No Toasters Please, We're British! 12516 views

If your home is already full of the things you love, then why not celebrate your wedding by donating to your favourite charity?

Alternative Gifts gift service is run by World Vision Alternative Gifts. Instead of toasters and coffee makers, your guests select an item needed by a community where World Vision is working. The gifts range from £9 for seeds for a family farm to £300 to train a teacher in Daringbadi, India.
How it Works: Guests can send an email or real card letting you know what they have bought for your wedding.

The Alternative Wedding List works in exactly the same way as a wedding list. After registering, you can choose one or more charities that you would like guests to donate to. Gifts range from £10 to Sightsavers International for a folding white cane to £200 for a MENCAP family break.
How it Works: You can log on to check on donations. After your wedding you receive a certificate with a breakdown of the grand total.

Give in Celebration supports Cancer Research UK. From the website, you create a personalised page then invite guests to make a donation, either by email or downloading donation slips that can be inserted with your wedding invites.
How it Works: Guests donate online, by phone or by sending a cheque with the donation slip.

Oxfam Unwrapped have a catalogue of gifts to help fight poverty from £5 donations to ‘Build a little bit of a classroom’ to £78 for a ‘Safe haven for women’. Click on ‘My Lists’ from the homepage to set up a wedding wish list and then let your guests know by sending a weblink or a list reference number.
How it Works: You can manage your list on line and keep track of donations.

TOP TIP
Putting together a wedding list might seem low down on the list when your dream dress is still to be found. But, your gift list needs some kind of action plan before the invites are sent out. Wedding invites should hold as much info about your big day as possible, including gifts – even if it is just a simple note.

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