In lieu of giving out traditional wedding favors, a Scottish bride asked her guests to donate blood. This strange request was made in honor of her grandmother, who would not have survived to see her granddaughter’s wedding without the help of blood donors.

Clarie Ralph and Ian McKensie were married in St Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley, Scotland. At their wedding reception, they passed out “Give Blood” wedding favors and the new groom spoke about where to give blood in his speech.

While blood donor levels in Scotland are the lowest they hav been in years, Claire’s grandmother Margaret Smith needed her leg amputated above the knee. She required three pints of blood after the surgery, which was available thanks to previous blood donors.

Claire and Ian are very grateful that her grandmother could share in their wedding day. They chose to bring awareness to this topic, so that other happy couples can have more of their family together on this special occasion.

If you have a special cause that is near and dear to your heart, consider bringing attention to it on your wedding day. Many couples choose to have donations made to their favorite charity in lieu of gifts. You could even have a green wedding theme to highlight your concern about the environment.

This young Scottish couple were not afraid to let their wedding guests know what was important to them. Choose your own important cause, and go for it! Your friends and family will have a new appreciation of what matters to the two of you, as a couple.