Using a cage for cards at reception.....

jakstr0808

I've seen a lot of posts here on how to make sure your card box is locked and super heavy so people can't steal them. 

I was hoping to use a cage to go with our bird theme, but before I buy one, I was hoping to get people's opinions who have actually used them and either had issues with theft or not.

Thanks!

jakstr0808

Ooops, this was supposed to be on the reception ideas board......grrrr, i still can't figure out how to move or remove posts.  My bad.

aMrsin09

I didn't have a card box, but I'm sure you'll still get plenty of help from the women who did.

Mrs.B6302007

We had a cage.  We couldn't lock it though so once the reception started and people were done putting cards in it, someone in my family (my aunt I think) took it to their table and put it underneath.  I didn't even notice it had been done so I doubt that anyone else did either.

brookelynpaisley

We used a bird cage. It wasn't locked or secured, but we were in a small room and we had no problems (that we know of) with theft. Mag's idea of securing it with ribbon is simple and easy.

skippylouwho

I think theft occurs but probably not that often. However, the city where DD's wedding is being held has had this happen a couple of times.  They also attended a wedding at the opposite end of the state where someone robbed the room where the bride and bridesmaids  and moms had left their purses during the ceremony. They all lost their wallets, cameras, cell phones, etc.

DD has a card box for their upcoming wedding. Our discussion has been to have someone, probably my brother, will keep an eye on it, if he sees a lot of cards going in he will empty and run them up to my hotel room.

[Deleted User]

We used a card box that I bought at Hobbly Lobby or Michael's.

Theresa626

Theoretically, someone could still steal a box that is locked by just taking the entire box.  If someone wants to steal it, they will. That said, the best way to protect yourself is to have it out only during the cocktail hour when it is being watched and gathered around by all of the guests (most likely, if it got stolen, it would be by someone who was not a guest of yours).  Then, have your wedding coordinator or a close relative take the box immediately up to your hotel room as soon as the reception starts.  

JessAndTrav

The thought didn't even cross my mind that someone would steal from our cardbox, but I also wouldn't invite people that would steal from me, so there's that.

Maybe place gift table near the DJ or bartender?

TheCranberry

It never occurred to me that people would steal this either!  Is the concern that guests would steal it or non-guests?  The staff at the venue?

I guess I'll have to think about this since I never even considered it!  Thanks for the ideas.

kristinanddan

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_using-cage-cards-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:b3064eed-43b7-48bd-818b-135a416c3fafPost:d6e2a949-b392-4f6c-bd09-af33ed75cd7f">Re: Using a cage for cards at reception.....</a>:
[QUOTE]Theoretically, someone could still steal a box that is locked by just taking the entire box.  If someone wants to steal it, they will. <strong>That said, the best way to protect yourself is to have it out only during the cocktail hour when it is being watched and gathered around by all of the guests</strong> (most likely, if it got stolen, it would be by someone who was not a guest of yours).  Then, have your wedding coordinator or a close relative take the box immediately up to your hotel room as soon as the reception starts.  
Posted by Theresa626[/QUOTE]

Actually, I suggest the opposite and have never seen a cardbox out during cocktail hour. Cocktail hour rooms are often outside or closest to the exit, therefore making them easier to steal there. Ours was in our main reception room 5 feet from our head table. No one was stealing anything from it.

JennaV26

We used a birdcage as our guestbook. It had a beautiful floral arrangement in it and then stacks of stationary with the heading "Notes to the Lovebirds..." and people would write us notes and stick them in the cage. We had a separate card box for the money.

ootmother2

Cape Cod wedding, the bride spray painted a lobster trap and lined it with tulle. No worries about theft as it was in a pretty guarded spot at the reception venue.

Theresa626

Kristin while I understand that having it in the reception room only is the best way to not get it stolen, it's also ridiculously inconvenient and rude to the guests.  I have only been to one wedding in my life where the card box was inside the reception instead of at the cocktail hour.  It really really irritated me because I had nowhere to put my card down (it didn't fit in a purse or pocket) and I was trying to eat and hold my drink at the same time as holding the card.  There were just a few small standing tables around that people stood at so I couldn't just leave it somewhere to go spoon food onto my plate.  They wouldn't let us into the reception room to put the card down because they were still setting up.  I was annoyed.  

skippylouwho

The thefts weren't by invited guests.  The thefts were by people, dressed appropriately, slipping in during the reception and acting as though they were putting cards in. Instead they were removing cards.

The theft at the church was people familiar with the layout of the church (which room women in the bridal party typically left belongings in during a wedding) and knew there was a wedding scheduled for that time.

Most people wouldn't invite someone they think would steal from to a wedding. But since you may not know everyone at your wedding it is possible for someone to slip in, you think they are your FI's family or friends or someone's date but they are actually a complete stranger there simply to see what they can steal, eat, and/or drink.

LD1970

I've only ever seen card boxes in reception rooms near the sweetheart table, never in the cocktail room.

I've heard of problems with theft either by staff or crashers who wandered in (if you're having a large wedding, you won't necessarily notice a guy who comes in dressed in a suit from another wedding at the venue or something) but not from any of my own friends or family.