Card Box Theft

I'm not so much concerned about my own guests, but we are getting married at a street level venue, on Halloween, and the venue is located in a strip of bars. I know there are going to be a lot of people walking around the area and you never know who might walk right in (we walked into someones party there when we went for our tasting, oops).

We are making a card box out of a whiskey barrel, so it will be too large for anyone to take without noticing and it will most definitely have a lock on it so individual cards can't be swiped.

Ugh that is terrifying... Our venue is a private space, so it would take a lot of balls to walk in off the street and take it. I will probably make the box "unopenable", not just a box with a removable lid or something. That way they would have to literally take the whole thing, which would look rather suspicious.

I had a fear of this too so I am putting my card box close to our table. Plus I have a couple of brothers who will make sure it won't be going anywhere

Just using my imagination here... How about making a big, strong wooden box with a mail slot in the top which only opens when the top is unscrewed. Drill two holes in the box so a long bicycle chain can be threaded through the holes. At the venue place the chain around a table leg -- so the leg of the table would need to be broken to remove the chain without knowing the combination. Before closing the box put some heavy rocks in it, too. Wrap the box in a nice wrapping paper.

I have heard of it happening at another venue when I worked in events.

We had a cousin stand with it and the guest book. Then his aunt grabbed it and stored it until we left.

THEN, DH left it at the lobby when we were getting in the car and someone had to go back for it anyways. So make sure it doesn't get misplaced while loading.

I have known a few people who have had cards stolen out of an unlocked card box (or one of those card birdcages, where someone could just reach and and take cards). It's always been at large weddings held in big venues that can have multiple weddings at a time. I think it is likely an employee or stranger that has come in and taken them. I feel a bit better about mine since we are at a smaller venue and ours is the only wedding there.

I forgot to mention the receiving table with the favors and card box will be right next to our receiving line where everyone comes to congratulate FH, Me, BP and Parents and my sister (MOH) and FH sister (bridesmaid) will be giving out the favors and collecting the cards. Hope that helps!

This happened to my cousin. Small wedding (like, less than 70 people, all family), private venue in the middle of nowhere. One of the workers reached in to the basket while everyone was in a different room and took like a dozen cards.

The biggest suggestion is having a locked/closed card box that someone can't reach in to. I mean, it's pretty noticeable if someone walks off with a whole box, but you can easily hide some cards.

Having someone watch it also works, but his card basket was behind his mom's table, but the theft must have happened when they were getting cake or something!

I wouldn't stress TOO much about this though.

LOL Knowing some members of my family, they will probably come to my wedding card-less and then claim that they gave a card that must have been stolen.

Don't have it near the door or outside the room. Make it large enough or heavy enough that someone can't just casually swoop it up and head out a door.

I made our card box and it doesnt have a flap to get the cards out. I Am going to cut one after the wedding. The card box is pretty big and I am going to make a base for it. I dont think anyone would be able to get away with it.

I didn't really think to worry about this, but I have heard of it happening. Our gift table is supposed to be set up right by the entry way, now this is making me wonder if I can set it up somewhere else. I already have a card box, but it is just one from Michael's that would be easy to open. Maybe I will wrap some ribbon around it or something so that it would have to be cut to be removed to open it, or the bells idea. One more thing to worry about now lol.

Ours was placed in our locked bridal suite immediately following cocktail hour. It would definitely be worth asking someone at the venue or a bridal party member to take care of that for you.

Do you have a vendor that you can trust? I personally know our dj, so I had him keep an eye on the card box all night.

Where is your venue? Our reception venue is not a public place so I have zero concerns about cards being stolen

Umm, it's not an irrational fear; it happens. At FH's best friend's wedding they had a full on crasher who stole some cards from the card box (not the whole box itself, but still), abused the open bar, and even signed the guestbook. She was eventually removed by their DOC and escorted off the premises, but it could've been a lot worse. Does your venue offer a security guard option?

Until this thread, it never occurred to me that people still put cash in cards.

Giving cash seems so.... I don't know.... quaint.

If you don't think the aunts will remember, ask someone else. Beyond that you're just stressing yourself out unnecessarily. The point of the card box is to prevent theft. Weigh it down with something or put bells on it to make it harder to steal lol.

People here in LA scope out churches and other popular wedding venues, dressed like wedding guests. They steal gifts and cards when no one is looking. So when the ceremony has begun, some designated friends should empty the card box into a zippered bag and lock it up with the empty card box and gifts. At one friend's wedding, quite a few people arrived late and brought cards to the reception (it's a cultural thing). So they had a designated friend keep a zippered bag with her at all times and I (the DOC) gathered cards from the Matron of Honor and other folks and gave them to the "bag girl" periodically throughout the evening.

Yes, it happens. Italian weddings often have security trucks pick up card boxes due to the amount of money that may be in there - we are talking potentially over $100k - and the high risk of theft associated with those weddings (public venues such as banquet halls and hotels).

OP - it is best to have a plan. Someone to watch the card box while it's out and then take it to the locked suite.