chapter of your life by hosting a charitable wedding and giving back to those who may not have as much as you. Even if your budget is stretched thin, there is a way to have a charitable wedding!

Events by Whim is a team of Toronto Wedding Planners committed to creating intimate and elegant celebrations for Toronto’s discerning couples.  Contact us today if you have any wedding planning questions or are ready to get started on your dream day!