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SuperWeddings
Trend Alert
The 'Kindness
Trend' In Weddings: One of the Hottest Emerging Wedding Trends
Christina
Aguilera did it for her December 2005 wedding. Angelina Jolie just
announced she’s doing it for her upcoming wedding to Brad Pitt.
And now, couples everywhere are including acts of kindness as a part
of their weddings too, making this one of the hottest emerging
wedding trends of this year. It's the "Kindness Trend” in weddings.
When tabloid
darling Angelina Jolie reportedly gave her stylist the word to find
her a wedding dress, tongues started wagging that it she and Brad
Pitt were that much closer to becoming a real-life “Mr and
Mrs”. But what we here at SuperWeddings.com found most
interesting was where Jolie, who earns millions of dollars for
each of her box office hits, intends to get her dress.
No Versace for
this celebrity bride-to-be. According to reports, the controversial
actress turned humanitarian wants to purchase her wedding dress from
a Goodwill store (Goodwill Industries International). That way the
profits go to help the needy. Jolie is presumably hoping that the
publicity generated by this move will spur other brides to do the same.
We suspect they
just might indeed.
More and more
couples right now are incorporating a charitable element into their
big day – and it’s not just celebrities who are doing this.
A wave of couples everywhere are making the choice to do something
generous for a good cause as part of their wedding celebration.
Weddings have
always had a self-indulgent element to them, and so it’s
exciting to see couples generously opening their hearts to others on
their wedding day. What a wonderful way to celebrate the love they
share – by sprinkling some of that love out to others by doing good.
Kindness is contagious.
With any trend,
the more people see of it, the more likely they are to adopt it. But
a lot of people really feel inspired by the good deeds of others. It
makes them want to do something good too. When you think about it,
it’s a really beautiful way for a couple to start their new life
together. You've got to admit, it’s got a good vibe to it.
We predict that
the kindness trend will continue to pick up momentum over the next 12
months, but unlike other trends that fade completely after reaching
their peak, the concept behind this one has some staying power.
Trends, by their very nature, are flaky. One day everyone’s
doing a particular thing, and before long it’s never seen again.
But fortunately kindness never completely goes out of style. Chances
are this current trend will show people how easily charitable
elements can be incorporated into weddings, and those ideas will
continue to be seen at weddings long after this is no longer the
‘it’ thing of the moment.
Once people try it
they find that doing something kind for others actually feels
amazingly good. And that makes them want to do more of it.
On a more personal
note, frankly, I wish this trend had started back when I got married
in ’92. I personally have a lot of concern for the well being of
animals. Looking back, making a donation in each of my guest’s
names to a no-kill shelter would have been more meaningful than all
those pretty little wedding favors we gave away. Sure, the favors
were gorgeous, but doing something to make a difference would have
been an unbeatable feeling. Unfortunately, no one thought of doing
this fifteen years ago.
So why this trend
at this time? Here's our theory. In recent times, we’ve
witnessed a lot of really harsh realities. September 11. America at
war. The Tsunami. Then Katrina. As they spend all that money on a big
one-day celebration for themselves, and revel in their own happiness,
a lot of caring, socially conscious couples are trying to reconcile
that with the suffering many others are experiencing in these times.
There may be a little pang of guilt, or simply a genuine desire to
share their blessings with others who are nowhere near as fortunate.
Today more and
more couples use the details of their weddings to paint an intimate
self-portrait of themselves. Through the many wedding-related
selections they need to make - the decor, the food, the flower, the
favors - they strive to make a statement about who they are so that
their wedding day becomes a meaningful reflection of themselves.
Certainly, making kindess a part of their weddings or including a
philantrhopic element says something very special about a couple.
More and more
couples everywhere are taking the opportunity to show kindness to
others when they exchange their vows. You can do this too, and we
highly encourage it! Make a charitable donation in the name of each
of your guests in place of traditional wedding favors. Or ask guests
to make a donation to the charity of your choice, or theirs, in place
of wedding gifts. Sooner or later, kindness is always returned to
you, ten fold. We promise!
Here
are some ideas on how you can make kindness a part of your wedding:
-
In place of
traditional wedding favors, make a donation to a worthwhile cause in
each guest’s name. At the reception, present each guest with a
small nicely printed card explaining that this has been done.
-
Suggest that
instead of wedding gifts, guests make a contribution to either a
charity of your choosing, or a cause that is important to them. Pop
star Christina Aguilera did this when she wed last December and
requested that guests make donations to Hurricane Katrina victims
rather than giving wedding presents. Even comic strip characters are
taking a shine to this trend; the popular comic strip character Cathy
also did this last year when she asked her guests (and readers of the
strip) to make a donation to a particular California shelter for
homeless animals!
-
Some gift registry
services will donate a percentage of all gifts purchased through
their service to the charity of your choice – look for one that
offers this.
-
Make arrangements
to donate food left over from the reception to a local soup kitchen
or homeless shelter.
-
Donate flower
arrangements to local hospices or nursing homes following the wedding.
-
After the wedding,
donate your used wedding supplies and accessories –or even your
wedding dress - to Goodwill (Goodwill Industries International) or
another charitable organization that collects used goods.
-
Or, like Ms.
Jolie, shop Goodwill stores (Goodwill Industries International) in
your area for your wedding gown and related accessories.
Help
Us Track This Trend!
We've just
launched a brand new survey on this topic! If you are getting
married, take short survey! Your wedding matters so be one of the
first to stand up and be counted! No personal information is asked
and it's super-quick!
Share
Your Ideas!
How are YOU
incorporating a charitable gesture into YOUR wedding? Tell us about
it! Kindness is contagious - when you share your ideas, you'll
inspire other couples to do something good too! All submissions will
be entered into a drawing for for a surprise gift that will melt your
heart! Submit your idea here: Besure to include your name, city,
state or province, country AND a valid email address where we can
reach you if you are a winner! Share
Your Idea!
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On
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About
Linda Kevich:
Linda Kevich is
the creator and editor of SuperWeddings.com, a popular online wedding
guide that has been online since 1999. An internationally recognized
subject matter expert on weddings and the wedding industry, she is
frequently sought by the national and international media to share
her wedding-related insights, and has been quoted in hundreds of
newspaper and magazine articles throughout the US and world-wide.
Linda has made weddings her business since 1991, when she got her
start as a professional wedding consultant. Today, she is also the
director of The International Institute of Weddings, a professional
organization serving the wedding industry, and is the developer of an
in-depth distance education program for professional wedding
planners.
Since 1999, Kevich has personally trained, coached and mentored
hundreds of wedding consultants world wide in successfully launching
their careers.
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