By: Jason Kazarian

When Marissa Eddings and Charles Salmon planned their wedding at the Meadows Museum in May 2025, they knew they wanted the day to reflect more than just their love for each other — they wanted it to reflect their shared commitment to service. 

Instead of creating a traditional gift registry, the couple invited their family and friends to make a gift to the American Red Cross North Texas Region, a gesture that transformed their wedding into a celebration that rippled far beyond the walls of the museum. 

Eddings, who began her Red Cross journey through Leadership Dallas, has served on the Young Professionals Advisory Board Biomedical Committee and even hosted a blood drive. Salmon, a Navy veteran, has personally experienced the impact of Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces and continues to give back as a regular blood donor. Together, their lives have been shaped by the Red Cross in deeply personal ways. 

The wedding itself was intimate, with invitations that included a simple QR code linking to the Red Cross donation page. The idea was Eddings’, and Salmon quickly agreed. 

“People who witness major life events want to contribute somehow,” Eddings shared. “If you say, ‘no gifts,’ people still want to give something. This was a meaningful way to redirect the generosity towards a cause that matters to us.” 

Salmon added, “We have more than we need. There are people in the world who don’t.”  

That perspective turned a day of personal joy into a gift for the community. Guests who might have otherwise purchased household items instead supported a mission that provides disaster relief, blood services, and support to military families. By the end of the celebration, the couple had raised $1,700 for the Red Cross and their guests left with a deeper understanding of the organization’s lifesaving work. 

Today, Salmon continues to roll up his sleeve to donate blood, and Eddings is now an active leader on the Dallas Fort Worth Metro East Chapter Board. Their marriage is not only a love story, but also a commitment to service, proof that the most meaningful celebrations are the ones that give back.