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I don't know if it is offensive. But it seems sort of pointless. Most people probably won't even notice. I would suggest you get a cute lock or decorate it. But I still think it is wasted energy. If someone is gonna take the whole thing or even think to reach in and grab an envelope, I hardly think a lock will stop them.
Honestly, if you get a lock that's pretty and "goes with" the birdcage, I don't think anyone will even notice. If it was me, I'd be happier knowing that my card (and its contents) were definitely going to make it to the couple.
I think there's no reason for them to be offended by a lock if they're not planning on taking anything out of there anyways, you know?
Is there a family member you can trust enough to stand guard over the box? I feel like if I saw a lock at a wedding, I would be a little... not annoyed, but I would definintely think it was weird. However, if you have an aunt or uncle or cousin standing at the table, it would be eyes and ears over that box.
Maybe you position the gift table farther from the entrance. I can't imagine someone who would be stealing cards would actually go through the trouble of opening the birdcage door to get the cards out (without being noticed), rather than taking the whole cage... so I don't know how practical your lock is.
I wouldn't be offended, but I would think it was a bit ridiculous.
Talk to your day of coordinator or venue coordinator about it. Many venues will stop by the gift table through the night and remove it and bring it to your suite, for safety reasons.
I think people would take the whole cage if they're going to steal it, not just reach in, so it's not a very good solution...
My thought is that if someone wants to steal cards, the lock will not deter them. I can see someone picking the birdcage up and walking off with it. The can break open the lock at another time.
I don't think I would be offended if I saw a lock - but I really don't think it's a deterrent, either. Can you put the birdcage in a more secure spot, instead?
We had a close friend watch the gift box... it has to be someone you trust, since there is a decent amount of cash involved!
Hmm... I thought of this, but like everyone says, if someone's intent on taking the contents, they'll find a way....
If I were to go with a birdcage, you better believe it'd be a freaking huge one so if someone picked it up, someone else would immediately notice. Large card boxes or ones that look pretty obvious when people are picking them up (Miss Star's building shaped box, for example) work better as deterrents, not locks.
I dont think anyone would be offended. In fact at our wedding people kept coming up to us and GIVING us the cards even after we told them 'there is a box on the gift table for them' because they thought someone would steal the money. Whatever made them think we had some place better to put the damn envelopes in the middle of the wedding is anyone's guess.
If it makes you feel better, go for it.
We just had a card basket...I didn't worry about it and as far as I know nothing was stolen!
I wouldn't be offended if it obviously matched the birdcage - honestly, I would assume it was part of the cage (unless you got a giant steel padlock or something - go with something dainty and white.)
At first I was thinking this wouldn't matter because most people will give checks made out to you, not cash, but I forgot everyone gives gift cards these days. Those could easily be stolen.
A couple of other ideas if it's something you are really worried about:
- You can find card holders that do not have a door that can be opened (for example, hat boxes with the lids hot glued on, with a slit cut in the top for the cards.) I suppose you have to dismantle them after the wedding. Also, getting something in a really big, awkward shape would deter anyone from carrying it off.
- You can assign a trusted family member to stand by the table when people are most likely to be dropping off gifts (cocktail hour or first hour of reception.) Have them empty the cage after this time and take all cards to your room, and maybe periodically throughout the evening.
I don't think they would take offense. I had a mailbox that was decorated for my cards and I just had one person that would every so often check it and take out the cards and keep them in a safe place in the brides room. So, that way there was never a lot of cards in there at one time.
If you are worried about it, just turn the lock so that it isn't facing the guests. Birdcages can be cool that way.
I would try to find something pretty to use for it. Anything at all to hold it shut because if someone is really going to have to fiddle with it to get it open, they may not even try. I plan on doing SOMETHING, just not sure what yet. I made my sister's ard box - she used a trunk thing she bought and I uphoulstered it with two layers of thin batting and satin. They could only open it by literally destroying it. At her wedding, it was on a card table in the cocktail area and once people started to take their seats, it was very nicely placed on the cake table in front of the head table. The reason we're so protective is because we have had THREE incidents of weddings we've been to this summer where cards have been taken. The thing is, chances are you won't know every person at your wedding enouh to trust them. We went to a wdding in August and it was a second cousin's husband that no one had met - he stole pocketbooks from the MOB and a bridesmaid, the MOG's camera which she had put money into the case for gratuitiesand of course most of the cards. It's unfortunate, but these days we have to be more careful.
I wouldnt be offended - and it might deter some of the slippery hands that are looking to take a "little off the top" (as you can put it). If they are determined to whipe you clean - the lock wont stop them, so tell your security that the only one to leave with the birdcase is you and the groom or someone designated by the two of you.
If someone mentions the lock, be honest that its not family you are concerned about but random people that might crash (with it being NYE and all). Its honest and simply put - with no sane reason to imply insult to anyone.
I agree...If someone want to steal it they will take the entire birdcage! But if having the lock on would make you feel more at ease then go for it. I would try to cover it either with a bow or something else so no one even knows it is there besides you.
I don't think I'd be offended if I saw a tiny lock on a the cardholder... I think its a good idea, especially if your event is being held where the public might have access.
lol just make sure its not some hardware store "master" lock! That would look a little bit off :)
If you're extremely concerned, I second the idea to keep your gift/card table AWAY from the door. You want to make it difficult for those with sticky fingers to get away with taking your stuff!
I wouldnt be offended, but I suggest a white lock, or turning the cage around, or white wire to hold the door shut?
Our reception is in the lobby of a trainstation so this is a HUGE concern for us, but I havent come up with a solution i love yet. Good luck!
I could see if the lock was part of the birdcage itself. But if it's separate, it wouldn't fly with any of our guests. Based on personal experience at other weddings, there has just been a single open basket for cards on the guestbook/gift table and nothing was ever disturbed, nor would it occur to anyone to do so. I personally would not want anyone to have to take time away from enjoying themselves as a guest to guard it since that isn't a guest's responsibility. The other thing that would make me question having a lock on it is it implies that you don't know or trust a single person at your wedding and I'd be wondering why people were invite who didn't fit either category.
If you want to do this, I would make sure you lock it to the table. Take a cable and tie the birdcage to the table so someone can't walk off with it. You could probably cover up this cable with table decorations so no one would notice.
You could also decorate or paint the cable so it's the same color as the birdcage.
Also, if someone does try to steal it, it would proably make a big ruckus when they pull the table. LOL
I don't know if I would be offended if I saw a lock on the birdcage. I know that it happens so I probably wouldn't think of it as anything.
I thought about using my mini luggage locks for my birdcage!!! I'm planning on using a decorative ribbon to wrap my birdcage in - and/or using flowers to hide the fact that I have a lock on the door! I'm also having my "Gift Keeper" keep her/his eye on the gift table so cards and gifts don't go walking out with waitstaff or guests. Because everyone knows whats in those cards!!! I don't want some waiter thinking to himself "hmm, I'm a little short on rent this month" and then swooooop, there goes Aunt Phylis' gift right from under our nose!
You're being smart, just do it tasteful so the lock isn't in everyone's face.
I'd just have a friend watch it or put it someplace where everyone can see it at all times (as in not at the entrance, maybe near the cake table or something) If using the lock would make you feel better, why not cover it up with a bow or a flower so it looks pretty? I used clear zip ties to keep my birdcage closed, but it was an antique wooden birdcage and I was more concerned with the top falling off and breaking. We just cut off the zip ties when we got back from the honeymoon and were ready to look at the cards.
I always say, locks are for friends. If someone really wants the contents, they can just walk off with the whole thing.
I probably would not put a lock on there.
What about just closing it with a zip tie and then hiding the tie with a ribbon or something? (just saw that Mrs. Deviled Egg did that)
I'd also think they will just take the whole thing if they are that interested. Plus, most small locks are universal, so once they get home they will probably be able to pick it (or just use some wire cutters to break in). I'd suggest moving it away from the entrance, or once the guests are seated having someone take it off of the table and put it in a secure location.
I wouldn't be offended by a lock at all! I've read those stories, too, and I would be glad that my gift was secure. Especially given what you've said about the location & venue... If you can disguise the lock as "decorative" (if it's pretty, dainty, etc) then all the better! People probably won't notice, they'll just be shoving their card in and looking for the bar ahahha :)
I agree with the first post. I'm not sure I'd be offended, but I think it might be a waste.
I think the best thing is to move it away from the door. Keep it in a place where lots of people might be looking. It's hard to take it, or something from it, that way.
I definitely like the idea of tying it to the table. Use some ribbon to cover and decorate and voila "locked" birdcage!
Honestly, I wouldn't be offended if I saw a lock on the box. Why not? But make sure someone can't actually lift the box and take it away!
I think if you want it to stay put, locking it to the table is a better idea. But all in all, I would seriously just insist that your gift table be moved somewhere else. I'm sure the table is your typicall banquet table. It's not a permanent fixture. Have them put it in the back of the room. Or, if your cake table is not on the dance floor before the party begins, ask to swap the gift table and the cake table. You cut the cake and they take it away. It can be near the entrance.
I'm with Gilneas on this one. If you can find someone trustworthy to put the box way once all the guests have pressumably put their envelopes in, that will at least solve the issuse of someone taking the whole box (which I have heard on more than one occassion - I think that's awful!). But I don't think a lock can do you any harm either, as long as it's subtle.
I've worked at a ton of weddings and I think the best solution is to have someone sit by the box / presents. Do you have someone you can give that job to ?
@Amanda_B, does the person designated to watch the gift table get to enjoy themselves at all as a guest like everyone else is able to? It doesn't sound like they would be allowed to leave their seat for any reason or any period of time. Even if they got to chatting with anyone, as is commonly done, their attention would not be focused on guarding the table.
Are you having hostesses at your wedding reception? I ask b/c if hostesses will be checking the guestlist then you could put the birdcage on the table they will be using. Once all the guests have been seated (and presumably dropped their card in the birdcage) the hostesses can then take the cage to your room for safekeeping and join the rest of the festivities. I have actually never been to a wedding/reception where the card box sat out there the entire reception.
What I've seen at weddings ( I'm a photographer ) is that the person will sit there by the presents and box for the first couple hours of the reception. They can get someone they know to watch the stuff when they go get a drink ect. So ...no ... they can't really fully enjoy the reception ...at least for that first hour or two.
I'm not sure if you are planning to have guest trickling in, but an hour or two usually does it at the weddings I attend ( then you can lock the box up somewhere .... ) . People generally don't arrive after dinner already starts ( most have arrived by then ). I'm not sure what to suggest for late-comers though.
I wouldn't get offended if I saw a mini lock on a cage at a wedding. It's not like it's a super heavy duty lock!
I would suggest maybe moving the cage to an area that isn't near the door, designating a trusted friend/family member to watch the cage and possibly empty it into a bag and locking in an area that is more secure after the rush of people come in upon arriving and drop their cards.
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Every once in awhile, some "horror story" will emerge via a wedding blog or board and maybe having too much time on my hands, I have a "knee jerk" reaction.
One example was when I heard about drunk driving accidents after weddings so I went and bought a breathalyzer gadget. My DOC ended up putting the kibbosh on that one telling me people would get pretty offended by that notion so luckily I was able to cancel that purchase.
Recently, I read about a couple's card box being stolen with other posters relaying their stories of gift envelopes being pilfered at the reception. Because we did not have a wedding shower, I am assuming that people will either enforce the "one year to give a gift" rule or just put money/gift card in a card and drop it off at the wedding.
I am using a birdcage for our cards - but bought a mini-lock for it. Now my logic is, if someone is going to steal the box, I'm sure my mini-lock isn't going to prevent that from happening so my question is - will guests be offended by seeing that a lock is on the birdcage where it implies that we think they are untrustworthy?
We are having our reception in the city and our gift area will be right near the entrance. Also, since our wedding is on NYE there is a chance for wedding crashers since we are near a bunch of restaurants and bars. We do have one security guard but that is more for crowd management to handle any people who overserve themselves.
I am torn, the mini-lock could be a deterrent for helpstaff with sticky fingers but I don't want to offend guests in the process. Thoughts?