by Caroline Sumner

Created on: August 17, 2010   Last Updated: August 18, 2010

The last thing you want to worry about at your wedding is some sticky-handed soul stealing your wedding gifts. After all, these gifts are bought for you by loved ones to help you begin a new life together with ease, and were paid for out of their own pockets. Stealing is always abhorrent behavior, but at a wedding it is downright low. So how can you prevent any gift theft while still being able to relax and enjoy your wedding? Try one of these ideas to keep things safe and smooth:

Keep a record

Assign someone to make a note of who brings gifts. Having a good record of the gifts – and what they are, if possible – will help prevent theft (and misplacement). People are less likely to steal if they think it would be noticeable. Moreover, a record should be kept anyway in case you lose track of who gave you what so that you can write thank-you cards!

Keep them safe

Choose a separate room at your venue to keep the gifts and have someone make sure that it is kept locked from the time that the reception begins until it is time for someone to transport them elsewhere.

Have a spy

If you are really concerned, ask a few people to be spies. This may sound a little bit over-the-top, but it can save you a lot of worry. Tell those people to keep their role secret and to just check in on the gifts every so often to be sure nothing is disturbed and to keep an eye on the crowd in general.

Have a separate place for the gifts

If gifts are left on a table for all to see, temptation may be overwhelming for some less-than-honest folks. Instead, have a trusted person move the gifts to a totally separate place – perhaps someone’s car trunk – to keep them out of sight.

Know who is at your wedding

If you are concerned about the behavior of any staff at your wedding or any friends that a guest might bring along, ask for more information about them before they come to the wedding. If you have cause to worry – like if a staff member’s record is not exactly squeaky clean – employ one of the above tips to make sure your gifts are safe.

Though wedding gift theft probably doesn’t happen all that often, it can never hurt to take a few precautions to be sure your gifts are safe and your wedding runs smoothly! 

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