Wedding Gifts! Receiving gifts is one of the most fun parts of getting married. Opening all the cards and boxes and seeing what people have given you to add to your new home. But what can one do if one wants to make a statement with their gifts?

What if you are or are becoming a more socially responsible couple and, without being rude, want to make a statement about what you believe in, what you are passionate about? If you usually buy organic/fair-trade products and are worrying about where to register to encourage your friends and family to engage in similar shopping habits, there are some beautiful and lovely environmentally friendly/socially responsible items in stores and on-line and many places where you can register.

So instead of the usual registries, think alternatively and make a statement! Here are some that I found on-line but as you can imagine, more and more sites can be found on-line.

I like the Michael Jackson quote I found on Organic Lifestyle, a Canadian company which has both on-line shopping of organic products and a retail store called ecoexistence in Toronto. Proud owner, Dihan Chandra has shopped the world for ethically and socially responsible products and lives by this quote:

“I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways.
If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.”             Michael Jackson from the song “Man in the Mirror”

Looking for a hepa vacuum cleaner or furniture made of sustainably harvested alderwood that is totally free of toxic chemicals? Then take a look at Lisa and Ron Beres’ Green Nest website for both fabulous products and a gift registry!

 

 

 

Here’s a challenge! If you are a couple that “has everything”, and admitedly many of us fall into that category, consider a registry where you don’t get a thing but your guests can gift someone else.

At ChangingThePresent your wedding guests can give a gift in your name that will help make the world a better place. This website connects you to over 1,500 meaningful charitable gifts through hundreds of nonprofits organizations. You can create a gift registry and create a wish list.

Then of course there is World Vision that has an on-line catalogue for ordering gifts. Wouldn’t it be great if your guests purchased, in your name, five fruit trees, or a sheep or a well!

At our wedding last month Mike and I served fair trade tea, coffee and sugar at the reception and our flowers were fair trade. It wasn’t alot but it did reflect our desire to be more socially and ethically aware and responsible. I hope this post will encourage you to do the same when you consider all aspects of your wedding! Send your comments my way! Always good to hear from you!

All the best, Jordin