How much for Donation favors

Marissadavis21

So we're thinking about doing a charity donation as our favors. How much is it reasonal to donate in the name of your 125 guest? Is there an amount per guest that is most common?

christinelyn0131

We're inviting 46 people, so we're thinking of donating $46. I know it's not a lot, but that's what we would have spent on favors if we had done them.

trix1223

Donations are not favors.

Make your donation.  I believe in donations.  I make them myself.  I think they're a good thing to do.

But don't pretend that they're a favor to your guests.  Because they're not.  They're a favor to the organization, and to you.  You're taking the money you'd spend on a little something for your guests and giving it to someone else.  How do you figure that's a favor for your guests?

Honestly, I don't need a favor.  I don't really want a favor.  You're already giving me food, drinks, entertainment.  I don't need a matchbook or m&ms (although I LOVE m&ms) as a thank you.

But please don't in any, way, shape or form think that giving $$ to a charity is somehow doing something for me.

I'd liken it to a guest coming to your wedding and giving you a card that says "In honor of your marriage, I have given a donation to the "eastern micronesia tsunami prevention fund".  It may be important to your guest, but it probably doesn't mean anything to you.  So it's not really a gift for you, is it?

arv266

Agree completely and totally with PP.  Take whatever money you would have used on favors and donate it to charity.  Do this without the need of leaving a note on the table or a sign by the guest book.  Telling your family and friends that you have made a donation in lieu of a favor is just tacky.  The act of telling of a good deed is terribly pretentious. 

The only time that I have seen a donation in LIEU of flowers done with class was a co-workers wedding.  Instead of flowers, the bride and groom, decorated their reception hall with new books.  The centerpieces were huge stacks of books.  They left no notes or signs... word of mouth let the guest know that in lieu of flowers, that would be thrown out at the end of the night, the bride and groom (who are teachers) bought books, which would be donated to their school library.  No favors at that wedding, but a lot of class.

Simply Fated

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_much-donation-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:c467df41-0c3a-49dc-aa7d-bd69bf7d547fPost:50396aff-e8fd-452a-864b-5a14ced55212">How much for Donation favors</a>:
[QUOTE]So we're thinking about doing a charity donation as our favors. <strong>How much is it reasonal to donate in the name of your 125 guest?</strong> Is there an amount per guest that is most common?
Posted by Marissadavis21[/QUOTE]
If it's a charity I don't agree with, I'd want the bride and groom to donate $0 in my name.
Charity donations are complicated and it can be offensive to some guests.
You're better off buying some M&M's or other little candies, dumping them in a pretty little gauze bags and giving those out. For $125 you can do this easily.

tldh

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_much-donation-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:27Discussion:c467df41-0c3a-49dc-aa7d-bd69bf7d547fPost:79b01377-f89b-4f3e-8e00-98d3b271a23d">Re: How much for Donation favors</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to How much for Donation favors : If it's a charity I don't agree with, I'd want the bride and groom to donate $0 in my name. Charity donations are complicated and it can be offensive to some guests. You're better off buying some M&M's or other little candies, dumping them in a pretty little gauze bags and giving those out. For $125 you can do this easily.
Posted by Simply Fated[/QUOTE]

Ditto.  Not everyone is going to support what you think is a good cause.  Donation "favors" (and I use that term loosely) come off as really preachy and arrogant.

Lisa8888

Favors are not required and I don't think donations are a good idea.

blueeyedwonder4

I had the same dilemma in regards to a donation "favor".  I refuse to spend money on crap that will either get thrown away or left at the table.  Furthermore, I do not think that a favor is required.  Hence I want to spend my money on something that is useful and will help out someone else.  Since my fiance and I feel strongly about our organization of choice, we are going to make a donation.  However, we are just going to forgo any mention that we did make a donation in lieu of a favor.  Our parents and bridal party all know about our decision, so I guess if any guest asks about favors, someone can let the individual know.