Card box, do I really need one?

@VC We'll either take them to a car or have our venue coordinator lock them in her office.

@SDC - But you are assuming that they give it to you at once? The reason for the box is that the guests may not all arrive or give the card at the same time so the box just keeps them there.

For the safety issue, I would think most people would only have the box out during cocktail and then have someone remove the box and store it in a secure location. I don't even trust someone's car as it may get broken into. I am having mine placed in my hotel room in the safe.

I think you should have something to put cards in because you would be surprised but people do steal cards with money from weddings

@VC I have thought about this from every angle. Our current decision is to not have one but that may change after discussing it with our coordinator. It's the same thing if you remove the card box after cocktail hour. If someone missed the box they'll give their card directly to you.

Do NOT use live fish and yes, get a card box so there is less chance of theft.

A card box is pretty much a necessity in my opinion. Guests will appreciate a natural place to put cards. It does not have to be anything spectacular.

And please no live fish. It's the same as for butterflies - besides the cruelty issue - there are some bound to die. A dead fish floating in a centerpiece is not a very good look. IMO, neither is a live one.

I would have a card box for a few reasons. 1 it helps keep them together so carrying them is easier, none get dropped or lost. 2 it makes it easier to remove the cards or keep an eye on them so they don't get stolen. I have read all kinds of card horror stories and plan to move my card box into a locked room shortly after the start of the reception.

SDC - fair enough and the logistics of your cocktail is not known to me but couples usually use the cocktail hour to take pics away from guests.

We will try to soend the hour mingling with guests but not wanting to hold onto cards and have to hand it off to someone.

We will have a relative tend the table: guest book, card box and placecards and then move the box the secure location.

I'm not concerned about cards/gifts getting stolen - I know it can happen, but I'd be really shocked at our venue - so I don't think you have to have a literal box, but even a tray or something to designate where guests should leave cards is pretty necessary! I would never ever hand my card or gift directly to the bride or groom, so I'd just be confused and whispering to other guests all night asking where my card should go! @SDC - I'd really ask if there is anywhere close to your reception room where your coordinator can direct guests to leave their cards or gifts. It would stink if the timing of elements at your reception were totally off because your coordinator is running every gift individually to their office or your car or something!

Yikes, this thread has me stressing out. I made an adorable basket for our cards to fit our country theme. It never would have occurred to me that someone would steal them. We are having a small wedding though and everything will be in the same room...is there something I could do? Ask someone to keep an eye on it or just put it somewhere clearly visible?

You need a card box.

And you need different centerpieces.

I would just get a cheap one from Hobby Lobby or Michaels, even one of their little crates would be cute!

Thank you everyone who took the time to reply to my post about the card box. I have to admit I'm really surprised how many people cited theft as a reason to have a card box! Never in a million years would it occur to me that some one from my family and group of close friends, (this is going to be a pretty small wedding) would steal cards filled with well wishes and notes of congratulations. I actually don't expect anyone to gift us money, that's why it never occurred to me that anyone would steal the cards. If we even receive a single cent I'd be shocked. Either way, one of my brides maids has taken it upon herself to make me a cardbox. It will have a gold glitter base to look like sand at the bottom and fade from dark blue to light blue bottom to top. On the top of the box where the opening will be she's putting shark fins circling. She wants to put up a sign that says "beware the card sharks".

As for the centerpieces, While I still really like the idea of live fish, ( the cheap kind that you buy to feed to other fish), I've decided against it. The idea of having fish poop floating around at dinner is gross and thank you to whomever pointed that fact out to me. So no fish. The latex jelly fish will be just fine I'm sure.

Again thank you everyone for your thoughts!

You can buy a basket at the dollar store. We used a basket we already owned.

My sister had fish as her centerpieces and they were all dead. :-)

Glad to hear you changed your mind about the fish centerpieces and the card box. As a bride who did not have a card box, it is one of our biggest regrets. Some guests were confused about what to do with the cards. People asked us and we told them just to hand them to us. My mom then took them and kept track of them. It was just a big pain. We skipped the card box because my mother and DHs nana were afraid of theft. A card box with a lock would've been a million times easier. At one point we actually thought we lost a card.

Yes get a box card! Have it close to your table as well.. sadly some people tend to have sticky fingers..

Have a card box. My sister did not have one at her wedding and so I hesitantly placed the card along with all the other ones on the table. Months later I wondered why my sister was giving me the cold shoulder, finally she made a comment to my mom about not receiving a gift from us. The card got misplaced. Have a box, container, something to keep them all neat, secured, and together. And agree with everyone else on the fish thing.

@Rita, your new plans sound awesome. Best wishes for a happy day!

Alison, that is just awful about your sister. People suck sometimes.

Purchasing live animals (no matter what their purpose is for) for the sake of using them for a few hours then discarding them is considered animal cruelty. A lot of photographers purchase rabbits during Easter for photoshoots, then they turn them loose in the wild (I work with a rabbit rescue group). Fish also need a proper habitat to swim in. I'm glad you decided against the live fish centerpieces.