Joelle and Ethan set up an alternative gift registry for their wedding.  Here they share how they told their guests:

The registry gave us a place to talk about how much we'd welcome nonmaterial gifts. We wrote:

"Please find below a registry for some of the gifts we'd most welcome. You'll see that some of these gifts won't come in boxes. It would be a gift to us if you:

* gave a donation to one of the organizations below or

* offset the climate impact of your travel to Waltham or

* helped us with a few household items (used or new) that we need or

* did something creative we haven't thought of yet or

* any combination of the above!

But needless to say, this is a celebration of love, not stuff. The greatest gift is your presence in our lives and at the main event on August 17; the rest is commentary!"

The Alternative Gift Registry also let us tell stories about each suggested gift, which was fun. For example:

"On his way to becoming a math teacher, Ethan taught in a wonderful summer program, the Breakthrough Collaborative (aka "Summerbridge"), which matches college students considering a career in education with middle school students from at-risk backgrounds in two dozen cities. First, click "Give Gift" at right. Then, donate here."

"Several years ago, Joelle took Ethan's spaghetti server with her to a Shabbat potluck, and it never returned. Help ensure that their marriage begins without any lingering shadow cast by this unfortunate episode! We'd love a replacement like this one ($12), either previously-loved if you've got an extra, or new."