How to Include Charity in Wedding?

I personally would not have a problem with someone having dog toys on their registry for shelter dogs. I regularly donate to my local animal shelters, so I would use that as an opportunity to donate again. I would probably buy a bunch of the toys AND a gift for the couple. But some people are more into dogs and/or charity than others

Set out a tip jar at the bar with a sign that says "donations to the Pitt Society" or whereever you plan to give the money. A bunch of dog toys is not a good idea. A friend of mind did that for a local cancer charity and they raised about $1400 with 110 guests! Then personally tip the bartenders at the end of the night.

I can’t believe people are criticizing you for wanting to include a charity in your wedding. That’s a wonderful idea! While I agree you don’t want to go overboard or make it feel like a fund raiser, I see nothing wrong with picking one of the options suggested, just don’t do all of them.

My favorite of the ideas mentioned is including the shelter’s wish list on your registry. If I can put a $$$ dream gift on my registry on the outside chance someone will get it for us and that’s not tacky, I don’t see why including cheap dog toys and shelter necessities to be donated would be tacky. If a guest doesn’t want to donate to the shelter, so be it, it’s just an option for them to consider. Just like the rest of the registry.

Everyone’s saying your wedding should reflect you and your FH, right? Well, if this is an important cause to you, then I see no better way to reflect your interests and values than by incorporating a good deed into your celebrations.

Well, the recent wedding I went to, I saw two options, honeymoon fund or rescue animal shelter fund.

So, I chose charity and didn't feel tacky: even feel appreciated that they added. Charity makes me feel good and pretty sure the couple feels strongly about this too since they got their dog from that charity.

The table idea # is awesome.

Maybe you and your bridesmaids and grooms men can all volunteer one weekend at the shelter its a great way for both parties to get to know eachother and doing a good deed. Maybe make a slide show of the experience and play it at the wedding to raise awareness that way <3

I personally love the idea! IMO, it's more tacky and rude to ask a guest for a $350 kitchenaid mixer than it is to ask for donations to a charity. I love the table number idea too!

What's common with b'nai mitzvahs is to make the centerpiece part of their mitzvah project. You can decide if it's appropriate for a wedding. Here are some centerpieces that were donated to shelters after their parties:

http://www.dognkittycity.org/about-us/news-archive/474-celebrating-our-junior-volunteers.html

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/225461525068938795/

There are lots of ways to do it...and the one you suggested is one of those ways and some of what others on the site said are other great ways. For us we did a kissing jar (along with other options to get us to kiss)...we were not down with the clinking...anyways we gave all the money from the kissing jar to the Violence Prevention Center in my small town.

You also might decide as a couple that maybe 10 percent of the money that you might receive as gifts from the wedding will be donated.

I love the idea of a donation in lieu of a shower card!

You could also make a donation instead of doing favors at the shower and/or wedding. I've seen this done at 2 weddings, at both they included a nice card near the entrance explaining. No one missed the favors!

Donate privately, then do one of the 'in lieu of favors we have donated to...." notes on every table. Although I general thinking donating for someone else is lame, when it comes to favors I think it's perfect-- no one wants most favors, anyway, and the price of one favor wouldn't mean anything, but a whole wedding's worth comes out to a nice sum.