How to Prevent Wedding Theft and Keep Your Gifts Safe? – Weddingz Advice #20

Who would ever think that wedding gift theft could be a thing?! If we were to go by Bollywood movies like, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Dolly Ki Doli and Wedding Crashers, we’d say YES, it happens! And why not, for those who are looking to indulge in a little “haath ki safai”, your wedding is as good a place as any other. Crowded – check. Lots of presents – check. Unaccounted for – check. No safegaurds – Check = Easy to flick a few things and make a smooth exit.

So, what can you do to prevent wedding crashers from making away with your wedding gifts and ruining your mood? Read on!

Keep Your Celebration Up, Close and Personal

Image Credit: Camera Crew

Now I know it’s a bit too much if we say, ditch the idea of a big fat Indian wedding to avoid your wedding gifts from being stolen, but we are saying it. Big fat wedding, usually means bigger crowds which then equals to tons of riff-raff entry without being noticed. That’s a theft alarm, right? Smaller weddings usually means close friends and family in an intimate setting where chances of randoms breaking in to your wedding are next to nothing. 

Check with Your Wedding Venue for Any Security Options

Image Credit: Artistagraphi

If your guest list is a bit larger than life and a big fat Indian wedding is on your mind, then ensure you make a personal visit to your wedding venue before the main event. This way you will have a clear idea of what goes where, including your precious wedding gifts table. Also, ask your venue manager if at all there are any security options, like CCTV cameras or security personnel on site who will be assisting you in securing the venue from intruders.  

Pick a Prime Location

Image Credit: Garrett Nudd Photography

Another advantage of personally visiting the venue is that you get to decide where you want your wedding gift table to be placed. It is advisable to keep the wedding gifts table close to the stage exit and not the venue exit. Make sure the table is big and wide, which makes it inaccessible for wedding crashers to flick your wedding gifts away.

Combine It with another Table

Image Credit: Storyboard Wedding

If you’re thinking of setting a candy bar table, place your wedding gift table right next to it or at a place that is visible to a larger audience. This is not to show off the bundle of presents you’re receiving, rather it is a great plan to make it absolutely impossible for any wedding theft to occur given that there will be many people in and around watching the gift table at all times throughout the event. A wedding crasher will definitely think twice before lifting something up.

Appoint a Gift-Attendant

Image Credit: Navdeep Soni

 To double up the security for your wedding gifts, you can appoint one or more reliable gift-attendants from amongst your family and friends. This can be the couple’s best friends, cousins or anyone from the bridal party that the couple fully trusts to take care of collecting, storing and transporting the wedding gifts.  

Use a Card Box

Image Credit: Dream Grapher

About one-third of wedding guests give cash as wedding gifts. Do not, and take us seriously here, but do not stash away money envelopes under the chair cushions, behind the bushes or with your scatterbrain cousin who is going to completely forget where she left the bundle behind. You can easily D.I.Y. a card box and securely stack all the money you get in one place or even carry a large purse. Below are some designs that you could give a try:

A simple wooden carton decorated with fairy lights covered in a jute cloth

Image Credit: Tradesy

Personalize a mini suitcase with your pictures 

Image Credit: Style me Pretty

Or just your initals with little floral accents will also do

Image Credit: asianweddingsideas

A Mr. & Mrs. cards picnic basket

Photo Credit: You & Your Wedding

Saving up for your honeymoon?!

Image Credit: Un Beau Jour

A photoframe card box

Image Credit: Pinterest

Or a classic see-through glass box

Image Credit: My Weddign Recption Ideas

 Go Online!

Image Credit: Pinterest

 By this we mean signing up for an online gift registry that offers your guests the convenience to deliver the presents straight to your home. Another way of safeguarding your wedding gifts is to sign up for wedding insurance, that will cover your damages.