A northwest suburban couple started embracing the holiday spirit early this year, using their Christmas-themed wedding as an opportunity to collect toys for charity.
On Saturday, 34-year-old Dana Guardyak and 40-year-old Mark Katz reportedly wed in front of nearly roughly 85 friends and family members surrounded by decorated Christmas trees, stockings and a bundle of toys.
Instead of asking for wedding gifts, like the usual pots, pans and other home goods, guests at the McHenry County wedding were instead told to bring toys for the Salvation Army, the Northwest Herald reports.
The couple, whose reception was held at the Park Place Banquet Facility in Crystal Lake, reportedly said the typical wedding gifts seemed "unncessary" as they have an 8-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter and already live together in a home.
Guardyak told the Northwest Herald, she thought the wedding would be a good opportunity for them to “do something big” and “embody the spirit of Christmas.”
The toys were reportedly collected in boxes specially-designed to fit their red, green and silver color scheme and were picked up by Salvation Army representatives after the event. They were then taken to the organization’s community center for the annual Toyland toy shop.
A Salvation Army spokeswoman said the grand gesture was one she had never seen before.
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“I mean, what a gift they are giving to so many people,” spokeswoman Linda West told the paper. “They’re reaching so many on their special day and really putting the needs of the community first.”
