Plan Canada's Gifts of Hope make real differences in the lives of children and families in developing countries. They provide water, food, income, education and health care. And you can make them part of your wedding in three ways: wedding favours, gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen, or wedding gifts for you. Favour your guests with a Gift of Hope. Make your wedding day even more meaningful.

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Your wedding day is quickly approaching. The hall is booked, the dress is hanging in your closet, the guest list is in final approvals stage. Just a few things remain to be checked off your to-do list. One of those items includes gift registry.

You know bridal gifts are part of the tradition of weddings. Guests want to buy unique and special bridal gifts for you. But you and your fianc? don't need anything. You're not recent college grads, you're both established in your lives, you have a blender, an electric mixer, a coffee-pot, wine glasses, dishes, linens ? you have everything you need.

What if you could ask your guests to buy you bridal gifts that could actually go to people who do need them? What if your bridal gifts could change the lives of children, of girls, of families? They can.

They're called Gifts of Hope. They are bridal gifts that bring real change to the lives of real children and their families. They're all found in Plan Canada's Gifts of Hope catalogue.

It works like this. You let your guest choose a gift that resonates with them. Let's say they choose a goat, which costs $75. They buy the gift on your behalf. Across the world, in Bangladesh, a family receives that goat. The milk it provides brings essential proteins and nutrients, improving the health of the children and the adults in the family. The milk can also mean income: extra milk is sold to others in the community. The income means money for education and healthcare. Which in turn means hope for a better future, one that brings with it choices, and opportunities.

All of that from one wedding gift. Imagine the kind of change wedding gifts from 25 or 50 or 100 wedding guests would bring.

How do you let your guests know you'd prefer a Gift of Hope over a traditional bridal gift?

Plan Canada has downloadable notification cards to enclose with your wedding invitation, which include a link to the Gifts of Hope catalogue on Plan's website.

You can also simply tell people. Anytime someone asks you for wedding gift ideas, tell them you've decided your kitchen cupboards can't handle another dish and your linen closet is already in need of some reorganizing. Tell them you and your fianc? have decided you'd like a Gift of Hope. Tell them you love the idea of receiving gifts that will really change lives. Tell them you'd like your wedding day to be the beginning of something truly wonderful not just for you, but for children in another part of the world.

Choose Gifts of Hope for your wedding gifts and choose to give your day even more meaning.

Visit Plancanada to browse through the Gifts of Hope catalogue and buy a gift today.