Do I need a gift table?

kittenkaboodle

So, here's the deal.  Almost all of our wedding guests will be flying in, only 5 couples will be local, and based on their personalities, only one might bring a gift to the wedding.  My concern is if we have a gift table it might sit empty and look sad.  We also don't have a great space for it.  Plus, I don't want to pay for the rental if it doesn't get used, really not much money, but still.  Of course if we don't have one, what if somebody actually brings a gift, that might be awkward.  We do think some people will bring cards, so if we did not have a gift table, where would we put that box?  Should we just rent a small table with enough space for a card box and a couple presents? Maybe put a couple of pictures or vases on there.  That way it won't look as dramatic if no gifts are brought.  Or is there a way I can combine that table with another table, maybe the guestbook/welcome table?  Or will that look too crowded and weird?  Any suggestions are welcome.  Thanks!

Maggie0829

I would rent a small table that will be able to hold your card box (which you need unless you feel like carrying around a tote to hold all of your cards) and a few gifts.

For our wedding our gift/card table was also where we put are wooden chest (which served as our guest book) so that people could sign it.  We rented your average 6' table rectangular table.

[Deleted User]

I second renting an additional table for the card box & enough space in case you end up with a physical gift. I think renting a normal size table so you can incorporate your guest book with the card box would be fine.

jenijoyk

It seems like gift tables always look sad and empty! I was thinking about this too... the last few weddings I've gone to each had a full size gift table, adn there was always one or two gifts on it. And the rest is just weird, awkward, empty space. I'm thinking about not having one at all. I have a DOC so maybe she can just run interference and offer to take any gifts that anyone actually brings.

novella1186

Erikan73 said:

I second renting an additional table for the card box & enough space in case you end up with a physical gift. I think renting a normal size table so you can incorporate your guest book with the card box would be fine.

I agree. And having the guest book on the same table as the card box (and possible gift drop-off site) makes it more convenient for guests so that they don't have to search for it or go from one place to the next. They walk in, sign the book, drop off the card, done. And there's no awkward empty space.

princessleia22

We didn't have a gift table, but our destination wedding venue was one that discouraged bringing any tangible gifts and we had family spread the word on that.  Ultimately, there were not any gifts.  But, we did have a table up front with guest book and wedding photos of our parents, which could have been used to set gifts if needed.  We did have a few people bring cards, and since we didn't provide a card box, they were confused and several people approached us during reception on where to put cards.  As a result, my husband ended up carrying around cards in his jacket pocket all night (luckily there were only a few of them as we had a very small wedding). Our close family just waited and gave us their cards after the wedding. So, I like the idea of combining the gift table & guest book table. Put a card box there. If you don't anticipate many tangible gifts, then don't leave much space for gifts... people can put them behind the card box or, if people bring more gifts than expected, they can always set them on floor next to table or stack them if needed. Or you could have someone take them to car or whatever at that point if table gets crowded.  But, you could probably do just a 4' or 6' table for card box, gifts, and guest book.

sarahufl

We had an 8 foot table with escort cards, a bird cage for cards and some large vases where the bridal party put their bouquets during the reception.

Once the escort cards were removed, it became our coffee station and the gifts stayed on one end of the table. We got mostly cards, but the table was used for multiple things, so it didn't seem like a waste to have.

cafarrie

I had my guest book and card box on the same table - the few people that brought gifts left them there but it still would have looked fine if no one brought something because it was serving dual purposes  

At a wedding last year, I brought a boxed gift (one of the few that they received at the reception) and there was no gift table anywhere.  It was really confusing and I had to hold it and look after it during the cocktail hour because no staff at the hotel knew what to do with it either.  Not a huge deal, just inconvenient so i would definitely have a small one!

lc07

There's a fine line here. IMO it's presumptuous to have a table dedicated for gifts. But at the same time, you need to make it convenient for guests who decide to bring boxed gifts to the wedding and/or cards (even though etiquette says they should be sent to the couple's home.) We had a large table when guests entered that had a photo of the two of us, some floral arrangements, so it didn't necessarily look like a "PUT YOUR GIFTS HERE!" table. But it served a purpose for those that brought gifts.

lc07

kittenkaboodle said:

So, here's the deal.  Almost all of our wedding guests will be flying in, only 5 couples will be local, and based on their personalities, only one might bring a gift to the wedding.  My concern is if we have a gift table it might sit empty and look sad.  We also don't have a great space for it.  Plus, I don't want to pay for the rental if it doesn't get used, really not much money, but still.  Of course if we don't have one, what if somebody actually brings a gift, that might be awkward.  We do think some people will bring cards, so if we did not have a gift table, where would we put that box?  Should we just rent a small table with enough space for a card box and a couple presents? Maybe put a couple of pictures or vases on there.  That way it won't look as dramatic if no gifts are brought.  Or is there a way I can combine that table with another table, maybe the guestbook/welcome table?  Or will that look too crowded and weird?  Any suggestions are welcome.  Thanks!