Philanthropy is the act of giving either money or materials to an organization for the betterment of others. And, it is also becoming a trend for many to use items or gifts from their wedding to give back to others. So, what are some ways that you can give back?

1.) If you don’t need the gifts, skip the registry and ask people to make a donation to your favorite charity in lieu of getting you a gift. Not everyone can do this (some of us actually need the cheap forks we registered for!), but if you can, it’s a great place to start. 

2.) Those expensive flower arrangements? Make arrangements to have them donated to a local nursing home so that others can continue to enjoy them after you’re done with them.  

3.) Consider donating your dress to be turned into burial gowns for parents who’ve lost their newborns or have experienced a still birth. There are several organizations that will handle this for you- you just have to deliver your dress.  

4.) If you are taking care of the catering yourselves, arrange to donate the unused supplies to a local soup kitchen or food bank. This does not mean pack up the left overs and drop them off. I’m talking about the extra unopened bottles of condiments, loaves of bread or rolls, frozen meat, and other untouched items. 

5.) Instead if the traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties, consider joining forces and volunteering your time for a few hours at a local food bank, soup kitchen, or other service project. Your group may only stay for two or three hours, but if you multiply that time by the number of people in your group, a lot of time was donated! 

Please, enjoy your wedding to the fullest! But I also urge you to consider some of these simple ways to give back while doing so.