One of my clients was having a terrible time finding a dress that she loved.  She literally had been everywhere in the city, and nothing seemed quite right. Finally, she found herself at The Bridal Garden, and not only did she find the dress, she could not stop raving about the experience that she had there.

The Bridal Garden is an amazing and unique not-for-profit wedding boutique that sells couture and designer gowns for up to 75% off of the retail price.  Most of their collection are donated samples from top designers like Anne Barge, Ulla-Maija, Lazaro and more.  Because they are largely samples, they truly carry unique items!  Additionally, they accept donations from individuals like you or I, so your dress can go on and give some other bride an amazing night!

So, where does the money go?  The Bridal Garden supports underpriveliged children in New York City. Since their inception in 1998 they have supported day care services, Early Childhoold learning centers and more.  Currently, they are supporting the Brooklyn Charter School, which services children in Bed-Stuy and whose mission is to provide a path to academic excellence for their students.  A bridal gown shop that helps kids in Brooklyn do well in school?  How have I not posted on this sooner!?  It’s completely up my alley.

One of my most popular posts here was about charitable donations in lieu of favors.   I’m not a fan of spending a ton of money on favors, and generally suggest edible items vs. a knick nack (there, I said it… Beau Coup can send me hate mail now :-)) or, my personal favorite, a charitable donation in lieu of a favor.  So, I was tickled when I got a packet from Hot Break Kitchen, a non-profit based in Brooklyn that teaches immigrant women the skills they need to work in and with New York city’s vast baking industry (I didn’t know we had a vast baking industry, but, turns out we do). Hot Bread Kitchen is more than a bakery that employs women, it is a teaching center where women learn to not only bake various kinds of goods, but receive ESL training as well.  AND, even cooler, if you are looking for an amazing Tortilla, or that Ghanian bread your great grandma made or Lavash chips to nash on, they have them. They specialize in teaching baking techniques from global cultures.   And they are tasty too!

Should you opt to make a donation in lieu of a favor, they will send you these very cool donation cards (printed on Recycled paper).

The Q: Tis’ the season for political everything, right?  Well, here’s my question and I hope you can provide me with the etiquette (if it exists!) on this one. My best friend is getting married in late October and I am her Maid of Honor.  She is a friend of mine from Junior High school and we have stayed friends for all these years!  We’ve been through it all together and we truly are the closest of friends.  The one glitch has always been our political beliefs.  I don’t feel like I need to go into who believes what here but my friend is EXTREMELY political. This is all neither here nor there except that she is so embroiled in the current presidential election that she has decided to ask guests to contribute to her candidates campaign instead of buying gifts.  To me, this idea is CRAZY.  I’ve heard of asking guests to contribute to various causes instead of buying gifts but this is not the same thing.  She hasn’t sent out the official invitations yet (save-the-dates have gone out) so nobody knows about this preposterous plan but me and her fiance.  While she does have some friends from work who would hop right on board with this plan, there are many of her older friends from school who would be outraged. I’m one of them!  I love her to pieces but I don’t know what to do.  How do I tell her what a disasterous plan this is?

The A: Well, first of all, I have to tell you that I’m concerned about the timing of her mailing out her invites- she’s cutting it a little close. But, that obviously is not why you are writing.

Your instincts are correct- this is NOT appropriate. It used to be common knowledge that politics and religion were two topics that weren’t meant for polite conversation and I would say that is no more true than at a wedding. There are few people who are bigger political junkies than us gals here at Always a Blogsmaid, but weddings aren’t the place for politics, Wolf Blitzer’s Situation Room is.
Not only should your friend not bring up politics at her wedding, it is downright unreasonable and offensive to ask for guests to support your political views simply because she is getting married. And a donation certainly speaks as a sign of support. She clearly is passionate about her politics and perhaps doesn’t realize that other people may not take kindly to her request. You, as MOH, sadly have the duty of telling her. Try not to tell her about how you feel, but let her know that people may be very offended. Talk to the groom as well.
Explain to her that it isn’t just a political thing. We’ve seen guests take offense to donation requests or donations in lieu of favors made to organizations they didn’t agree with! So you can imagine the response to a political request. Anyway, tread carefully and don’t forget to vote!