There’s a beautiful new trend in the wedding world- using your special day to give back to others. The average couple spends between $150-$300 on wedding favors for their guests. It’s a kind gesture, which shows guests that you are thankful for their presence at your wedding, and their friendship. However, most wedding favors are not long-lasting gifts… Although the chocolate covered almonds may taste good on the drive home from the reception, there’s a new trend in how to spend your wedding-favor budget, donating the money to charity!
Allow guests to enjoy all the food and drink they want at your wedding reception, knowing that the reception is the real thank you for their attendance at your ceremony. Let guests know that in leui of wedding favors, you will be donating the budgeted money for wedding favors to a certain charity.
It is important to choose a charity near to the hearts of you as a couple, because it will mean more to the guests at your wedding. Choose a charity you have been involved with, or one that will let you give in memory of a certain family member or friend. Write a note that in lieu of wedding favors a donation is being made to the charity. Place the note on the back of the table cards, or in the program. Some organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, even allow couples to purchase scrolls that recognize their guests as donors. These can be seen, here.
If you can’t choose between two or three charities, allow guests to place a small “token” in labeled jars to represent which charity they want their portion of the donation to go to; or simply check a box on the back of the donation cards at the tables.
Happy Planning!
Christy
