Theft at weddings

Our gift table is across the room from the main entrance, which is a bit of a relief. We're also putting two small locks (one on either side) to secure the top to the rest of the box. Either the keys will be with FH or left at home, so no one can get into it without it being really obvious.

It is sad that we need to worry about something like this.

I've been two weddings where cards were stolen, not all of them but a good amount. One wedding was in New Haven, CT (not the nicest area) and this guy was pretending to be an employee and even introduced himself to the bride as security or something at the hotel. He was a scam artist who told guests they could give the cards to him and he would put them in the card box, he reminded my DH and I to put it in the box. We get a call the next day from the bride saying what happened, we luckly wrote a check (as I always do) and canceled it asap and sent them another one in the mail.

Second wedding was in New Rochelle, NY and they think it was some of the staff who took a few cards. In both cases the police got involved but no luck catching the person(s).

At the beginning of the reception I suggest having someone take the cards from the card box and lock them in your hotel safe or the coordinators office.

Yes I thought about it my venue offers a electronic check in that has a card vault attached. That you need a key and personal password to get into.

My brother and dad are taking turns emptying it throughout the night

My coworker had all of his cards stolen at his wedding, all of them.

And then after we booked our venue we read reviews about wallets getting stolen out of bridal suite and cards gone 'missing'. Because of this we made sure someone was at the bridal suite during our ceremony to keep an eye out and then the girls all took their purses either to the car or with them to their tables. We also had the card box moved to a table near the head table with the guest book in case people forgot to sign it so everything was in plain sight. Our coordinator put it in our trunk halfway during the reception though to be safe.

I'm having someone at the gift table. I also received a book from FH'S cousin yesterday for gifts. You put the sticker on the gift and write who sent it in the book next to the number. That way if someone steals something you will know. I'm really worried about someone stealing my gifts because I had eaves dropped on one of my aunt conversation a couple of years ago where one of her friends who is also a guest at the wedding stole her jewelry in her house. She could easily steal my presents because she is like family and no one would know she was stealing it.

We're going to use a vintage birdcage for our card box and place it on the "gift table" near our sweetheart table, slightly for this reason. My Grandma has already said that she will be keeping an "eagle eye" on the gifts all night. LOL! I would like to think that people wouldn't steal our gifts, but you never know. People are shitty.

I wanted an open chest type of box but after hearing so many stories of cards and gifts being stolen we opted for a more closed box. I think we are going to put our gift table in the reception room rather than in the entranceway that the venue coordinator suggested because I don't want to risk having gifts stolen.

I wasn't concerned about this either until my mom, aunt, and the venue coordinator had asked me if I thought about having someone watch the card table. I do have some sketchy cousins so I'm a little concerned now.

I might end up gluing my card box shut because it doesn't have a latch for a lock just in case. Luckily my reception is upstairs at the venue so we have the entire 2nd floor to ourselves so i doubt any random people would be walking up there.

I just bought a wooden treasure chest that I'm going to DIY into a card box. It'll just have a small slit for cards so it would be a hassle for someone to take out of it I think. Will also have FFIL take them once the reception gets going.

This our card box or well what It will be as my FH is going to make it for us

We have a box that has a slit on the top and you would need to open it like a suitcase to get the cards out. We will also put it more towards the back of the cocktail hour space by the bar so the bartenders can watch out for it. Once it gets to dinner, a daughter of my mom's friend is going to come and get the card box and gifts and bring them back to my parents house. She's engaged and I'll do the same for her wedding. It's sad that this is a thought we need to have.

I wasn't worried about it till I heard two stories from friends. A friends cousin at one stole all the cards from the box (it was a flip lid kind) towards the end of the night and took all the cards. Returned the cards with just the checks (I think there were like 8 checks) and empty envelopes that held cash previously. This friend had a 300 person wedding so nobody really noticed something going missing at some point in the night. The other friend lost the entire box in general by the end of the night. Again, large wedding.

Based on them, I no longer give cash at weddings. Just checks. And we have a small wedding so people would notice if it disappears. We also would get one with just a slot so if people were tempted to do what that one cousin did, they wouldn't get far.

My plan is to get something big enough and heavy enough that it'll be obvious if it disappears. It'll be locked as well.

It's sad that we have to consider this a possibility, but some people have no qualms with taking what doesn't belong to them.

Yes this definitely crossed my mind. I work in corrections, so I am always on my toes about things like this. We are having a card box with a lock on it. I am also placing it somewhere where my parents and or/ FIL's can keep an eye on it.

I think even the flimsiest of locks on a cardbox would be a good enough deterrent for people who would snatch and go. If you venue is more public, I'd definitely stay away from doing anything that has a completely open top, like the pinteresty open suitcase type.

Double post.

I thought about this as well. We are putting an announcement in the paper for anyone to come to the dance. So I will have the best man bring it to whatever vehicle we decide to drive there. Also our gift table will be right next to the DJ and tge good area there is a back door they can get out of but I'm goin to keep that locked from both ways so they would have to walk thru the whole reception area to get it out. Our card box is a hollowed out log with a slit at the top and I I'll glue the cover on when I get it from FHs grandfather.

I hadn't even thought about this happening. I'd like to think my guests will all be pretty truth worthy but this is something I'll definitely have to consider when picking out something for all our cards to go into! Glad I came across this thread.