People steal from weddings?!?!?

Ive heard this many times. Id think it is employees you have to worry about more. Were having an open lantern for people to just put them in there. But after cocktail hour it is moved right upstairs right behind the SH table and our parents table so i know there will always be someone near it.

Yeah I think I am more worried about someone's date and the staff. I don't imagine anyone in my family doing that but hey you never know. Which sucks cause I really wanted the whole birdcage thing. Gonna get a locked one now and have my sister move it before dancing takes place :-/

What about during the ceremony? I'm wondering what to do if people put their gifts/cards in the reception room and then they are left unattended.

Yikes.

I discussed it with the venue staff. I asked them if they had it happen and they said no and that they trust the staff. The hotel was 95% my guests, so no real threat of random guests wandering in, and it was in the middle of nowhere so no strangers walking in. We also didn't have plus ones, we knew all the guests. We actually forgot the gifts at the end of the night, our DOCs cleaned up and put them in the room with our decor (thankfully partially hid them, with the exception of a couple large boxes that were wrapped, you couldn't tell there was a ton of presents sitting there). So thankfully the staff was trustworthy! I would put the box in an obvious place- away from a door and within eyesight of everyone so if anyone sees something they can say something. Also, have someone in charge of making sure nothing seems shady. I have heard horror stories- people just walking up to the box and attempting to walk right out with it, and family members stealing.. Just be cautious.

The people with the suitcase card box. I would recomend a closed one. Maybe it doesn't have to be locked. How much money is going to be in it? I would rather be safe than sorry. There is a couple of people in my family (kids) that like to steal. Heck, when we have something with the family and I have money on me I run back home to put it up.

I would have to assume this happens with large weddings with inviting people you hardly know or plus ones you've never met. I can't imagine having a wedding like that. I am inviting only people I have known for years and no one else. No extra plus ones that I don't know. I only want people at my wedding that I want there.

I talked to my mother and we will be putting the box away after dinner before dancing. We have 300 guests but its all close family. Just rather not risk anything

Also thanks for all the advise!

I heard about this too and it made me super nervous. Our cards were in an open suitcase so at the cocktail hour my cousin closed the suitcase, grabbed all the presents and put them in my dad's car. We didn't have to worry about it after dinner when more people were walking around and drinking a lot.

I don't know that any of our guests would've stolen anything, but it didn't hurt either. Another option was what DH's cousin just did; they had a replica of his parents' first house (made by his great grandpa) and it had a slit in the top for cards. It was huge and would've been obscenely obvious if anyone had tried to open it to steal. I saw a birdhouse online that was pretty cool too. Etsy has some great options for secure card boxes.

I had a friend have his entire card box stolen (it was smaller one). The guy used his 4 year old daughter as a distraction while he stole the box.

I always recommend to my clients to have a larger locking box, and have their coordinator or a BM empty it out after dinner and lock up gifts.

It sucks that it happens

@Shaina I love that glass case idea especially since I have a brooche bouquet which will need to be preserved after the wedding.

FH heard horror stories about people stealing from wedding and forbids having a gift box so I was looking into other options. This glass box is perfect and has a more personal feel.

Yes people do steal. There have been quite a few reports in the news lately about it.

I'm making a wrapped card box, that way the only way in is if it unwrapped.

Often times, especially at larger weddings, and weddings in accessible venues (hotel ballrooms etc) -- items are taken by persons not affiliated at all with the wedding or the venue... other people in the hotel etc, and yes, sadly, there are people that look into when events are happening and rob them (i used to work in the hotel industry).

being aware and prepared beforehand is the best defense. :o)