by Sarah Kikkert

While the practice of gift giving is nothing if not commonplace at weddings, it is becoming more and more common for the bride and groom to recieve financial gifts in place of a hand picked, monogrammed towel set or vintage china collection.  In an era of 60-hour-weeks and last minute shopping, this is understandable, but that doesn’t mean your gift table needs to suffer because of it!  So brides, look to dress up that borderline empty gift table with a card box that steals the show!

Of course, you can never go wrong with elegance.  Classic and chic, a stain-covered card box decorated to match your wedding colors will always be in style.  Use ribbons, feathers, crystals, jewels, pearls, seashells, and other baubles to add some pizzazz and flair to your box.  However, if you are looking for something a little more “out of the box,” here are some more ideas.

Kitschy card box substitutes include vintage themed containers like mailboxes, birdcages, or decorative baskets (think picnic or garden).  These are great for the bride who wants something a bit more creative, and can really draw in the attention, plus add texture to a table that’s nearly bare when guests arrive.  Also, these boxes can generally be re-used after the wedding to display mementos or photos at your home.

Another really great idea is to create a card box that directly relates to the theme of your wedding, or shows a personal element.  Photo boxes are a great idea; placing a large photograph of you two on each side and make sure it has revolving capabilities!  One of our recent brides did this and it was a huge hit!!  Design a music box, a large soccert ball or other sports piece that represents you and your favorite team, or a box that looks like a wedding cake.  Whatever your passion, use it to make your card box something original and totally you – this is a place where you can really go a little wild – just the size of the table is the limit!