Do I need a Gift/Card Table?

Maybe you could just have a small one? The problem is if you don't have one and people bring stuff (which they really might, I normally bring a gift even if I already gifted at the shower) then you'll have no where to put it. If you feel super awkward about it, have a small table, with a small card box and a bouquet of flowers. If the table ends up getting full (maybe have mom keep an eye out?) then just have someone move the bouquet to the floor.

A lot of people bring both a gift to the shower and a gift/card to the wedding. It doesn't need to be a huge display or anything, but you should have a place for people to put their cards. It's not gift grabby or anything!

I would put a small one maybe decorate it with an alternative guest book idea and/ or time capsule. That way you can combine two tables and decorated with pictures of you and fh, some love quotes,or initials. that way it doesn't look like just give me more gifts

I am putting my card box on the same table with the guestbook. That way it's not just standing alone, but it's there if people have anything.

I'm putting our card box on the same table as our guest book. So it is there if people bring cards, but it's not it's own thing. We actually requested no gifts to our friends and family, but people have said "I have to bring a card!" so I got a card box.

Everyone that I know gives a separate gift for the wedding than the shower. That is what I do as well. I think you need to have a place to put gifts, you will get them and it will be awkward when there is no where to put them.

Thanks ladies! Like I said, I'm pretty much a wedding noob. I fell out of contact with most of my college friends, or live a great distance away, so I missed their "wedding phases". And my new post-college friends were all a bit older and married by the time I met them, so I've kind of fallen into an inexperienced wedding goer gap here I just didn't really know what to be prepared for gift wise. I'll definitely do some sort of small table now, maybe incorporated with or next to the guestbook table... Thanks for the advice!

It's not 'grabby' - it's thoughtful to have *somewhere* to put things, because people will bring things and money in cards, and need a place to put them because it's awkward to put wrapped gifts the floor under the tables where they eat, and they will be afraid that they'll be forgotten, and they will keep the cards in their purse and forget to give them to you, or they'll hand them to you random times, which you also don't want.

For <$30, you can buy a folding card table at BigLots or Walmart, and put a card box on it, and a place to leave gifts. We had a 60" table with a wishing tree (instead of guest book), card box, and for gifts. Make sure your card box is secure though - even with a small group, things can go missing b/c no one is watching it full-time.

BTW - the mere act of inviting someone to a wedding doesn't obligate them to provide a gift, but nor are they obligated to attend a shower. Every person who attended my shower also gave us a wedding gift, and my wedding was 70% immediate family

I feel your pain. I didn't have a shower or register as I don't feel comfortable with either. I hated the idea of designating a space but I know there will be people who will give something at the wedding...it's what people do. So, I did breakdown and make an enclosed card box.

I'm going to have mine at the guestbook station...and its just going to be a box for cards...its a picnic table, so if people do bring gifts there will still be a place to put them, but I'm not setting up a separate table...

Having a card box is not gift-grabby at all. You could set up a sort of "wishing well" card box (or cage, etc.) with little note papers so people can write wedding advice and put it in. It would double as a card box/cage/etc. for those who chose to bring a card as well.

We didn't have a gift table, but those who brought us presents left them on the table where we placed our signing poster and card box.

MrsA2B - Kindred spirits

Rebecca - Nice set up.

Looks like I will be asking FH to add "Cute Card Box" to his items to craft for the wedding. Having a woodworking FH comes in handy

I'm assuming you have already sent out your wedding invites. However my suggestion is adding to your wedding website "no gifts please" or money tree available and have a small table for gifts and a pretty box for cards. That way, people won't feel obligated to bring a gift, but will most likely bring a card with or without money in it. And if they happen to bring a gift then so be it. You can put the table near the guest book table so people know where to find it.

Brittany, well, we are in fact registered at a couple of places due to the shower. I feel like the "no gifts please" would be a little contradictory. We have sent our invitations out, but didn't state anything about gifts/registry. We don't have a wedding website. At this point I am just figuring on adding a small box/section next to/included with the guestbook area in case anyone does bring anything.

We had 55 guests and a small card table with our guestbook and a basket. We didn't expect many gifts, but received so many that the table and guestbook were instantly covered...so nobody signed it. If I could do-over, I'd have added another table for gifts and cards that was separate from the guestbook table.