Are card boxes really neccesary?

thurmanpowell · November 2012

As anyone been to a wedding (or had one yourself) where you didn't have a card box? Is so, were there any inventive ways people got around this? Did it end in disaster?

hoffse · November 2012

I've been to a couple without them and they were a PITA for people who wanted to give cards. It's like when the bathrooms are hidden - guests sort of wander around looking for it, you know?

I wouldn't worry about trying to make this creative. They are expected because they are convenient for guests, and they are also more secure than having an open bag or something.

thurmanpowell · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_are-card-boxes-really-neccesary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:9aefef0a-b059-40b0-8e5b-b73a004f59b0Post:bd9376b1-a7e8-40a8-a98f-a88b2c56771e">Re: Are card boxes really neccesary?</a>:
[QUOTE]I've been to a couple without them and they were a PITA for people who wanted to give cards. It's like when the bathrooms are hidden - guests sort of wander around looking for it, you know? I wouldn't worry about trying to make this creative. They are expected because they are convenient for guests, and they are also more secure than having an open bag or something.
Posted by hoffse[/QUOTE]

Haha, yeah, mine won't be creative.

Didn't think about guests being confused, good point! How did the couples who didn't have them get their cards? Were they awkwardly thrown on the bridal party table?

MobKaz · November 2012

Card boxes do not have to be elaborate or expensive specialty items. They can be repurposed for later use if you are creative. My daughter used a simple, velour lined hinged box that she had in her home as a jewelry box. It looked a bit like this (without the monogram)....

http://weddingshop.theknot.com/beaded-antique-rectangular-box.aspx?source=commissionjunction&PID=1609763&cm_mmc=CJ-_-1609763-_-10563630-_-none

After the wedding, the box went back home to its original use. I have seen others use small pieces of luggage, old letter boxes, instrument cases, or hat boxes.

In our area, cards are so customary at receptions, it would be burdensome for guests to arrive and not have a receptacle in which to deposit them. Years ago, guests used to give the cards to either a groomsman or the bride, who carried a simple silk drawstring purse in which to put the cards. I think guests today expect to find, and look for, some type of card box.

Is there a particular reason you are trying to avoid one?

jessicabessica · November 2012

Guests would likely end up handing cards to the bride and groom, and then you are stuck with keeping track of them during the reception. Your new H's suit jacket pockets can only hold so many.

We had a cardbox (standard wooden box w/lock, provided by the venue). People still handed us a few cards, but we just put them in the cardbox ourselves for safe keeping.

thurmanpowell · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_are-card-boxes-really-neccesary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:34Discussion:9aefef0a-b059-40b0-8e5b-b73a004f59b0Post:83491856-1da0-456b-b318-cd82ab274417">Re: Are card boxes really neccesary?</a>:
[QUOTE] Is there a particular reason you are trying to avoid one?
Posted by mobkaz[/QUOTE]

I'm not really trying to avoid one, just seeking some reality so I can stop day dreaming about ignoring this last detail.

AddieCake · November 2012

Yes, I think you definitely should have something, or people won't know what to do with their cards. We just got an inexpensive birdcage one from Hobby Lobby and wrapped some ivy around it.

hoffse · November 2012

Yeah I think people handed them to the bride, groom, parents, wedding party, you name it. Anybody who seemed to have some authority got cards. I have no idea how they (or if they) managed to keep up with them.

HobokensFury · November 2012

Not having a card box is the easiest way for cards to get misplaced. People will hand them to the bride and groom, parents or bridal party and there is no way to keep track.

cwaggoner07 · November 2012

We used a mailbox we found at Home Depot.

s-aries8990 · November 2012

I went to a wedding in a small venue with no card box- they all got dumped on the favor table which was the size of a pizza box-- not a good idea!

ETA: Maybe that's why we still never got a TY note! I hope it was just poor etiquette, since it was cash!

ljsquintz · November 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_registering-gifts_are-card-boxes-really-neccesary?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:34Discussion:9aefef0a-b059-40b0-8e5b-b73a004f59b0Post:2b13c073-acaa-4a5c-9d32-380040891ed2">Re: Are card boxes really neccesary?</a>:
[QUOTE]We used a mailbox we found at Home Depot.
Posted by cwaggoner07[/QUOTE]

We did this as well. Here is what it looked like
<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/7/4/97050e30-514b-4522-9404-3cd217d6a0af.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"> <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/7/4/97050e30-514b-4522-9404-3cd217d6a0af.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>
I recommend having some type of card holder, as many PPs have said it's just easier to track cards that way. The majority of our gifts were cards as opposed to actual gifts.

dazyabbey · November 2012

My friend used a little wicker basket. Worked perfectly and it was borrowed from someone. Everyone knew to put the cards in there and it wasn't fancy or anything.

Peledreamsofrain · November 2012

I'll chime in and ditto that they are reaaaaally useful and nice to have at the wedding/reception.

I bought a cheap white bird-cage, then, because I'm type A, worried the envelopes would fall out the sides. I went to the craft store, bought really nice gold textured scrap-booking paper and then painstakingly glued it as a strip to the base of the cage, then overlayed it with white paper cut out in scrollwork. The last thing I did was glue a place-card with the word "Envelopes" (as if it wasn't clear. Did I mention I'm type A?)

Here's the best picture I have of it next to some of the gifts at the table

.

Yes I like making my life more difficult than it has to be :P.

Jen4948 · December 2012

I was at such a wedding, and someone, a guest from the groom's side, had a card and gift that got lost.

Amanda1443994 · December 2012

I have only been to one wedding where they didn't have a card box and I was so confused. Apparently I was the only one who brought a card, though, because when I asked around, all the guests I talked to didn't even know what a card box was. Hmm. So I just left it on the gift table and prayed it wouldn't get lost! So yea I would highly recommend providing a box.

Are card boxes really neccesary?

Re: Are card boxes really neccesary?

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