Q: What do I do with all the gifts people will be giving me?

A: Everyone's favorite dilemma. Your gown has no pockets and you're unlikely to carry a purse so what to do? Most people don't bring huge gifts to weddings, just smaller gifts and envelopes which you don't want to lose. You can have a small gift table if you'd like, but you might better if I just put a nice sized cardboard box under your table (make sure your table's tablecloth is floor length) or several larger gift-bags for you to slip them in. Also, if people give you gifts in gift bags, you can stick cards in there.

More expensive options are available, including beautiful “bird cages” and other specially designed decorous boxes into which people can slip their cards, but I find that these really don’t have many other uses after your wedding to justify their rather high price. Furthermore, a lot of your guests are going to want to hand you their gift directly, not impersonally drop it in a box. Though if you have a friend who has one, or you want to use it as part of the overall theme and ambiance, it could very well be worth it for you.

Before you leave, make sure you consolidate all piles of gifts (since some people will give gifts to your parents, some to your groom, etc.) and send them home with a parent or good (very responsible and trustworthy) friend. (Even if you're going home afterwards, you still want to send bulkier things with someone else so you two don't have to be bothered yet). Also, from my experience, people wait until you're sitting to bring you their cards, but will give them to the groom no matter where he is. Make sure you check all of his pockets multiple times before have his tux/suit or shirt cleaned.