Alternative to a wedding gift card box?

GilMoses · April 2011

My mom and fiancee are not fans of the wedding card box they feel it is like saying "please pay your entrance fee here". I see where they are coming from but i feel like it is pretty standard these days and people expect it. But i am open to exploring alternative ideas or just not having anything at all...? Any body have in put on what they did? and how did it work?

shortee426 · April 2011

You can just put someone (mom, dad, coordinator) in charge of holding onto cards.

GilMoses · April 2011

what would they do with them ? Do they just keep a bag somewhere?

Allycat11 · April 2011

Honestly, I think the only alternative would be having someone responsible for hanging onto them all night. I feel a card box is safer because they are in a designated enclosed location. In my family, most peope give a "Flat gift" at a wedding reception and I think it would overcomplicate things if we didn't have somewhere to put the envelopes.

GilMoses · April 2011

i agree as we are having a large wedding and feel like it would be a burden to designate people to be responsible.
that being said i have learned to at least explore ways to make my mother and fiancee happy before i explain to them i have no alternative

buckeyesweetz · April 2011

I don't think that it is "asking for an entrance fee" because they are common and expected. Just my opinion though. I wouldn't want to ask anyone to just hold on to them because I want everyone to just enjoy themselves.

gailpete · April 2011

Although many years ago when I got married they weren't common place, I think they are far more common and acceptable now. As long as it isn't sitting at the entrancne to the room, next to the guest book I wouldn't consider it an entrance fee. Are you having a gift table? If so, it just provides a place on the gift table for people to leave a card (if they so desire) and we reasonably assured that no one will walk off with it or that it won't accidentally get lost or fall off the table.

The only alternative I can think of is a card bag that the bride carries on the wrist. I find that much more obtrusive than a card box in the corner of the room. To me that says "Hi, I'm the bride, thanks for coming, please place your gift in the bag". I know they are common in some cultures and that is fine if that is what is the norm in your circle. However, if not, to me that would be far more obtrusive than a card box that someone can put something in or not, and no one else will know.

PamelaB10522 · April 2011

I don't think your guests will take offense at you providing a secure place to deposit their gift check. Search the Knot for pics of decorated bird cages that serve as gift card receptacles. I've seen metal lanterns without the candle as gift card boxes and what about an old fashioned metal mailbox? "Back in the day" the bride carried a satin pouch with her as she visited each table to thank her guests for coming...now how subtle was that?

worshambe · April 2011

I bought a beautiful rounded antique bird cage and decorated it with flowers. I've attached a small curling banner with calligraphy that says "Well Wishes" to the top of the cage.

We did the same thing for my sister's wedding and it looked spectacular. We placed a card envelope inside so people could see what it was for. People slid their cards through the bird cage wires. It was beautiful and secure because trying to get a card back out took a lot of effort.

Oh, and we placed it and the gift table well inside the room so it wasn't near a door or anything for security's sake.

DondadaTimes2 · April 2011

My venue has a wishing well for cards to be dropped into...of course Im putting a box in it, but thats an option.

Maybe you could also set it back away from the door a bit. That way when guests walk in it doesnt look so "please pay here" (Although I dont think ity feels that way). Maybe if its off to the side you're parents would be more comfortable?

tenofcups4me · April 2011

I've rarely seen card boxes and I guess I'm just old but I do find them presumptuous and tacky. In the "old days," people just handed the cards to the bride, groom, or parents, who held onto them. At my sister's wedding, for example, all cards ended up with my grandmother, who was carrying a big purse and not a dancer so she wasn't going to leave that purse. At my first wedding, there was a safe in the bridal suite so once a certain number were accumulated, the ex put them in there.

Jen6862 · April 2011

At my cousins wedding there was no place to put them and they got stacked on one of the dining tables. People nowadays expect to see one.

Alternative to a wedding gift card box?

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