Quick Answer
A cards and gifts sign isn't tacky. It doesn't ask for anything; it tells guests holding an envelope where to set it down. Keep the wording to a short label, use a 5x7 sign on the gift table, and give the guestbook its own small sign with a one-line instruction.
These are the smallest signs at most weddings and two of the busiest. Guestbook and cards & gifts signs are among our most-ordered signs. They do quiet, practical work: one keeps envelopes from wandering the room, the other turns a book on a table into something guests actually stop for.
Is a cards and gifts sign tacky?
No. Guests who bring a card are looking for somewhere to put it, and a sign answers that before they have to ask. It's direction, not a request, the same as a sign for the bar.
What makes a gift sign feel awkward is wording that asks for something. "Cards" or "Cards & Gifts" reads as a label. Lines that mention money, funds or registries read as a request, and they belong on your wedding website, not on the table.
What should a cards and gifts sign say?
Short and plain. A label of a word or two does the job, and the space that's left lets the lettering be read from a step away.
- Cards & Gifts
- Cards
- Gifts & Cards
If you'd like a warmer touch, add a small second line beneath the label: "with thanks", "Thank you for celebrating with us" or "With love and gratitude".
If you've asked for no gifts, a "Cards" sign over a card box keeps the table simple, with space beside it for anyone who brings one anyway.
What should a guestbook sign say?
One short line that tells guests what to do, and sometimes a second that tells them why. Match the instruction to the kind of guestbook you have.
A classic book
- Please sign our guestbook
- Leave us a note
- Share your wishes for the newlyweds
- Leave a little love
A photo guestbook (an instant camera beside the book)
- Snap a photo, leave a note
- Take a picture, add it to our book, and write us a message
- Strike a pose, then leave us a note
An audio guestbook (a phone guests speak into)
- Pick up the phone and leave us a message
- After the tone, tell us your favorite memory
- Leave us a voicemail we'll keep forever
Keep instructions literal for photo and audio guestbooks. Guests won't stop to work out how the camera or phone works; the sign should tell them in a single line. We make photo guestbook and audio guestbook signs with room for exactly that.
What size should a cards and gifts or guestbook sign be?
5x7 for most tables, 8x10 when the sign shares the table with a lot else.
| Sign | Size most couples choose | Choose 8x10 when |
|---|---|---|
| Cards & gifts | 5x7 (about 9 in 10 of our couples) | The gift table is large or heavily decorated |
| Guestbook | 5x7 (about 7 in 10 of our couples) | The sign explains a photo or audio guestbook, or stands among candles and florals |
Both sizes come with a 3-inch clear acrylic stand and sit upright on the table, in clear, frosted, mirror, black, white or a hand-painted background, in the same lettering as the rest of your signs.
Where should the guestbook and gift table go?
Near the entrance to the reception or cocktail hour, where guests arrive with cards in hand and a few minutes to spare. Put the guestbook where people pause naturally, along the bar line or beside the gift table, and away from the seating chart, which already draws a crowd.
Two practical details:
- Use a card box with a lid or slot, and keep it in sight of the bar or a staff member.
- Name someone to take it home. Before the wedding, decide who collects the card box at the end of the night, and tell them.
Can these signs be part of a set?
Yes, and they usually are. Each of our wedding sign bundles includes a guestbook sign (8x10) and a cards & gifts sign (5x7), set in the same collection as your welcome sign and table numbers. Bought on their own, they're $20 for 5x7 and $40 for 8x10.
Frequently asked questions
Is it tacky to have a cards and gifts sign at a wedding?
No. A cards and gifts sign tells guests where to set down a card or gift; it doesn't ask for one. Keep the wording to a short label, such as "Cards & Gifts", and leave registry or fund details to your website.
What do you write on a cards and gifts sign?
A short label: "Cards & Gifts" or "Cards", with an optional small second line such as "with thanks". Short wording reads from a step away and keeps the sign from sounding like a request.
What should a guestbook sign say?
One line telling guests what to do, such as "Please sign our guestbook" or "Leave us a note". For a photo or audio guestbook, give a literal instruction: "Snap a photo, leave a note" or "Pick up the phone and leave us a message".
What size should a wedding guestbook sign be?
5x7 suits most guestbook tables, and about 7 in 10 of our couples choose it. Choose 8x10 for a photo or audio guestbook that needs instructions, or a table with a lot of décor.
Do cards and gifts signs come with a stand?
Ours do. Both 5x7 and 8x10 signs include a 3-inch clear acrylic stand.
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