Everyone gets caught up in the stress of wedding planning, even when it comes to gifts. The first hurdle is registering for gifts that your guests will give you. This often requires spending hours in huge home stores deciding which bedding you and your husband can agree on. Then there’s the equally time-consuming matter of choosing favors that your guests won’t shove in their junk drawers once they get home. Why not ease the pressure and help a charity at the same time?

The I Do Foundation was created in 2000 and works closely with some of the most renowned nonprofit organizations in the country. The I Do Foundation's mission is to help engaged couples bring a charitable focus to their marriage. This organization allows couples to give to charity through their gift registries, wedding favors and/or honeymoon travel.

For couples who already have everything they need to create their new home, consider creating a donation registry. Choose charities that mean the most to you and that you feel would most benefit from your guests’ donations. Guests can be given a link to make donations through a wedding website from the organization. All donations will be tracked so you can easily send your thank you notes after the wedding.

If you need items to set up your new home, register at the same store(s) that you would have used, but register through the I Do Foundation. By creating a Wedding Gift Registry through the organization, up to 8% of your guests’ gift purchases from partner stores will be donated to your selected charity. There is no additional cost for these donations to be made. Participating stores include Amazon.com, Linens ‘N Things, The Home Depot, Macy’s, Target and more. A few resort and travel partners, including Sandals and Beaches, will also donate a percentage of your honeymoon purchase to charity if made through the website.

The most popular way of incorporating donations in your wedding is by participating in the I Do Foundation’s Favors for Charity program, where couples make donations in place of, or in addition to, traditional favors. The I Do Foundation also offers personalized cards that couples can print in order to notify guests of the donation made in their honor.

When selecting a charity, you have the choice of contributing to one of the partner charities of the I Do Foundation, or even suggesting a nonprofit organization of your choice. With their simple and flexible donation options, the I Do Foundation makes it easy for your wedding to have a charitable impact.

Bethany Robertson of the I Do Foundation finds that South Asian couples especially seem to embrace their program.  “With all of the grand traditions surrounding South Asian weddings, it seems like the idea of giving back is a natural fit.”

More than 10% of all engaged couples will visit the I Do Foundation this year to learn about how to have a more socially conscious wedding.  Bethany is “… excited to see the trend taking off, and we encourage all couples to think about ways that they can share a part of the generosity they receive on their wedding day.”
 
For more information on the I Do Foundation, visit their website - www.idofoundation.org