Charity as wedding gift

Calzor_Suzay

I'm getting married in December and as part of this we wanted to have the gift list a charity donation split between 3 charities. We thought brilliant we can do this via say the Virgin Money Giving web page, trouble is the charities we have are all fairly small and localised so not on there site and it's about £100 to get them added which kind of defeats the object :mad:

What can we do? We'd prefer a website and donations not passing through us for least amount of hassle etc

themull1

Are you just having a charity gift list or is there a choice of gift lists? Just if it was me, i wouldn't be happy giving to a charity, rather than the couple, if you know what i mean?

melancholly

no idea on your question (although you could ask for envelopes at the reception and then split all the cash/cheques?), but just wanted to say that we've certainly been to weddings that have had no gift list but picked a charity - we had absolutely no problem with that all at! (someone also had a list on oxfam so we bought a cow or something like that!). i'd imagine most people would have no problem at all!

Jackie47

When we got married 3 years ago, we didn't want gifts and just included details of our chosen charity - our local air ambulance which helped save my daughter's life - with the invitations. I didn't want people to feel obligated, it worked well for us.

Jackie

paddyrg

Also, if people give directly, they can gift-aid their donations. Perhaps ask the charities themselves how they would prefer to handle it?

Horace

local charities will give you gift aid forms if you ask for them. Maybe you could include these when you send your invitations along with a note saying that in lieu of presents you would want them to make a donation to charity.

easyhost

Calzor_Suzay wrote: »

I'm getting married in December and as part of this we wanted to have the gift list a charity donation split between 3 charities. We thought brilliant we can do this via say the Virgin Money Giving web page, trouble is the charities we have are all fairly small and localised so not on there site and it's about £100 to get them added which kind of defeats the object :mad:

What can we do? We'd prefer a website and donations not passing through us for least amount of hassle etc

set up a https://www.justgiving.com page it costs nothing to setup

Savvy_Sue

easyhost wrote: »

set up a https://www.justgiving.com page it costs nothing to setup

I think it costs the charity, both in set up fees and an ongoing monthly fee.

Having said that, we originally registered our charity with JustGiving (before Virgin was available) because a couple wanted to ask their wedding guests to make donations to us, and it very soon paid for itself!

OP, take a look at this article: some of the smaller charity giving sites don't charge charities to register. But the charity WILL have to register before you can set up a page for them, and basic checks will be carried out.

pleasedelete

Honestly if you don't want or need gifts just say no gifts. It will be much appreciated by guests. Then if they want to give to a charity they can. To say gift to charity can be worse for some peoplecas amounts given etc are usually visible.

I would love to go to a wedding where it said no gifts! When people have lived together as many have it always seems pointless to me. Tbe purpose was originally to help the new couple set up home. If you don't need that then you don't need gifts. To ask for charity says to me- hey look we are so well off that we don't need gifts but you guests who might not be in the same position can give to charity on our behalf.

Why not just have collection at the wedding and say no gifts.

I think it's great that you have looked beyond the commercial and are not wanting gifts but a bit off to then expect guests to give to a charity.

Calzor_Suzay

Thanks for the link Savvy_Sue very useful
We're expecting or asking for monies to a charity in lieu of gifts but people who want to we'd rather redirect the money to a worthy cause more personal to us than a bunch of glasses or a toaster etc

Joannag_2

Just wanted to say what a lovely thought - especially as it sounds like smaller local charities.
Hope you have a lovely wedding!