Post # 1
Member
61 posts
Worker bee
Are you guys having a gift table host? I’ve had people ask me this and while I think it sounds like a GREAT idea, I haven’t seen it in practice and am not sure how it would work…. I guess the idea is that someone (or better yet, a couple) would stand by the gift table, greet people as they come in, maybe encourage them to sign the guest book (or guest “calendar” in our case), then as the gift table is getting full, bring the gifts inside and then at the end of the night, make sure all the gifts are secure. While people are coming in, they might also direct them to the ceremony seating area.
My fiancé and I have talked it over and are thinking of asking a couple friend of ours to do it. They are great friends, but neither of them is in party…although we like the idea of including them somehow. We’d invite them to the rehearsal dinner and do “special thanks” or something in the program too.
Thoughts…?
Thanks!! J
Post # 3
Member
68 posts
Worker bee
We’ve been considering asking my niece and nephew – they will be 19 and 16 by then.
Post # 4
Member
2024 posts
Buzzing bee
I’ve never heard of a gift table host. I have heard of a guest book attendant, and it always seemed like a lame job to me. I wouldn’t want to ask my friends to spend the event babysitting my wedding presents because I’d want them to be able to dance and have fun. I don’t really think you need anyone attending to the gifts. At most weddings I’ve been to, that’s been handled by family/bridal party/bride and groom at the end of the night. Plus, there usually aren’t a lot of boxed gifts to be handled, I think envelopes are more common for weddings.
Post # 5
Member
7900 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2012 - Pelican Grand Beach Resort
I’ve never been to a wedding with a guest book attendant or a gift table host, and in my experience, very few people bring gifts to the wedding (other than flat gifts, that is). Most boxed gifts are mailed directly from the store. I don’t really see the point. At the hotels I had my receptions at (I’ve been married twice), the staff would’ve moved gifts up to my room for me if the table became full.
Post # 6
Member
1736 posts
Bumble bee
I have never seen this…but I do understand some concern regarding corraling cards and such. I purchased a pretty bird-cage in lieu of a card box. The cage top has a little lock so once the cards go in, they can’t come out unless you have the key! 🙂
Post # 7
Member
611 posts
Busy bee
If I were your friend who you asked to do this, I would feel burdened, not honored. You wouldn’t really be “including” them, you’d be asking them to perform a specific task for you which requires them to exercise a lot of responsibility over your gifts (both physical and cash), and limits their ability to socialize, relax, and enjoy the party.
Also, the element of greeting guests–how many of your other guests do these friends actually know? I was asked to greet guests at my cousin’s wedding, and I felt really awkward doing so, because I didn’t know anyone other than our shared relatives. “Hi! I have no idea who you are, but please sign the couple’s guest book!” is just… awkward.
Honestly, I would skip this particular “honor” and limit it just to having someone already in the bridal party, or one of your parents/aunts/uncles, to keep an eye on the gifts in a more informal way.
Post # 8
Hostess
11165 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
We didn’t have a host as our venue wasn’t in an area where other people (strangers) would be coming in and out or be around. I honestly didn’t think any of our guests would try to steal items either. Our birdcage didn’t allow for easy access to the cards so if someone tried to steal them it would be pretty obvious.
For those having their receptions in more public areas like community centers, churches, restaurants etc I could see the need. I was at a wedding where a homeless man entered the reception (at a community center) and tried to steal the cards…so it does happen. The most important thing whether you have a host or not is to put the table in a place where it isn’t easily accessible by those walking by.
Post # 9
Member
2616 posts
Sugar bee
we had two aunts do it… we specifically told them to have people leave their gifts in their cars and not bring them into the ceremony site= but they didnt pass that message along to our guests. then the aunts left the gifts in their car and didnt not put them with the gifts at the reception site… the day after the wedding while we had half the gifts from the reception site. his mom and two aunts couldnt tell us who had the rest of the gifts, one aunt left that night to fly to east coast. other aunt was not picking up phone. and his mom was not helpful saying gifts will come when they come and she will open them with out us if they get dropped off at her place….
make sure who ever u have do it, u trust them and they folllow ur directions.
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