If you are planning a wedding on a budget, you will still want your wedding to reflect who you each are, and who you are as a couple. For some people, helping others and giving back to their communities are important passions. If that describes you, then you may want to think about how you can make the world a better place through your budget wedding, in addition to choosing to purchase conflict-free diamonds or incorporating environmentally friendly elements of a green wedding. You will also want to think about how to do this while still staying on budget.

Those of you who followed the royal wedding closely will be interested to know that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, instead of registering for tangible wedding gifts, asked their families, friends, and fans to give money to a charitable foundation in celebration of their marriage. They distributed over one million British pounds to some of their favorite causes, including charities that support sick children, military families, and environmental protection.

The royal couple may not have been exactly planning a wedding on a budget, but their ability to make a difference in the world through a celebration of their love can be pulled off on any budget. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

-Purchase wedding jewelry made from conflict-free diamonds
-Use reusable rather than disposable dishes and decorations
-Donate to a favorite charity instead of purchasing wedding favors for your guests
-Register for some charitable gifts in addition to more traditional gifts
-Choose to use local businesses rather than large chain stores as much as possible for your wedding vendors to help your community’s economy
-Send your guests home with tree seedlings to plant in their yards as a wedding favor

What other creative ideas do you have for making a difference on your wedding day?

Photo Credit: Corey Ann