AisleDash

Here at Aisledash, a couple of posts have been written about donating to a charitable cause in lieu of giving guests a favor to take home. I wrote about how I made a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of my grandmother, and Heather gave some great tips on how to select a charity and made the suggestion of purchasing donation favors from the charity.

I thought these were really nice things, but over at Manolo for the Bride, a heavy debate has been ongoing since the end of January about whether giving a donation is offensive. The post asks readers not to give a charitable donation for the guests -- that "people should be allowed to choose their own charities. I don't care who you give it to, you're going to at least annoy and possibly offend someone. ... Go ahead and give to the charity of your choice. Just don't try to tell me that's my party favor, because it isn't."'

Let me first point out that the money, at least in my case, wasn't given "in honor of my guests." It was given in honor of someone many of my guests knew and loved (or at least knew that I loved), and if someone were to be offended by that, I wouldn't need them at my wedding. And in most cases, the couple has a personal reason for choosing a particular charity, and it seems like those who care enough to be at the wedding would appreciate that fact.

I'm steamed -- as are tons of other people, as you'll see if you pop over there and read the comments. I'm curious what the Aisledash readers think -- is giving to a charity instead of giving cheap favors selfish and offensive or an honorable gesture?