How can we raise money for a charity at our wedding??

I don't know about raising money per say, but I know a lot of people give donations to the charity as their favors...

I think the only two ways you can do this are giving to the charity instead of favours, and then leaving a card at each persons place telling about the charity and why you donated. The other thing you could POSSIBLY do is asking for people to donate rather than buy you gifts, but that could come off badly to some people, because your not even really supposed to be expecting gifts, and some won't like being told what to put their money too.

Your wedding and reception are meant to celebrate the start of your life together as husband and wife, not to raise funds for a charity. I wouldn't do it.

If you want people to donate to the charity, I'd include the information on your wedding website, and ask people to make donations to the charity instead of purchasing a gift! But asking them to make a donation after they have already given you a gift comes across as greedy... Even though you aren't the ones benefiting from the donations.

I've heard of couples making a donation instead of giving out favors, and giving the guests a note saying that a donation to XYZ organization has been made in their (the guests) name, but then you can run into the issue of someone being completely against that organization and being upset that their name is now associated with a group they don't support.

Some couples do dollar dances to get some extra money toward their honeymoon. You could use the dollar dance to raise money for the charity and let people know your plans ahead of time. That way, they don't have to contribute, but it's something fun to raise money!

I think Alina put it pretty well. There are probably ways you can set up a cash registry and word what it is for. If you do this option I would say do it instead of registering for physical gifts.

I think the idea is noble but I don't think your wedding is the time or place. Guests might feel awkward or obligated and you really just want people to relax, have a good time, and celebrate your marriage.

I would just quietly take a percentage of whatever cash gifts you get and donate that on your own time, if the cause is very important to you. Anything else comes off a little showy IMO, even though the intentions are good.

We had two kissing games, one of which was that a guest would have to donate to our charity in order for us to kiss. We kept a small white box on our sweetheart table and people would come up to give money and we'd kiss. We raised $170 and we matched the donations and gave the money to our charity.

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Your wedding is not a fund raiser. It's not a Beef & Beer. Posting anything on your website assumes you will receive gifts when gifts either in cash form or something from your registry is the pink elephant in the room that is never discussed. Doing so, imho, is bad manners. The only time gifts are discussed is for your bridal shower.

While I think making a donation to a charity is a good thing, charity is something that should be done in private. I would quietly donate a % of or ALL of your cash gifts to your fave charity. I think the best donations are those made between the charity, the good Lord & yourself. Sharing largesse is grand standing, imho. If you are a believer in Christ, to paraphrase a passage in the New Testament, Matthew 6:3, to be specific, '....never let the right hand know what the left hand is doing."

I have also never been a fan of the "in lieu of favors, we are sending X dollars to X charity". My thoughts, give your guests the favor and cut the money from another portion of your budget. If one is choosing something generous, it should come from their own sacrifice.

Again, this is just mho. No judgement on those who choose to do these things.

We purchased favors from places that donated to charities. So we can give our guests a favor and support a charity. At the same time... you could put something on a tag saying where they came from and if they would like to get involved give a link.

For example: Seashell Chocolate. Proceeds went to help the endangered seahorses.

We wanted to do coffee favors too. There is this cool place called Three Avacados and the proceeds go to help give clean water to people.

Personally I think that if you wanted people to donate to the charity *instead* of getting you gifts, great! Put it on your website.

Charity donation for favors instead of actualy favors - neh.

Requesting donations at the wedding on top of gifts and already being there - tacky.

I'm with Kris and Carole on this...not a good idea. As a guest, I wouldn't want to feel obligated to donate...

MSP....Your favors are perfect! It fits with your theme, guests get fabulous chocolate AND a charity that is even theme related benefits.

MSP - Your idea is fabulous! Best of both worlds.

Thinking...thinking...too many good ideas from you guys!