Charity-Inspired Wedding Ideas

I’m deeply excited to share this particular wedding shoot with you all today. Not only is your wedding day a celebration of love and friendship — it’s also a prime opportunity to give back to your community and the world at large. A star team of vendors, including CarolineRo, Charleston Stems, Sara York Grimshaw Designs, and Sweetgrass Social, put together a lovely styled shoot to show how easy and beautiful it can be to implement charity into your big day:

From the photographer, CarolineRo: I’ve been in weddings for a bit and am such an advocate of having freedom in your wedding. To me, that means breaking the norm, straying away from stereotypes and in this case, giving back. One of my favorite authors, Bob Goff, talks a lot about not merely showing love but instead, exemplifying and being love. To me, this is showing off what really matters in life which is loving and serving other people.

So even though a wedding is definitely about a couple and their love — the union they’re about to make — it’s also such a perfect opportunity to show others what is important to them and how a marriage can impact others and help change the world. So all of that being said, I wanted to design and photograph a styled wedding shoot incorporating non-profits and organizations that do just that: give back (and in a beautiful way!).

The specific ideas/ways to give back that are seen in this shoot are:
-In lieu of a favor, making a donation to charity:water to help ensure that all people around the world have access to clean water, something we take for granted. Charity:Water has a lot of campaigns for everything from birthdays to specific countries-all ways that encourage others to give back.
-Use/wear jewelry that employ women in Africa. I’ve been a big fan of 31 Bits for a long time now and aside from their jewelry employing and empowering women in Africa, they are beautiful pieces and they also offer an entire bridal line. The bracelets and necklaces also make good gifts for bridesmaids.
-Bread bags and table numbers. Instead of the traditional table number, these table numbers represent a child in Africa that needs sponsoring. Also, the bread bags are a way to spotlight the organization that allows sponsoring of children, Bread of Life Mission.
-Clutches from Proud Mary. Harper Poe, of Proud Mary, buys all of the textiles she uses from different people in third world countries, thus giving them jobs! These also make great bridesmaids gifts. Lastly, The FEED bag. With each FEED bag purchased, 1 child is provided with 1 year of micronutrient powder.

View all images from this shoot in the gallery

Shoot Location: Charleston, SC / Photographer: CarolineRo / Venue: Charleston Stems / Floral Design: Sara York Grimshaw Designs / Design and Coordination: Sweetgrass Social / Paper Goods and Chalkboard Designs: Blue Glass Design / Linens: La Tavola / LOVE Sign: 428 Main Vintage Rentals / All Other Rentals: EventWorks / Long Wedding Gown: Fabulous Frocks / Short Wedding Gown and Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid / Hair: Beth Bell at Allure Salon / Makeup: Pamela Lesch Makeup / Styling: Alexandra Styles / Main Jewelry (any of the bracelets/necklaces with the round/layered beads): 31 Bits / Additional Jewelry: Croghan’s Jewelry Box / Rectangular Clutches: Proud Mary / White Tote Bag: FEED projects / Bow Tie: BowTieCause / ‘In lieu of favor’ Cause: Charity:Water / Bread-Table Number Cause: Bread of Life Mission / Bride and groom: Derrick and Maeve (they’re married with three kids!) / Bridesmaids: Laura and Beth