Some couples are restructuring their registries and celebrations to support charitable causes close to their hearts.
Though she had spent the last six months living with multiple myeloma, Pamela Pinkowski was determined to attend her daughter Amelia’s May 11 wedding to Sharbel Maalouf.
“Amelia’s mom was a fighter,” Mr. Maalouf, a 38-year-old executive in the medical supply industry, said of his mother-in-law, who died just weeks after the couple wed.
It was important to the couple, who live in Northbrook, Ill., to honor Ms. Pinkowski’s presence at their wedding in a significant way. They chose to forgo party favors and make charitable donations in their guests’ names to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
“It was kind of our chance to thank my mom for all she’s done in my life,” said Ms. Maalouf, 32, a human resources manager. “My mom was truly overwhelmed with emotion,” Ms. Maalouf said of the surprise.
Many couples integrate a charitable element into their nuptials, and some wedding planners encourage their clients to take a philanthropic approach to their celebrations.
“Because so much money goes into wedding planning, a lot of people want to also give back — not just spending money on throwing a great party, but also remembering people all around the world who are struggling,” said Noha Tarabain, the owner and lead designer of Roselite Events in Edmonton, Alberta.
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