Theft at weddings

Yeah that is sad. No I didnt worry about it. I trusted my guests and venue staff to look out for it.

There was always a plan to secure the card box. For my sister's wedding, I was in charge and took it up to the bridal party suite and locked the door.

For mine, my sister said we can do what my cousin did. Since we were staying in a hotel across the street, my sister and her husband will take my card box to my hotel room and empty the cards into the safe so we don't have to worry about anything all night or at the end of the night.

My mom got a little worried about it (not necessarily about the staff at our wedding, and certainly not worried about any guests, but more on the off chance someone random walked by the venue since the card/gift table was right by the front door) so we just made sure our card box couldn't be opened. I cheaped out and just wrapped a cardboard box in pretty paper and cut a slit in the top, so that in order to get anything out of it it had to be opened like a present. It wasn't a big priority for me personally but it gave my mom some peace of mind so I was happy to be able to cross one worry off her (long!) list.

I was worried about it. Not so much about employees but I was kind of pushed into inviting an uncle who has no qualms about stealing (from me, my grandmother, everyone) and is heavy into check fraud because my grandmother wouldn't have come otherwise.

Our card box was emptied a few times throughout the night by my DOC and all of the envelopes placed into a safe. As far as I know, nothing is missing.

But I know people have been worried about this. A lot of it also is if you're in a heavily public place (ie hotels, parks that are still open to public, etc) and someone just comes in real quick.

My coordinator is going to keep track of them for me

@wwjo I'm thinking of going that route but my friends have their card box as a decor piece in their home now and it is beautiful so I want something wood. I'm thinking of bringing home a wood box and trying to get FH to cut a slit into it. Not sure if that's possible with the tools he has lol

@vc so you removed the card box once the reception got going? That's a good idea since people put the cards in right when they get there

I was concerned about this happening. Last year there were two incidents at a venue near me of clients complaining that some of their gifts and cards were missing, come to find out, the staff was stealing the gifts and cards. They had showed the video on the news of the employees stealing the stuff, it was sickening.

Its a shame that during one of the happiest moments of your life, you have to worry about people stealing.

@Katherine - Yes as everyone drops their gift and signs the guestbook etc all before the reception/dinner starts. Once cocktail hour is over, we designate someone important and give them hotel key and they take the box and then come back. It mainly works if you have a really secure location nearby.

@vc that's a great idea! My parents are staying in a condo next door to the venue so someone could bring it there

@christina that's awful!

@missw isn't it?

@Katherine that sounds really sweet, I hope you can find someone with the tools!

Yep. Make sure at least 2 people go together just for safety in numbers. And how great is it so no one has to worry about bringing it home at the end of the night!

Just asked FH if he had any tools at work that could cut a slit into wood... He said a chainsaw. Uh, don't think that's gonna work.

I'm securing our card box some of my guests are not the most law abiding so it played on my mind d a lot on its own

Wow I never even thought of this. Glad I came across this thread

My doc is putting the cards in the bridal suite as soon as cocktail hour is over.

Terrible to think of, but it happens. I've heard some venues require locking card boxes. Our venue had more than one event so DOC suggested placing the card box in the corner farthest away from any entrance, they assumed no liability. Fortunately we didn't have any issues.

@colleen that is smart on the venues part. Minimizing their risk