Your wedding day should be a reflection of you: your love story, your priorities, and your values. If giving back to your community is important to you, it is easy and rewarding to incorporate these values into your wedding. If you're looking to make your wedding as karma-friendly as possible, here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Shop small, shop local!

Check out the artisans, vendors, and shops in your very own community to find unique items to make your wedding stand out. This will help keep your dollars local to improve your community at the same time that you are making your wedding fabulous! If you can't find what you're looking for locally, online resources like Etsy can help you find that perfect cake topper, bridesmaid gift, or wedding signage from small businesses around the world.

2. Give wedding items a second life.

According to the CDC, 2,140,272 marriages took place in the United States in 2016. Think of all the gorgeous decor and attire, carefully and lovingly selected by a bride-to-be, only to be shoved in the back of a closet after the big day. You can help give these items a second life by sharing with or borrowing from friends, or even shopping secondhand. Bonus: This strategy is sure to save you some major moolah!

3. Choose wedding favors your guests will use.

Another way to make sure your wedding has a positive impact is to choose wedding favors that will appreciated, not discarded. Edible favors like cookies, candy, or even honey are always a big hit, and the likelihood is high that they will end up in your guests' bellies, not the trash can. Similarly, guests are sure to enjoy consumable favors like candles or soaps. Bonus points if you can get them from a local vendor!

These ideas are just the beginning! Please call or email me so that I can help you plan a wedding that perfectly reflects your vision for your big day.