Card boxes - when to put them away?

Our DOC put our cardbox in the venue's back office once everyone sat down for dinner. Good thing too, we had crashers.

Hmm, good question, I'll keep an eye on this one. I think ours will probably get put away after our "coffee" hour, if there's any later, I guess they could just give it directly to us.

At the last wedding I attended when everyone was done eating and the cake cutting they took the card box and gifts out to a car.

@kris...I wouldve crashed your wedding too, pics were amazing and lets not forget the sausage.

I thought once dinner was being served would be a good time, some people forget to drop their card when they walk in or just come late.

Looks like we will need to find an official card box watcher until then. LOL

My DoC put it under the head table just as dinner was started. She said that was the best place as no one would go steal anything from there during the night as it is such a central location. I would be weary about locking it in rooms where any staff could have a key or putting it out in a car where it could be broken into.

Ours was out until the end of the reception. I'm pretty sure some people dropped of the cards after dinner. Because before, everyone was looking for their seat, and waited for dinner...

But mostly it depends on the venue setup. Ours was set up such that nobody could get in except for us and the staff we knew. So we were fairly confident that the card box was safe.

Great question. I wouldnt' have thought of it but now I'll assign my bm to put it away between as she has finished dinner.

Lmao Dawn!

Sidenote about our crashers - I saw them walk in, and I giggled and said something like "Who are the guys dressed up like LMFAO?" Honestly I really didn't care, they looked harmless enough and I thought maybe they would do something entertaining. One of my friends sniffed them out after 2 minutes and grilled them about how they knew us and one of them made up some story about how they were friends with "John", and then she told them to take a slice of pizza and then take a hike. It was all pretty funny.

Newbie here as far as posting. Long time reader though. I've been perusing the different sites and read you should keep the card box in a very visible place. Like right up near the head table. If you think about it, a lot of people put cash in the card envelope rather than a check. If that envelope is stolen, you won't know who gave you what for Thank You cards and your guest is out the money. I'd be furious if I gave money to a couple and they never received it.

After dinner is finished, or right before. have your MC make an announcment at the start of the reception if the box isnt right there when you walk in...

dont leave it out all night

Terri, that's happened to us before. H gave a big cash gift and the couple couldn't remember getting the cash, although I clearly remember that they opened the card at the afterparty when everyone was three sheets. I'm 99.99% sure it was spent covering the tab, but nobody else remembers it.

Ours was out the whole time, but the gift table was way up by the head table (opposite end of the room from the dance floor and bar), so hardly anyone was up there after dinner, and it was pretty easy to keep an eye on. Our venue also required us to hire their security guard for the event, and he was aware of where it was located and made sure to keep an eye on it.

Yes dragonfly, I think keeping it near the head table is smart.

And Krisalicious, damn, there will always be people who will take advantage of a situation. If you saw them open the card and then they denied it, well ...... Maybe they don't remember and one of their "guests at the afterparty" stole it?

Dang Kris, I knew we should have booked that flight to Chicago!

I have been to a great many weddings and at weddings where there was a cage/box, it has never been removed until the end of the wedding.

Cate has a bridal purse and a cage. The cage is mainly for decorative purposes to replace the hideous thing the venue offers. Gilded cages go with her theme. However, if people wind up putting cards in it, the staff will actually take both the cage and any physical gifts to their room. The table is surveilled, so theft is not a concern. Since she has the bridal purse, when she makes table rounds, most guests will give her any cards then.

Re having an MC or DJ announce it, since wedding gifts/cards are the pink elephant that noone talks about, I don't think it would be good manners to have someone announce it.

Re giving money....I write checks made payable to the bride in her maiden name.

Our DoC or catering staff is going to put away our card box just before dinner starts, everyone should be seated by then. Plus it's situated in the entrance area, slightly blocked from where the dinner and dancing is taking place.