Open Question: Charity Favors

Open Question: Charity Favors

September 13th, 2006 @ 11:30 am by Open Question

I have been having a really tough time coming up with an idea for favors for my October reception. Personally, I don’t “get” the whole favor idea. This isn’t something that was a big deal where I grew up. I always figured that feeding my guests a nice meal and throwing a big party showed my appreciation for their involvement in my happy day - that makes me sound like a curmudgeon doesn’t it?

With that said, I did decide that it is an accepted practice these days and that some people might be expecting something. I finally found something that makes me happy to give to my guests! Charity favors!

I found a website that helps organize the whole thing. You sign up and tell them either how much per guest or give them one lump sum and they will provide cards that show what charity you have donated to in honor of their attendance as well as make the donation to the charity for you. They have a list of charities to chose from or you can submit your own. The website is the I Do Foundation.

You can also register on the website if you wish to have guests donate to a charity rather than buy you a gift.

My aunt was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in October of last year - so the organization was an easy choice for me. Since my dad’s family (it’s his sister) will make up 95% of the guest list, I know that it will be a welcomed favor

Has anyone else done charity favors? Does anyone have any feedback from guests on them?

Michelle

Tags: advice, charity, favors |

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6 Responses to “Open Question: Charity Favors”

Guest

tha

Thank you - My FI and I are thinking of the same for our wedding - didn’t get a chance to look for a org but this will help a lot.

9/13/06 @ 12:11 pm (reply)

Guest

Jenny

I think charity favors are a great idea. I think that favors are sometimes hokey, especially if the right thought hasn’t been put into them and how cool or useful they should/could be. I’ve been to weddings where the favors were wedding cake candles (not even scented), the place card holders … you get the idea. Charity are most selfless thing a couple can do for their guests. I can’t think of a single person who would dare say they’d rather have the flower placecard holder.

9/13/06 @ 12:15 pm (reply)

Guest

We were planning on a charity donation as a favor also…does this site make any money off the donation? like taking a percentage of the donation or a flat fee for using their website to do the donation?

9/13/06 @ 12:17 pm (reply)

Guest

Lou

We’re doing charity favors. I simply put on the back of the program “In lieu of favors donations have been made to …” We’re not going through any middle organization, we’re just writing checks to the charities.

9/13/06 @ 2:37 pm (reply)

Guest

At the last wedding I attended there was a charity donation made in leiu of favors. The grooms mom died a few years ago of a heart attack (or something tragic) so the donation was to the american heart association. everyone at the reception knew and when people unrolled their scrolls on their plates - there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
I also think it’s a great idea because, seriously, I can’t even count the number of favors that have gotten lost/thrown away/or just hang in a drawer to never be used again. Go with the charity donation - everyone will win.

9/13/06 @ 5:05 pm (reply)

Guest

kanipark

great idea… most of the time guest just leave the gifts anyway.

9/13/06 @ 8:35 pm (reply)