• Enjoy your wedding day but keep an eye on your gift table.wedding image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  One important consideration when planning a wedding is the placement and decoration of the gift table during the reception. Although a part of the décor, nothing too elaborate should detract from the main function, which is to hold the gifts. Consider the safety and transportation of your wedding gifts after the reception ends and make appropriate arrangements.
  
  

Decoration

• As the function of a wedding gift table is to hold gifts, eliminate any centerpiece that may contain water or fire to prevent gift damage, or go with no centerpiece and allow more room at the table for the gifts. Arrange the table with coordinating colored tablecloths to the wedding theme, a gift book for guests to sign and a money box. The gift book registers who left a gift and gives you a method to account for the gifts to ensure all gifts are received, while a money box, preferably locked with a slit opening, allows guests to drop checks or cards containing cash safely.
  
  

Placement

• Choose an easily accessible and visible place for your gift table as you want to monitor the gifts and make it easy for guests to find the gift table. Placed by the DJ or the head table, a gift table is more secure from tampering if it is out in the open where all can see it. Another benefit of this placement is that all guests will travel to either the dance floor or head table to speak to the lucky couple as they drop off their gifts. Alternate placement options include opposite the head table in plain view or next to a trusted family member who will later pick up the gifts.
  
  

Transport Gifts

• Arrange to have your gifts moved after the reception ends. Usually this task goes to a trusted family member or even one of the parents. The person chosen should move the gifts from the table and store them in an agreed-upon location until the couple returns from their honeymoon. Leave a couple of large bags to gather the smaller gifts plus a couple of carts for the gift remover to ensure the gifts are moved safely as some may be breakable. As for the money box, it is preferable to handle this yourself as you can use the money for your honeymoon pleasure.