Welcome to a short & sweet Saturday episode of Joyful Wedding Planning. I’m your host and wedding planner, Emily Decloux, and today we’re looking at what you should be putting on your wedding gift table.
Okay first, I know that a lot of couples often share that they don’t want gifts, but this episode is for you too, trust me!
Because even if you ask your guests to not give you a gift, they’ll show up with cash and cards in hand, and even some wrapped gifts as well. People get very excited when their loved ones tie the knot, and they want to celebrate you! Don’t forget – gift giving is one of the main love languages!
So what should be on your wedding gift table?
The single basic item all couples should have is a card box or something that can hold cards. From there you can add things that fit into your theme. Maybe you’re having a boho chic wedding, so you’ll add a bouquet of dried flowers. Or perhaps you’ve got a scavenger hunt as part of your unfixed wedding activities (see my episode on that for more) so you can include a sentimental item that guests can check off their scavenger hunt list.
Some couples may opt to have their guest book on the gift table because it’s the logical or only other option at your reception. However, if you’re doing a guest book that’s not just a guest book, maybe it’s more of a big art installation like a lego tower where guests can make mini-figs and add themselves to it, or wine corks that guests can sign and place into a display frame, you might not have the guest book on your gift table.
I love having a picture of you and your fiance (now spouse!) on the table, or you could even have a photo album made that showcases your relationship, starting from the very early days of dating. You could print photos in an album, or there are tons of services that will print a full book for you as well.
You could also put other sentimental items, perhaps your proposal had some souvenirs, I remember a proposal that was based on the Amazing Race because the couple loved watching that show together, so the groom had prepared an amazing race proposal for his fiance, which he printed out clues for, and they had those on display on their gift table.
Now, in terms of the actual gifts, if you have asked your guests to not give you gifts, then you don’t need a large surface area for the wrapped gifts. So a smaller table will likely suffice. However, if you’ve opted for a registry, make sure you have plenty of space available for people to deposit their gifts when they arrive. You could also place a cute sign that says “gifts” on the table so people know where to put them! If you don’t want to do that, have one of your bridal party set a gift out on the table so that guests know that it’s the designated spot.
One more thing to add about gifts, at the end of the night, make sure someone is in charge of collecting the gifts and card box, and getting it back to your hotel room/home/car/wherever you’re ending up, safely. You’ll want to have fun opening up your cards and gifts together!
Alright, that’s it for me today, if you have any questions about planning your wedding that you think I should cover on this podcast, email me at [email protected]! Or if you’ve hit a point in your planning process where you feel like you’d rather have someone else take the reins on your wedding day so that you can just enjoy it, you can learn more about how I help DIY couples with Day Of Coordination here.
Until next time, keep it joyful!