How to accept cards/money at a wedding?

Question

We are having a place for gifts at the wedding; however, I'm guessing alot of people will opt for a card with a check or something since we aren't registered anywhere & they know we are funding our own honeymoon.

I don't want anything tacky that screams "this if for money!" because I don't care if I get any, cash or gifts for that matter, but I still don't just want to lay a card down on a table & hope it doesn't get lost.

Any suggestions on how you've seen it done or you've done it yourself?

Answer 1

Having something to put cards in is a good idea, and you're not sending the message "give me money" cause everyone knows that a lot of people bring cards. My Mom bought me a wishing well. Still in the package mind you, the wedding isn't until September. But it's a cute lil contraption thing that you put together. I tried to look for the one I have online, but I was unable to find it. She got it through Hallmark, but I found one kinda similar online. You can find a wooden wishing well and paint it in your colours even, be creative with it. We have a wooden wishing well, and I wanted to do that, but we had it out in the garden for a while, and it's not in the best shape, so my Dad insisted we get something new, lol. Anyways, this is the wishing well.

http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=FC572A78-423B-522D-FFEFD8496A1366D0&fid=FC572AE6-423B-522D-FE84C390FC3E97E4

Good luck :)

Answer 2

I've seen a lot of cute things:

My best friend had a decorated box (locked) with a slot opening for cards. It was on the gift table, so people could either put down a wrapped gift or a card in the box and it definitely did not scream "Give me money!"

My soon to be sister-in-law & brother-in-law had their attendants and family carry around a silk bag (one bag, it just got passed from person to person as people got called away to do other things) and as the bride/groom received gifts, they would put it in the silk bag (or the person holding the bag would collect the gifts for the bride/groom) and someone was always watching the bag. At the end of the night, all of the cards were safe and sound. But, this was a little bit of a pain because it was hard to keep track of who had the bag throughout the night, and especially at the end of the night.

I've also seen decorative bird cages used to hold the cards with money/checks. They are simply placed on the gift table, most people know what they're doing with the cards!

Congratulations and have a fabulous wedding!

Answer 3

Okay.....I am going to tell you a family secret so dont tell anyone.... I like the drawstring bag for the bride...it forces the two of you to jointly accept the card...she doesn't put it in the bag until you are there and if given to you, you can see please come say hello to my beautiful bride (most cards will be given during the receiving line). All you need to do is say thank you for the gift. Same for the boxed gifts...you say thank you for the gift the table is there (or you have an attendant usually a junior one assigned to take the gift to the table for them). Now on to the secret.... find out if your venue has a safe, IF NOT, then you assign a favorite grandma or aunt to bring a large old purse with her. Your bride will give the cards to her whenever the drawstring purse gets awkward by going to the bathroom and signaling granny (again the junior bridesmaid can be used as a runner but shouldn't know where the cards are). The reason is simple....if you have a lot of guests, you will have a lot of money....and while everyone in your family and her family may be honest, there are plenty of not so honest guests, staff members, passersby, oppportunists just waiting to get their hands on your cash. It also stops it from becoming a focal point of "Look HOW MANY ENV WE GOT!" which is what I think of when I see those tiny little wicker baskets or wishing wells overflowing with cards...jmo its tacky.... hope this helps...
God Bless the both of you...In my family granny generally goes home earlier than everyone else...so she takes the purse with her and locks it safely away at home. You and your bride can pick it up in the morning.....no worries the rest of the evening.

Answer 4

Having a big pretty box, or a decorated mail box, or even a model house with an insert slot would look great and do the trick. If you want to see what it would look like, go here http://advancedvideo.50webs.com and view their demo wedding video. There is a great shot of a gift table with a box (or house I can't remember which) amongst the gifts for people to put cards in. This way you can decide if the idea works for you or not.

Answer 5

Get 2 huge wicker baskets and decorate them, place them on a small table or on each end of the gift table, or if a small wedding, just one basket...... tell a few friends or family about the basket(s) and after the first few are placed in them ppl will know, but I can say that most will know anyway what the baskets are for..... OR you could make a card tree for ppl to pin or tie the cards to, have some one at the tree to do that for the guest..... either way is ok and a nice touch................. congrats and God bless

Answer 6

My neice was born here in America but her mother was from South Korea. At her wedding, most of her American guests brought the traditional wedding gifts, wrapped in boxes. The Korean guests, brought cards and checks in envelopes. She had different women take turns standing beside the gift table, that were "overseers" of a small wicker basket with ribbons on it, that was just for the cards and envelopes with checks. It was then turned over to the best man about 15 minutes before the ceremony. He placed all envelopes in his inside coat pocket until after the wedding ceremony(wedding and reception at same building). After the wedding ceremony, he gave them all to the groom, any late arrivals, handed them directly to the bride and groom.

Answer 7

They sale money bags that looked like purses that the bride or matron of honor will hold and people will make there way to them. Some people opt for a wedding well and it has a slot for cards!!

Answer 8

when my hubby and i got married and people asked what our "wish list" was because we had everything we wanted we said gift vouchers or money.
it doesn't make you greedy and people will sooner get you what you genuinely want and need rather than another toaster that's gonna sit in the back of your cupboard for years unused.
like you we put the money from our wedding toward our honey moon and that was what made it extra special and we will always be thank full to the people who helped make that possible.
at weddings we've been to we were happy to put money in with their card as long as it makes the couple happy.
accept it with grace, honestly and appreciation.
congrats with the wedding, hope it all goes exactly how you want it.
xxxxx

Answer 9

Isn't it traditional for there to be a junior bridesmaid, etc., manning the gift table? If so, then the cards would be handed directly to her, and she would discreetly put them in a safe place (like in Grandma's purse as suggested by an earlier answerer).

Answer 10

A wicker basket on the gift table will be fine. Everyone will know to put their card in it and it doesn't scream "give us cash". For our wedding we used a small picnic basket.

Good luck