Bonjour mes amis,
Have you heard of the couple who canceled their traditional wedding and decided go give back to the community instead? Giving back is essential in all you do. Whether in your personal life, or your business. Most specifically, did you know you can also give back on one of the most important day of your life? Yes, while planning the perfect wedding,you can take the focus away from you just for a second and find a way to support a cause and do some good. Whether or not you are having an elaborate, over the top wedding, giving back could be as small as donating your flowers to your local nursing home. Another way you can give back is by selecting vendors whom already support a great cause and give back to the community. Where do you find such vendors you may ask? We are proud to be a part of a wonderful community of vendors on Black Sheep Bride, which focuses on promoting products, vendors, causes that help make a difference locally and globally.
Let me introduce the amazing Danielle, the owner of Black Sheep Bride, to learn more and give you a bit more insight on how to have a wedding that gives back.
Tell us a little bit about your company and what you stand for.
Black Sheep Bride is an online wedding publication dedicated to weddings that give back. We connect newly engaged couples across the nation with vendors, products and causes that help the greater good locally and globally.
What sparked your interest in starting the Black Sheep Bride?
My heart has always been pulled to help in non-profit work overseas. When I was 19 I lived in South Africa for 3 months teaching in the squatter camps and from that time on… I knew I wouldn’t sit back and live a safe, comfortable, American Dream type of lifestyle. Fast Forward 10 years later, I’m married, have 2 beautiful boys, on the board of 2 non-profits and my own business, in wedding photography business. I was given the opportunity to travel to West Africa a few years ago and my heart was shattered by the huge need I witnessed while I was there… I came home with a heavy heart and a busy wedding season schedule and felt like I was living in two different world… 1- Passionate for the hurting and helping others and 1- Capturing lavish excessive wedding celebrations, full of waste and unnecessary spending… I was ready to close our business, until I thought… maybe there was a way to connect the two.. and the more I shared my idea with my other vendor peers.. the more I saw a need.. A need to show the wedding industry there was a way to ‘marry’ these two worlds together. 🙂
What do you wish all your couples knew about giving back, big or small?
I want all couples to understand one thing about giving back: Its really easy to help others. Maybe you donate your left over food or flowers to a local charity or maybe you take it a step further and only invest in vendors that give back to the community… in any case… even the smallest effort to help goes a long way.
These cookies give back to cancer kids
How can a wedding industry vendor join the movement?
To Join the Black Sheep Bride Vendor Community is pretty easy. As we ignite the industry and educate them on ways they can start giving… We ask vendors to pledge 10% of their Time, Product or Profits to a 501c3 Approved non-profit each year. We also have a small membership commitment that assists us in furthering the vision and educating the nation of brides of ways to help others!
Do you have vendors in all states?
We have e-commerce vendors in every state, and service-based vendors in over half the nation right now. 🙂
What are your ultimate goals with Black Sheep Bride?
Ultimately we want to change the culture of wedding planning globally… Ignite a movement of brides actively/consciously considering their wedding consumerism and how it can help others. We also hope to encourage vendors to see the value in sustainability and responsibility within their businesses so they can do more with their talents.
If you would like to find local vendors in your area whom give back to the community, while creating the perfect wedding for you, take a look at the BSB list and select your state.
At Pea to Tree Events we take pride in giving back with every wedding booked in the Tampa Bay, Miami area, so being part of a community where making a difference in the world, in small ways or another, is very important to us. In booking us, we will take our time to passionately help make your day perfect, as you help us help someone in need. Together, one step at a time we can make a difference in our community. Contact us for a free consultation!
[…] be part of a wonderful community of wedding professionals that give back. We’ve highlighted Black Sheep Bride a while back, so take a look at what they stand […]