I don't know about you, but I have a drawer full of items I've taken home from weddings. I have satchels of potpourri (some of which I helped put together), tiny picture frames, and fragrant votive candles. Notice I didn't mention candy -- that was gone before I left the reception!
Now, let's say your wedding favor of choice costs $2 each (or adjust as you see fit, you high roller!). Imagine you invite 200 guests. That's $400 worth of tchotchkes that will ultimately end up either a) in someone's sock drawer, b) on a dusty shelf, or c) in my tummy.
When I started looking at wedding favors, I realized I could make a bigger impact with the amount I would be spending by donating it to a charity rather than giving each guest something they may or may not throw in the trash.
I'm not saying that favors are overall a bad idea -- they're traditional, and I'm sure a lot of people get a big kick out of seeing what they get. For me, however, this was personal. I don't have a ton of spare cash, but I have a few causes about which I'm really passionate. I decided to make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of my Grandma Sara, who has Alzheimer's disease and therefore was unable to come to my wedding.
We placed an envelope at each guest's seat, explaining that in lieu of favors, we had made this donation. I had a picture of my grandmother set up near the gift table, so those guest who were not familiar with her situation understood why this particular charity was important to us.
If you have a particular cause about which you feel really strongly, this is a great way to support it as you celebrate a milestone in your life. I felt great knowing I'd used my wedding for some good other than my own happiness, and I got a lot of positive feedback from my guests as well.
What's in a name?
Dress of the day: Anastasia by Maggie Sottero
Unusual wedding cakes from Dragons and Daffodils
