A wedding day is about celebrating the love between two people. It can also be an incredible opportunity to give back. Here are six ways to utilise your wedding day for the greater good.

1. Swap presents for donations

Rather than ringing up an expensive registry, ask guests to donate to a charity of your choice. This action is two-fold. A wedding registry may contain items that are financially unviable for some guests. Rather than unknowingly putting them under financial pressure, a donation allows them to dictate the amount they are able to spend. Whether it’s a local animal welfare organisation or charity, any bit goes a long way. Asking for donations rather than presents is a selfless way of giving back.

 

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You can’t change a dogs past, but you can rewrite his future. ❤️❤️❤️ Come over to meet sweet Lady Cindy. ❤️?❤️ * * * * * * * * #dargdays #rescue #rescuer #rescuedog #dogrescuer #adopt #adoptdontshop #adoptme #adoptionsaveslives #changealife #animalshelter #pawsome #dogsofinsta #dogsofinstagram #dogsofworld #doglover #dogsofcapetown #dogsofhoutbay #capetown #houtbay

A post shared by DARG-DomesticAnimalRescueGroup (@dargdays) on Dec 28, 2019 at 9:25am PST

2. Go as green as you can

An eco-friendly wedding is one way to ensure you give back to Mother Nature. You can opt for a full, off-the-grid wedding or you can incorporate eco-friendly elements. Choose a venue that operates on solar power, that way you know you won’t be burning any unnecessary fossil fuels on your special day. Opt for a cruelty-free caterer, one the works in close proximity to the venue would be ideal. This ensures your wedding has a decreased carbon footprint. Serve vegan alcohol. There are a variety of vegan wines available in South Africa, along with other spirits for when the party get started. For other ways to go green, read here.

 

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A post shared by Jan Harmsgat Country House (@jhgcountryhouse) on May 8, 2020 at 1:55am PDT

3. Before your wedding day, take the bridal party on a charitable outing

Yes the pre-wedding build up is always an eventful time. We aren’t suggesting cancelling your boozy bachelorette or bachelors. Rather, get both the parties involved for a day of doing good. Help out at a soup kitchen, work in a community garden or help out at an animal shelter for one day before the wedding. It’s a brilliant way for everyone to bond and spend some quality time together before the big day.

 

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The most vulnerable communities across Cape Town are still largely dependent on us during these difficult times. With over 120 primary beneficiaries and many more secondary beneficiaries being supported, we still need your support to sustain this. You can make a difference in somebody’s life by donating R150 now. This will feed someone for a month with nutritious soup and sandwiches. We are also collecting jerseys, beanies, jackets, scarves and blankets at our various depots across Cape Town. Head to our biolink now and choose: DONATE NOW to donate R150 to feed someone every day for a month or JOIN THE SANDWICH DRIVE to donate food or winter clothing #ctloved #ladlesoflove #humanityinaction #winter #giveback #donate #inthistogether #strongertogether #salockdown #foodislove #changetheCOVID19story #wecare #donatewinterclothes #fooddrive #charity #showlove #spreadlove #createchange #dosomething #takeaction #helpothers

A post shared by Ladles Of Love (@ladlesoflove) on Jul 1, 2020 at 1:02am PDT

4. Swap favours for plants

Rather than handing out thank-you favours at the end of your wedding, send everyone home with a plant. Succulents make for excellent parting gifts. They are so easy to grow and require very little maintenance. These plants are brilliant for the environment because they don’t need that much water to survive. Succulents such as the desert rose, spekboom, jade plant, jelly bean plant, zebra plant, Echeveria ‘Raindrops’ and Aeonium haworthii ‘Tricolor’­­­­­­ are all examples of hassle-free plants.

 

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A post shared by Suculentas E Terrários ? (@suculentasgram) on Jun 29, 2020 at 6:44am PDT

5. Ensure your vendors source locally and ethically

You’re going to be throwing a lot of money into your wedding day, make sure it lines the pockets of those who really need it rather than a massive corporate that doesn’t really need the sale. By selecting vendors who source locally and ethically, you’ll be helping to build a small business. In South Africa there are so many creative entrepreneurs who are overlooked for the larger companies. Choose your vendors wisely and take some extra time to see what else is out there.

Image: Unsplash

Morocco is filled with a rich culture dating back many years. Their wedding traditions incorporate their culture’s morals and values and are quite elaborate occasions.

A traditional Moroccan wedding can last up to seven days, as it includes several ceremonies that occur prior to the actual wedding. Music, dancing, outfit changes, customs, and traditions all play a huge role in Moroccan weddings.

Here are some of the ongoings of a Moroccan marriage:

Drib Sdak 

In Morocco, the actual marriage happens before the celebration, in a ceremony called the Drib Sdak. At this small ceremony, the couple sign the marriage contract with their family members present as witnesses. They are also accompanied by an Adoul (a notary).

Hammam 

A few days before the celebration, the bride undergoes a process of purification. The bride gathers all the women in her life, who accompany her to the hammam (public bath or additional sauna). She will get her hair washed with ghassoul (a type of clay) and be pampered with a massage, waxing, and more. This lasts a full day.

Moroccans also take part in a version of the Henna party, most popularly celebrated by Hindu people. The Henna party happens the day after the Hammam.

The beginning of the real celebration

The third day is when all the efforts of the pre-wedding occasions come together.

Guests and the wedding party gather at the wedding venue. Thereafter the groom arrives with his family. The last to arrive is the bride, who is escorted in an amaria (a roofed platform carried by a few men).

During the festivities 

Once the bride exits the amaria, she will sit on an elevated couch with her new partner and guests will be allowed to come take pictures with the pair.

Just before the meal is served, the bride often changes into a second outfit. After dinner and some dancing, the bride will change her clothing again. This time, into an outfit called the “Labssa Fassia”. The groom also changes into more traditional clothing (from his wedding suit).

One last change of clothes happens before the cutting of the cake and the last dance.

Parade 

After the festivities, the newlyweds leave the venue in a car parade. They will stop at various locations along with their route home, to capture some photographs.

Once they arrive at the groom’s home, his mother will welcome the couple with milk and dates.

Feature image: Unsplash