Gifts for charity
Today, the movement of helping those in need is gaining popularity among newlyweds. The newlyweds are ready to make orphans, helpless old people without loved ones, and even homeless animals happy on their wedding day. A resource for such assistance can be the money that guests spend on wedding bouquets.
The average price of a floral arrangement for a wedding ranges from 500 to 1,500 rubles. On average, guests attend a wedding from 15 to 30 people. And everyone brings with them a bouquet that will have to be thrown away in a couple of days. It turns out that on average each wedding throws away from 7,500 to 45,000 rubles in the trash. It looks wasteful and unwise.
Many newlyweds would like to spend that kind of money on charity. This is considered a good sign for starting a life together. There is no need to collect money from guests that they spend on bouquets. It is enough to ask them to purchase those things that will then be donated to orphanages, boarding houses for the elderly, hospices and shelters for homeless animals.
Also, the newlyweds will need to choose a sponsored institution in advance and find out what things it needs. After that, you can choose what to ask guests to give for the wedding instead of flowers. Ideas and photos of such gifts can be found on wedding forums. Most often, instead of wedding bouquets they buy:
- Stuffed Toys;
- school supplies;
- indoor flowers;
- warm clothes;
- essentials;
- pet food.
Charity is in fashion today. Doing a small good deed with money that would essentially be wasted will also please your guests. The main thing is to properly organize such a spiritual impulse.
Before such a step, you need to select a sponsored institution in advance, agree to receive the necessary things, and after the holiday bring them there at a convenient time.
What can guests give instead of flowers?
Recently, young people are increasingly asking their guests not to buy flowers, but to give them instead... Below are seven alternative options (based on wedding reports from Voronezh couples).
Books
Of course, it makes sense to ask for books if you really love to read and the impressive library that you will bring with you after the wedding will not turn into an unnecessary “dust collector”. From the report of Alexey and Anna: “The guests, as we asked, gave us books. What is now missing from our family library: science fiction, culinary recipes, motivating manuals on personal growth, and even a textbook on the Belarusian language!”
Kids' things
This is perhaps the most touching and truly useful solution that is possible. Artem and Olga: “Artem is a volunteer in the charity organization “Common Children” and we decided that we will ask guests to give us children’s things instead of flowers: toys, books, diapers...”
Lottery tickets
If you are not lacking in excitement and fortune favors you, why not? Denis and Victoria: “We asked all guests to buy regular lottery tickets and hand them over at the entrance to the restaurant! Two lottery tickets are good, but 20 are better!”
Animal food
A lovely tradition that came to us from Belarus. There are many shelters for homeless animals in Voronezh, which will gratefully accept treats from you for their pets.
Potted plants
Do you like caring for flowers? A wedding is a great occasion to add to your collection of house plants. So, after the wedding, Sergei and Ekaterina’s apartment turned into a real blooming garden!
Useful souvenirs
If you have just moved in or are planning to move into a new apartment, then you will need a lot of small things, and your wedding guests can help with purchasing them. Ask them to give you “useful souvenirs.” Stores offer a huge selection of such little things: funny paired mugs, blankets, creative corkscrews, beautiful candles and so on.
Money
A decent bouquet of flowers costs about a thousand, multiplying this amount by the number of guests, it is not difficult to calculate how much money a young family will receive if all those invited instead of flowers put an additional bill in the envelope. All that remains is to subtly hint at this to the guests. Here are some options. “Dear guests, the florists promised to do their best at our wedding and after the celebration we will have a large number of flowers left, so there is no need to give them.” “Please do not give fresh flowers, immediately after the wedding we are going on a trip, and we will be very sorry to leave them” “Please do not give us flowers as due to the nature of our wedding we will not be able to take proper care of them.”
Based on materials from wedding reports https://www.svadba-inform.ru/reports.asp
Alena Ch specially for https://www.svadba-inform.ru
Flowers in pots
This is another option for what you can give for a wedding instead of traditional cut flowers. Indoor plants are more durable than cut flowers. They will really decorate the newlyweds' home, turning it into a real paradise. You should give only indoor plants that have flowering inflorescences and decorative greenery. Then the pot can be impressively decorated, and such a gift will not differ much from a traditional wedding bouquet.
As an alternative to a wedding bouquet, you can choose the following varieties of indoor plants:
- Usambara violets;
- gardenia;
- orchid;
- alocasia;
- dracaena;
- camellia;
- hibiscus;
- frisee;
- monstera.
Advice!
If there are too many indoor plants, the newlyweds can donate them as a charitable gift to the nearest school, kindergarten, hospital, orphanage or nursing home. All social institutions will gladly accept such gifts with which they will decorate their interiors.
Toys and school supplies
Newlyweds often want to share their happiness with the whole world, and not just with their guests. Therefore, in recent years, the idea of refusing to receive flowers in “exchange” for basic necessities for the needy and low-income has become popular. In the wedding invitation, newlyweds ask to bring toys, teddy bears, children's books and even school supplies instead of flowers. After the wedding, all the things that were donated instead of flowers will be taken by the newlyweds to an orphanage, hospital, or community center to help orphans, needy or sick children.
Toys are a great joy for a child
It must be said that if you decide to receive toys and school supplies instead of flowers, then you should visit the chosen institution before the wedding. Why? There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the fact that, unfortunately, accepting donations from individuals can be a problem for some institutions due to certain legal reasons. Therefore, make sure that the orphanage or hospital is ready to accept your donations. Secondly, it sometimes happens that one hospital or orphanage receives a lot of toys and other gifts from sponsors and does not really need them. So in this situation, it makes sense to choose a less affluent institution and its patients, for whom your gifts will be a joy.
Indoor flowers as a gift
Wedding bouquets made of money
Guests can give a bouquet of money instead of a bouquet of fresh flowers for a wedding. Today, in most cases, newlyweds are given money and a traditional bouquet as gifts. This set will be replaced by the original packaging of banknotes. There are special master classes on the Internet that show step by step how to make rosebuds from banknotes. This bouquet will replace the traditional composition of living plants.
Also, the bride and groom can ask all their guests not to spend money on buying bouquets, but to give them in the form of banknotes to the newlyweds. Such a request should be presented to guests in an original way, setting out the information in the wedding invitation.
What else can you give as a present?
Certificates – many boutiques, shops and salons offer to purchase a certificate or voucher for their services. Among them there are even offers that allow you to purchase an interesting product at half the price, and sometimes even less. And by giving the newly formed family a certificate to a store, you will thus give her the opportunity to make her first joint purchase. So, you can present a certificate to a furniture store, to visit a spa or fitness center, to take a hot air balloon flight, tickets to a concert or an invitation to a fashionable nightclub.
Pet food is a specific gift that only the newlyweds themselves can ask for. The wedding invitation may indicate that instead of flowers, it is better to give animal food, dishes for them, or other supplies. It’s just that the spouses may be ardent animal lovers and want to somehow help the most needy among them. Therefore, instead of flowers that will wither in a few days, they prefer to get something that will bring much greater benefits.
Photo of a wedding gift instead of flowers - sweets
Sweets – a chic basket of various sweets will appeal to young people much more than roses and gladioli. Original sweets, cakes and cookies will not go unnoticed, and the bride and groom will remember you with a huge smile when eating them.
Photo frames – one or more frames for wedding photos will be a wonderful addition to the interior. Young people will definitely find a place for them in their home and will admire the photographs that remind them of such a grandiose event.
Jewelry - earrings for her and cufflinks for him can become a full-fledged gift (and not just a replacement for a bouquet) if it is expensive metal and natural stones.
Gold earrings with emeralds and diamonds, SL (price on the link)
Gold cufflinks with enamel, EFREMOV (price on the link)
These are the ideas for a gift instead of flowers for a wedding that you can take into your arsenal and surprise the newlyweds. The choice is yours.
Lottery tickets
Here is another alternative to a wedding bouquet. Usually, in order to buy a winning ticket, you need to purchase a large number of numbers. The money spent on wedding bouquets can be spent on buying lottery tickets. They need to be beautifully packaged and presented to the bride and groom.
In this case, the probability of winning increases several times, and the newlyweds themselves receive, along with such a gift, an unforgettable experience when they check ticket numbers together, studying the lottery drawing.
Guilt
A glass of wine drunk during dinner in good company can significantly improve your mood even after the hardest day. So if you want a more practical gift on your wedding day instead of flowers, and if you love wine, ask your guests to give you a bottle of liquor. But remember that, most likely, among your loved ones there are hardly any clairvoyants, and not everyone knows your taste preferences. So when you write on invitations that you prefer to receive wine instead of flowers, specify what kind of wine you like. White, red, or maybe pink? Sweet or dry? Russian, French or Georgian?
This way you can create your own small collection of wines. And every time you open another bottle, you will remember your special day and the person who gave this wine.
Gift packaging for CDs
Collection wines
Another original and useful alternative to bouquets of fresh flowers. In this case, you can agree with several guests so that the bride and groom have their own small collection of wines. When presenting such an alternative bouquet, you should definitely play with the tradition of uncorking a bottle of vintage wines on your wedding anniversary. Guests can present their gift by wishing to uncork the wine for a silver or gold wedding.
Idea!
The newlyweds themselves can ask for a gift of wine, indicating which varieties and types they would like to have in their home collection.
What replacements exist?
What to replace a wedding bouquet with? The alternatives depend only on your imagination. But most of them can be divided into several types.
- Accessory made of flowers in the form of handbags and clutches. This variation is made from both live and artificial buds. A mandatory part is a handle. It is made from ribbons or pearls, and the form itself often uses light fabric.
- Flower umbrellas. The compositions are made in the form of a folded umbrella-cane. If the master can make the design, then the accessory is also opened. This alternative looks very beautiful at a photo shoot.
- Huge flower. Why do you need several plants, maybe you can get by with one? Many florists offer this variation. The technique is called lilymelia, glamelia or rosamelia. A large flower is made up of petals from living buds, like roses or peonies, on a prepared base. The accessory is also made from ribbons and other materials.
- Sweet bouquet. For the composition, the form of a known sweet is chosen, for example, candy or ice cream. Use any available materials, including fresh flowers.
- Edible composition. An interesting idea is to add berries, vegetables and fruits to fresh plants. For an early summer wedding, you can add strawberries to the roses and greenery. During the autumn celebrations, pears and apples will be in place.
- Living compositions from plants. They are made up of cones, ears, twigs with leaves and other plants, but without flowers. This option is suitable for eco-style.
- Hand-made bouquets from all kinds of creative materials. This includes buttons, rhinestones, ribbons, beads, fabrics, brooches, knitted flowers and other things. Usually they imitate classical forms of compositions. Read more about unusual bridal bouquets.
- Other original solutions. For example, the bride can take a soft teddy bear with her or order a beautiful fan.
Interesting! We have collected the most unusual wedding bouquets in this article. By the way, a composition of candies is one of the most beautiful things that can be made without using flowers.
Books
Today, a printed book has fallen into the category of expensive things. A beautiful tome with useful information is equal in price to an average wedding bouquet, but flowers cannot compete with it in terms of shelf life. The book may well become a worthy alternative to a wedding bouquet if it is chosen correctly and meaningfully.
Guests can agree with each other and give books for the family library instead of bouquets. Such a thing will not only be useful and necessary for newlyweds at different periods of their family life. Books will be passed down from generation to generation. A home library will become a definite symbol of the strength of family life.
Indoor flowers
If you really love flowers and don't want to watch them wilt, you can skip the cut bouquets and ask your guests to give you indoor potted flowers. They can be just as beautiful as bouquets, but they certainly outshine them in durability as they can last for many years.
This option, however, has its drawbacks. Firstly, indoor flowers need constant care and attention so that they grow well and do not dry out. Secondly, if you receive a large number of flowers, it is not necessary that all of them will fit into the interior of your home.
Popular flowers in pots that can be given to newlyweds instead of cut flowers: orchid, dracaena, alocasia, gardenia, vriesia, hyacinth, hibiscus, camellia, monstera, violet and many others.
Luxurious flowers in a ceramic pot
Tradition vs fashion
Traditionally, guests bring flowers to weddings, which end up in a landfill a few days later. Instead, the money spent on expensive bouquets can be spent on something useful.
You can help children or animals in need. Just ask your guests to throw money into a symbolic jar instead of bouquets. You can then use the funds received for noble purposes, and at the same time improve several lives. This is a modern charity event that costs young people nothing.
At some weddings, money donated by guests is sent to hospices and orphanages. The choice belongs to the young couple - which they must immediately inform about in the invitation.
Original gifts
Now let's move on to original options for wedding gifts from friends.
1. It’s no longer new, but nevertheless, items with photo printing remain quite popular: • cups, • sofa cushions, • T-shirts.
Among the interesting new products offered by the market:
• photo blanket – from 3500 rubles, • personalized robes – from 3000 rubles, • personalized vase – from 900 rubles.
2. True friends will definitely think that the wedding day ends with the wedding night. You can rent a hotel room for the newlyweds as a gift. It will be even better if you try to decorate this room accordingly: lay out silk linen, arrange bouquets of flowers, candles, vases of fruit and champagne with glasses, think about musical decoration.
3. The newlyweds will be delighted to receive such an unusual wedding gift from friends as a certificate for entertainment. They will be glad to have the opportunity to have fun and interesting time together. Among the services offered, you can choose: • quest, • hot air balloon flight, • parachute jump, • yacht ride, • horseback riding, • spa visit, • rooftop dinner, • massage session, • wine tasting, • night excursion, etc.
4. The topic of certificates is quite popular. There are certificates for master classes. The value of such a gift is not only a pleasant pastime, but also that after the lesson the spouses will have a little thing they made together with their own hands. It can become a family talisman.
5. An excellent wedding gift is a certificate for a photo shoot. Usually a photo session on the wedding day is provided by its organizers. Therefore, it is better to present your friends with a certificate that can be used in a month or six months to celebrate such a small anniversary.
6. An original wedding gift for newlyweds from friends - a plot on the Moon. Many will find such a gift rather strange, “empty”. Nevertheless, the intangibility and inaccessibility of the lunar area serves as an excellent symbol of eternal love. It is friends - and one should not expect too practical gifts from them - who can make the newlyweds the owners of a unique thing that they will be proud of and brag about. Moreover, neighbors in the area will certainly be show business stars, famous athletes or politicians. The price of 1 acre of lunar land starts from 3,500 rubles.
7. On the birthday of a new family, a family tree will be an original gift. Such information is always very interesting. In addition, the family tree is a symbol of long-term family relationships and family traditions. Ordering the preparation and decoration of such a gift will cost approximately 7,000 rubles.
8. Another good wedding gift from friends is a bicycle for two. An excellent “simulator” for developing spouses’ skills of interaction, mutual assistance, and supporting each other. Of course, it is better to give such a thing to newlyweds who are interested in active recreation. Bicycle price from 45,000 rubles.
9. Also an interesting thing is a sofa for two. These models have design features. Sitting down on such a sofa together, the spouses will be in close proximity, which provides a romantic atmosphere. The price of this wonderful thing starts from 12,000 rubles.
10. Be original and give the newlyweds a “Plant a Tree” kit. Everyone knows that they need to “build a house, plant a tree and raise a son.” Let your gift help a young family complete one of these tasks. The set includes a flowerpot, soil, seedlings and the necessary equipment. Its price starts from 1300 rubles. Over time, the couple will be able to transplant the tree into the garden near their home.
11. A rather unusual gift - a jar with tasks for young spouses. This is a wonderful thing. The need to perform various tasks will promote cohesion and the emergence of common memories. And in general, such a gift will bring intriguing variety to family life, will help the newlyweds not get bogged down in everyday everyday problems and keep their feelings fresh longer. And it costs only 5,000 rubles.
What flowers should not be given for a wedding?
It is strictly forbidden to give yellow flowers for a wedding. This shade is associated with separation and sadness. In fact, yellow has no negative connotations. It’s just that this opinion has developed in our country, in particular, thanks to the song “Yellow Tulips”. It is also not recommended to give the bride calla lilies, carnations, or wild plants. Callas are more of a masculine flower, and the rest of those listed look too cheap and uncomplicated.
Chrysanthemums would be inappropriate for a wedding ceremony. It is better to give them to colleagues, co-workers, acquaintances, since this flower is considered formal and purely symbolic. The bride deserves the most luxurious bouquet. It's definitely not worth saving on a wedding gift!
How to arrange a bouquet for the bride?
It is better to entrust the design of a wedding bouquet to a professional florist. The specialist will be able to stylishly decorate any plants and offer the best option for the client’s individual preferences. In modern times, there are many ways to design bouquets, which makes it difficult for an inexperienced person to choose.
If you don’t want to bother too much, it’s better to give the bride a classic bouquet that can be placed in a vase. If it is expected that the bride will walk with this bouquet, then it is better to choose flowers in a floral sponge - an oasis (such bouquets do not require a vase with water, since the moisture is retained in the sponge). And if you want to give something exclusive, then pay attention to:
- flowers in a box - stylish and unusual;
- flowers in a basket - luxurious and tasteful;
- bouquets in the form of toys, animals or other figures are fun and romantic.
You can add a congratulations sign or card to the bride's bouquet. You can also carefully insert rolled banknotes into it. Another good option is edible bouquets of sweets and fruits. Don't be afraid to be creative and experiment!
Universal
If you're looking for something to give instead of flowers for your birthday, consider the following options. They are suitable regardless of age, gender and favorite activities, these include:
- Confectionery
. Chocolate, candy, cakes, pastries. Currently, the variety of sweet products is amazing, and you can choose sweets for every taste and budget. - Photographs and portraits
. Every person wants to have their own successful image in a large format. To do this, you need to select a high-quality photograph and take it to the workshop. Nowadays, you can create a masterpiece by transforming an image into a painting in the popular pop art genre. - Set of coffee or tea
. Elite varieties of coffee or tea will come in handy in any kitchen. In addition to the set, you can add a beautiful strainer or personalized spoon.
This will come in handy
: find out what to give your guests for a wonderful evening.
Why do the bride and groom refuse flowers?
Newlyweds ask not to bring them bouquets, as they consider it an irrational waste. A beautiful luxurious wedding bouquet will cost several hundred. And it will last for a maximum of one week. The flowers will wither very quickly, they will be thrown into the trash and their existence will be safely forgotten. So why waste money if you can buy something more useful and necessary with it? And in general, is it necessary to give flowers for a wedding?
Photo of a wedding gift for the bride - book
In Western countries, it has long become the norm to bring books, expensive alcohol or movie discs to wedding celebrations. The future husband and wife even write in the invitations that they do not want to see gift bouquets at their holiday. So plants on a wedding day are a relic of the past that is actively fading into oblivion.
If you decide not to give flowers to the newlyweds, then you can prepare another surprise for them
