Who doesn’t love a bit of community spirit! Whether it’s getting involved with a local sporting event or purchasing something handcrafted by someone you personally know and love, we all get that feel-good feeling by supporting local!

So why not create a wedding full to the brim with community spirit? It will not only turn you into a friendly neighbourhood saint, but it will do some good for our planet too!

Here are 10 ways you can create some good old-fashioned community spirit at your wedding;

1. Choose something homemade and nostalgic to offer your guests as they arrive at the ceremony! One of my favourite examples of this was when one of my couples served their guests homemade lemonade and Anzac cookies as everyone mingled before the wedding started. There’s nothing like a bit of home cooking to make you feel welcomed and loved!

2. Find suppliers that are local to your area. Photographers who live nearby will know all the great shooting locations super close to your venue. Local caterers mean fresher food! By booking your friendly neighbourhood celebrant, you’ll know they’re not going to be delayed with flights or long commutes. It will bring peace of mind and a strong sense of community if you find vendors who know the area well. And bonus, you will have reduced a large portion of your wedding travel miles.

3. Why not do a bit of research and find out who the original custodians of the land were in your ceremony area, and pay tribute to them with an acknowledgement to the country! It will really add a nice touch of gratitude and appreciation, too, to your ceremony.

4. A personal favourite for adding some community spirit to the big day is to ask everyone to help pitch in with the desserts! I am a firm believer that many cakes are better than one. So if you love the idea of your guests raving about your Auntie’s incredible lemon meringue and your friend Sally’s Marsbar slice, you can pop this request in with your invites and it offers a nice alternative to your standard ‘wedding wishing well’. We’ve even seen home catered weddings where everyone pitches in to clean up!

5. Instead of a boozy hen’s night, how about a boozy crafting/wedding prep gathering? It’s a nurturing and nostalgic way to pass the time, sitting in a circle, whilst creating together, gossiping, and getting wedding-ready!

6. Book in your favourite local pub or cafe for a cheeky after-party or recovery breakfast. This is an easy way to give everyone you love a taste of what it’s like to live in your hood!

7. Not really hosting a backyard wedding or a shindig close to home, but still want to add that sense of community? Hire a coach or minivan to take your guests to and from the wedding! No one would mind chipping in for this great service, so it doesn’t need to be an extra cost to you both, so jump on board! The laughs, the music and the natural camaraderie that happens on these party buses will have everyone arriving in a great mood, all on time, and your wedding footprint will love you for it!

8. Ask for handmade, second-hand gifts or experience gifts. For example; an IOU for a home-cooked meal, or babysitting for a night out without the kids. Not only does it help us avoid getting sucked into the consumerist cycle, but we get to receive gifts that are filled with so much more love and lifelong memories.

9. Kids can create chaos and mess! But they are also the best at creating a sense of community. Invite them and hire a nanny, or indulge in a jumping castle, or even storytellers to make everyone’s job easier.

10. What to do with all your decorations after the day? Create a community wedding box that can be passed along within your local area, like the amazing initiative hosted by Marrickville Pass it Forward! And your flowers…why not put aside some time the next day to play Santa, and gift them to your local community service or nursing home? Fun!

This backyard wedding featuring Julia Handford as celebrant was photographed by Shot from the Heart.

Originally shared on Mindfully Wed, this story is now part of Polka Dot Wedding. Find out more about the move here.

About the Author: Julia Handford was the founder of Julia’s Celebrant Agency, a website dedicated to helping couples find the best Melbourne celebrants for their wedding day. Through her platform, couples could instantly see which celebrants were available and excited to be part of their wedding. Each profile featured transparent fees and inclusions, making the search process easy and free from surprises. Julia also produced more than 20 video interviews, showcasing each celebrant’s personality and style, and making it even simpler for couples to find their perfect match!