In an industry that is all about “me, me, me,” it can be easy to think of weddings as a source of superficiality and excess. But in their most fundamental form, weddings are actually centered around giving — a father gives away his daughter to a grateful groom, guests give a couple thoughtful gifts to furnish their first home, the couple gives their friends and family a chance to celebrate an important milestone. Weddings, in all their pomp and circumstance, are an opportunity for generosity. So, instead of dwelling on the bottom line or the perfect aesthetic, we’d like to raise a challenge: Leverage your wedding for social good. In that spirit, we turn our attention to two big-hearted causes that invite brides and grooms to lean out, and three simple ways you can incorporate charitable giving into your planning.
Veils for Tails
As an only child, Ashley Paternostro’s earliest friends were her pets; animals she had adopted and rescued, like Stormy and Midnight, a pair of guinea pigs, and Blackberry, a rabbit who had spent the first three years of his life completely caged. “The love for them made me want to advocate for animal welfare,” the real estate advisor explains. So, when Paternostro opened a bridal consignment e-boutique in 2017, it was an easy decision to donate a portion of her proceeds to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County and other local pet rescue organizations. “I started seeing a trend with millennial brides who really loved their pets and wanted to involve them in their weddings,” she says. Veils for Tails, which became a brick-and-mortar in September, attracts a mix of clients, from animal-lovers like Paternostro to budget-savvy brides that are looking to save on the big-ticket dress. Increasingly, Paternostro also meets sustainable shoppers who want to reduce waste by repurposing gowns that might otherwise be thrown out. “Many of these gowns have unique stories that are fun to pass on from one bride to the next,” she says.
Since Veils for Tails is a consignment shop, its inventory varies, but Paternostro mostly stocks dresses from well-known designers such as Lazaro and Wtoo by Watters. Some of her gowns have never been worn and still have tags on them, with prices ranging from $500 to $2,500 depending on the age, condition, and label.
Beyond Veils for Tails’ financial commitment, which has seen more than $3,000 raised for local charities, Paternostro has also assisted with the adoption of abandoned puppies by partnering with K-9 Lifesavers Rescue. “Our hope is that all animals will get out of shelters and find loving forever or foster homes,” she says.
In the United States, 6.5 million animals enter shelters every year. Approximately 1.5 million are euthanized due to limited space and resources.
(American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Veils for Tails is located at 111 Chinquapin Road Road, Ste 205, Annapolis. Appointments are available on weekdays from 5:30 to 9 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. Call 410-699-0249 to book.
Petals for Hope
J. Zachary in Focus
Brittaney Sard had had enough of her corporate marketing job when she came up with an intriguing idea: What if she collected the flowers that are typically thrown away after big events, like weddings, and repurposed them into bouquets to brighten up nursing homes, hospitals, and other lonely places? “I thought it would take a year, maybe two, to get [the project off the ground], but we actually got our first donation the next day,” Sard says. Now, the nonprofit she started in May 2018, Petals for Hope, services two to five weddings per weekend with a roster of 50 dedicated volunteers across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Most of her referrals come from area florists and planners, who are familiar with her work and can navigate venue protocols, but Sard also coordinates with brides who reach out to her directly. To set up a donation, all Sard needs is a wedding date, location, and time of breakdown. “We know there are so many things happening in terms of clean up,” she explains. “The one thing we don’t want to do is hinder the [onsite] team.”
Petals for Hope has delivered more than 4,200 bouquets to people in need since May 2018.
Preparing flowers for reuse is an all-day event. Petals for Hope volunteers show up immediately after a reception ends to pick up arrangements, which are stored in foam or plastic trays overnight. The next morning, the volunteers assemble early, usually around 8 a.m., following specific guidelines to maximize freshness, such as recutting stems on a bias and reviving arrangements with fresh water and flower food. Blooms that can’t be reused are composted instead of being sent to a landfill.
J. Zachary in Focus
Next comes the fun part: delivering the repurposed bouquets to those in need. Two of Sard’s go-to drop-off sites are small hospice centers in Centreville and Easton, but she also visits maternity wards, shut-ins, and other locations by request. Occasionally, Petals for Hope also hosts mini floral arranging workshops for residents of homeless shelters and children’s hospitals.
For more information, visit petalsforhope.com.
Other Ways to Give
Use your registry
Websites like The Good Beginning, Blueprint Registry, and Crowdrise (a partner of The Knot) allow couples to add charities to their wedding registries alongside traditional items, like dish sets, linens, and a honeymoon fund.
Donate on behalf of your guests
Do you have a favorite cause? Instead of giving out party favors, make a donation to a worthy nonprofit. Your guests will be fine without the personalized M&Ms. Just be sure to let them know about the gift by including a note in your program or setting up a display with information about the organization.
Hire a nonprofit vendor
You’re going to spend the money anyway, so why not give it to a mission that matters? Whether you book a museum venue or hire a socially-conscious caterer, you’ll be supporting important work.
