Favors
Donation Idea
in Favors
When my fiancé and I originally started talking about favors, we had read somewhere that people often do donations as favors. I thought that was a pretty cool gesture. Often times, favors are little trinkets people leave on the tables or throw away, if you try to save money in that area. It costs a lot to have "nice and useful" favors, from what I've seen. Anyways, I was wondering what people thought of this idea? Since we are both huge animal lovers and supporters of the SPCA, we thought it would be nice just to have a sign next to our candy bar stating that we donated to the Humane Society. We are having a candy bar, like I said, so people will be taking containers of candy home as well. I don't know if people will consider the candy bar option a favor or just a nice touch, but it won't be like people can't go home with anything at all. We are also doing matches, but that's because we got them dirt cheap, and they're just nice to have. Anyways, I have heard the negative and positive comments towards the favor donation idea, and I wanted to see if people thought it was rude? Maybe some of you think the candy bar is enough, and people won't think it's tacky at all to mention that we donated in lieu of "traditional" favors? I don't know what's right or wrong, so that's why I'm asking now. I'd appreciate your opinions. I'm open to anything, and would never want to do anything seen as tacky or rude.
Thank you!
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Re: Donation Idea
[QUOTE]When my fiancé and I originally started talking about favors, we had read somewhere that people often do donations as favors. I thought that was a pretty cool gesture. Often times, favors are little trinkets people leave on the tables or throw away, if you try to save money in that area. It costs a lot to have "nice and useful" favors, from what I've seen. Anyways, I was wondering what people thought of this idea? Since we are both huge animal lovers and supporters of the SPCA, we thought it would be nice just to have a sign next to our candy bar stating that we donated to the Humane Society. We are having a candy bar, like I said, so people will be taking containers of candy home as well. I don't know if people will consider the candy bar option a favor or just a nice touch, but it won't be like people can't go home with anything at all. We are also doing matches, but that's because we got them dirt cheap, and they're just nice to have. Anyways, I have heard the negative and positive comments towards the favor donation idea, and I wanted to see if people thought it was rude? Maybe some of you think the candy bar is enough, and people won't think it's tacky at all to mention that we donated in lieu of "traditional" favors? I don't know what's right or wrong, so that's why I'm asking now. I'd appreciate your opinions. I'm open to anything, and would never want to do anything seen as tacky or rude. Thank you!
Posted by KplusE2012[/QUOTE]
There might be some people who don't support your charity. These people might be offended that you took the money that would have gone to buy them a favor and donated it to a charity they don't approve of. You might like the charity, but the favors aren't for you, they're for the guests.
Charities and donations are a personal thing, there is no need to donate and then advertise that you donated instead of getting people wedding favors.
You can use the candy bar as a "traditional" favor. I'm all for breaking some traditions, but I don't feel that a donation favor is the right direction to go in. Stick with the candy bar, that's my advice.
FWIW, you can skip favors altogether. In general, most guests would rather receive a belly full of delicious food and memories of a good time (as a favor to take home) than be told, "We were going to give you something else, but we took the money and donated it to our charity, instead!"
Having said that, I have see people use donations as favors (in fact, I think my sister did it), and I wasn't offended in the least. Of all the charities you could choose, the Humane Society/SPCA is one that I think few people would have objection to.
[QUOTE] Of all the charities you could choose, the Humane Society/SPCA is one that I think few people would have objection to.
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]
Except there are quite a few who believe that if you are going to donate money, it should be to help humans first.
Bottom line OP is that donating money to a charity of your choice is a good thing, however, to brag about it is AWish and a favor is a gift to your guest. In this case, you would be taking a gift for one person and giving it to another. This is not an honor for your guest. If you really want donate part of your wedding budget to the SPCA, make your wedding gifts to eachother a donation or cut back on your flowers and take the donation from there.
AKA GoodLuckBear14
[QUOTE]<strong>In Response to Re: Donation Idea : Except there are quite a few who believe that if you are going to donate money, it should be to help humans first.</strong> Bottom line OP is that donating money to a charity of your choice is a good thing, however, to brag about it is AWish and a favor is a gift to your guest. In this case, you would be taking a gift for one person and giving it to another. This is not an honor for your guest. If you really want donate part of your wedding budget to the SPCA, make your wedding gifts to eachother a donation or cut back on your flowers and take the donation from there.
Posted by tldh[/QUOTE]
True, but at least it's not PETA or the ACLU or Pro-Life America. I would consider those to be far too controversial to be mentioned anywhere near a wedding. The Red Cross, SPCA, Susan G. Komen Society, and many others I can think of are much more "neutral", and while they may not be everyone's charity of choice, at least they aren't politcal hot-buttons.
Personally, I find all donation "favors" -- because they're not really a favor for me -- offensive. It's fine to skip favors, or to donate that money to your favorite charity, but when you tell me what a good person you are by having donated, I'm offended.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Donation Idea : True, but at least it's not PETA or the ACLU or Pro-Life America. I would consider those to be far too controversial to be mentioned anywhere near a wedding. The <strong>Red Cross, SPCA, Susan G. Komen Society</strong>, and many others I can think of are much more "neutral", and while they may not be everyone's charity of choice, at least they aren't politcal hot-buttons.
Posted by Avion22[/QUOTE]
Guess again. Some people have a problem with how The Red Cross responded to some recent disasters. SPCA we've already talked about. I am one of the many who hate Susan G. Komen foundation because only pennies out of every dollar goes to research. The rest goes to administration, advertising and attorneys. This is why I say donations should be kept a private matter.
AKA GoodLuckBear14
You can take the money you and your FI had budgeted for gifts for each other and donate that.
Don't announce your donation, especially using the "in the lieu of" wording. No one likes to be told what they're NOT getting. Of course, the candy would be their favor so that's not really an issue. I only mention it because it was brought up in the OP.
"So I sing a song of love, Julia"
06.10.10
BFAR:We Defined Our Own Success!
And my SIL did do this for her wedding, at her dad's discretion, and it did seem horribly AW-ish.