Donation in lieu of favors

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I think more people will find it sanctimonious than not, really. And let's say 90% find it nice, the 10% who are turned off by it will be VERY turned off.

OP - skip the whole idea, truthfully. You are making waaaaay more work than need be over.....favors. EIther offer up an commercial made edible favor or skip it. Your wedding should be......your wedding, not a donation factory dealing with charities.

View Quoted Comment If I were your guest I would want to know! Especially, if it is a charity that is important to you.

You are are surrounded by people who love you at your wedding and they want to know what you are passionate about! You shouldn’t feel ashamed to talk about it and tell people the name of the organization and why you selected it. No need to broadcast how much you gave them.

Also, many NGOs are doing really hard and thankless work in our communities and they appreciate any donation but they also appreciate the awareness you raise when you tell people about your support for them! You never know, one or more of your guests may decide to donate to them in the future because of you!

Maybe I have a hippy dippy group of friends but this is popular... and I’ve seen it done a few ways: (1) a notional in the wedding program, since the program has more space you may be able to tell more of your personal story with the group, (2) a picture frame on the bar, (3) a postcard from the bride and groom that came in the mail after the wedding, and (4) during the speeches and toasts the groom explained, but it also tied back to something personal in his thank you to the guests so it made sense.

If people think it’s sanctimious or bragadocious they are missing the point and they have a closed mind and a cold cold heart. don’t worry about the haters... you are doing good things!

I would love to know that you had done this! And even if it weren't a charity I would specifically have picked I would still be pleased, and probably look them up and see if I wanted to make a donation in your honor. And if it was one of the charities near and dear to me, like it sounds like with a lot of your guests it will be, it would mean SO much to me.

There are a couple of charities that I feel very strongly against, and if you had donated to one of them, and I thought you didn't know why it was problematic I would probably address it with you later (NOT on your wedding day), but I would still be happy you had done something meaningful to you, rather then burdened me with another small jar are gross candy or individually wrapped stale oreo.

In the effort of saving money I would say don't do an individual announcement for each person, but rather incorporate it in to something you were already printing, i.e. programs or menus. Or if there is no place like that, a framed note at the bar and/or seating chart.

We've got our top two charities listed on our registry as well, I do think a wedding can be about giving, its sharing love, and there is no better way to do that then helping someone else.

This is a no from me. I do a LOT of research when I make donations. Did you know that in the 2016 fiscal year the COO of the American Cancer Society made 1.3 million dollars? Some non-profits give as low as 3% of your donation to the actual cause. Would I say anything to the bride and groom? No. Since favors aren’t actually necessary, though, there’s no need to do anything “in lieu of” it.

View Quoted Comment Yes!!!!🙌🏼♥️

View Quoted Comment LOVE THIS. Yes yes yes!

FH and I are planning on doing the same thing - this thread has been helpful!! Go for it girl, and yes, I love the ideas of a little callout in the one of a few ways.