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charity to consider donating your gown to is the NICU Helping Hands’ Angel Gown ® program which turns wedding gowns into comfort for bereaved families through the gift of a beautiful custom made gown for final photos and for burial services. 4. B RIGHTEN S OMEONE ’ S D AY W ITH F LOWERS Most brides getting married in a church choose to leave their flowers at the altar in honor or remembrance of a loved one. However, if you get married at a venue or, are having the reception at another loca- tion, consider finding an alternate use for your flowers which should continue to re- main fresh for days to come. You may want to discuss in advance with your floral de- signer your wish to to turn your center- pieces and other arrangements into per- sonalized bouquets for sick patients in health care facilities or residents in senior living communities. Or, enlist the help of friends and family to deliver the flowers af- ter the ceremony. While many organiza- tions will accept donations, you should al- ways contact them beforehand to avoid any confusion after the event. 5. F EED THE H UNGRY Donating food may be more difficult due to health concerns and restrictions. Your caterer can often help here. Look into do- nating leftovers to a homeless shelter or honor first responders and send them to the nearby firehouse or police station. 6. D ONATE D ECORATIONS Smaller decorative items like votives and candles — if not being reused — can often be donated to your local Goodwill or Sal- vation Army. Larger items and decorative, architectural structures can often be sold to a Habitat for Humanity Resale Store which collects home items to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. 7. D ONATE B RIDESMAIDS D RESSES Bridesmaid dresses are very rarely worn again. Ask your bridesmaids to donate their dresses after the wedding to the local GoodWill or Salvation Army. Or, the dresses can donate to organizations such as Becca’s Closet, Operation Prom, and Cinderella’s Closet — all of which provide free prom dresses to young people who could otherwise not afford them. Plus, be sure and do an online search to see if there is a local prom dress drive, such as the one coordinated by JimMassey’s Cleaners and the Montgomery Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in March of 2020. n Arrange to have your wedding flowers delivered to hospitals and/or nursing homes after the ceremony. Photo by Perry Ann Copeland Photography. ................................................................................................................. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter WEDDING ISSUE 2021 29