Deborah Chan
Wedding place cards are an important part of a wedding reception, serving both decorative and organisational purposes. They are a great way to guide guests to their intended seats and ensure they know where to expect dinner to be served. Place cards can also help to facilitate traffic for buffets and separate any family or friends who need to keep their distance from each other. There are a few things to consider when addressing place cards, such as whether to list guests individually or by couple or family, and whether to include table numbers. In terms of design, couples can choose from calligraphy or digital printing, with options to customise paper types, colours, fonts, shapes and styles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To indicate where each guest is assigned to sit and to act as a home base for guests during the festivities |
| Benefits | Reduces confusion, Controls costs, acts as a crowd control measure, ensures the right number of seats, and facilitates traffic for buffets |
| Contents | Guest's name, table number, food options, and a greeting |
| Design | Cardstock, acrylic, chalkboard, glass, or other materials. Can be customized with colours, fonts, shapes, and styles |
| Options | Individual cards, cards for couples, or cards for families |
| Execution | Calligraphy or digital printing |
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What You'll Learn
Place cards vs escort cards
Place cards and escort cards are two different things and serve different purposes. Escort cards are used to indicate which table a guest is assigned to. They are usually displayed at the entrance to the reception and will have a table number on them. Place cards, on the other hand, are set at the tables and indicate which seat each guest is supposed to sit in. They do not include the table number but can include an entrée indicator for the waitstaff to alert them to which dinner option each guest pre-selected.
Place cards are more specific and formal than escort cards. They are placed on or near each guest's place setting. If you're having a sit-down dinner at your reception and serving different menu options, most venues will require you to have place cards to ensure that everyone receives their preferred meal. These markers are also crucial if you have loved ones with dietary restrictions or allergies to avoid any food-related mishaps. Place cards can also help facilitate traffic for buffets and separate any family or friends that need to keep their distance from each other.
Escort cards direct guests to a specific table but not a particular seat. Couples can choose to have guests pick their own chairs once they arrive at their table or include place cards. Most couples group all their escort cards together in a visible display. However, escort cards are not necessary if you have a seating chart.
Place cards are usually done per person. However, you can make one for a family. For example, instead of writing the names of each member of the Smith family, you can simply write "Smith Family".
You can choose to have calligraphy or digital printing for your cards. If you opt for calligraphy, you can have the cards letterpress-printed with a design element in advance. If you choose digital printing, guest names, table numbers, and design graphics can all be printed together at once.
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Per person, per couple or per family
Place cards are usually done per person. However, escort cards can be done per couple or family.
Escort cards are used to indicate which table a guest is assigned to. They are usually displayed at the entrance to the reception and will have a table number on each one. Escort cards can also be addressed for each couple or family, rather than each individual guest. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith" or "The Smith Family".
Place cards are set at the tables and indicate which seat each guest is supposed to sit in. They do not include the table number but can include an entrée indicator for the waitstaff to alert them to which dinner option each guest pre-selected. Place cards are almost always by person. For married couples with different last names, you can omit the title completely or write out each of their names in full with their respective titles. For unmarried couples, you will generally follow the same format as married couples with different last names, but instead of "Mrs.", your female guests will be either "Miss." or "Ms.".
If you are planning to do place cards per couple, it is important to find out the names of plus ones. It is considered much more polite to address plus ones by name rather than as "Mr. X's Guest".
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Table numbers
Numbering System
The table numbering system should be straightforward and easy for your guests to understand. While any logical number scheme should be fine, numbering from left to right and top to bottom will likely work best for most guests. The head table is typically numbered as Table 1, but giving it a different number may help to avoid any connotations of higher-numbered tables being less important. You may also consider naming tables instead of or in addition to numbering them. Table names could be based on something meaningful to the couple, such as song or band names if they bonded over a shared love of music.
Table Number Cards
Table number cards should be placed on each table to physically mark them correctly. These cards should be visible, legible, and large enough to grab your guests' attention. They can also be designed to match the wedding theme or decor, such as invitations, escort cards, or place cards. You can purchase table number cards from stationery stores like Etsy, Zazzle, and Papier, or create your own DIY designs.
Seating Chart
A seating chart is essential for guiding guests to their tables. It should be aligned with the table numbers and place cards for a cohesive look. A floor plan diagram at the entrance to the venue can also help guests find their tables more easily. For long tables, you may divide them into quadrants according to the cardinal directions (NE, NW, SE, SW) and assign each guest a table number and quadrant, as indicated on the seating chart.
Table Decor
The tabletop decor can complement the table numbers to evoke a certain ambiance. For example, lush flowers and glowing candles can add a romantic touch, while billowing florals and soft candlelight create an elegant atmosphere. You can also incorporate table numbers into the centrepieces or linens to make them stand out. Unique shapes, patterns, borders, or sketches can enhance the visual appeal of the table numbers.
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Design and materials
Wedding place cards are an important part of a wedding reception, serving both decorative and organisational purposes. They can also act as crowd control and a home base for guests during the festivities. Place cards are usually made of paper (cardstock), but can also be made from acrylic, chalkboard, glass, or other materials. They are often displayed with place card holders, but tent cards stand on their own.
Place cards can be customised to match the wedding style, with various paper types, colours, fonts, shapes, and styles. For instance, you can choose a rustic, modern, or vintage theme and add a personal, DIY touch. You can also include design graphics and other decorative elements.
Place cards typically include the guest's name and sometimes their food options. They can also include a sweet message, like "welcome" or "at last", to get guests excited. If you want to add more information, you can include the table number, although this is more common on escort cards.
There are two main options for creating place cards: calligraphy and digital printing. If you opt for calligraphy, you can buy blank cards at most stationery stores and have them handwritten, either by yourself, a friend, or a professional calligrapher. Hiring a professional calligrapher can cost around $1 per card or more. If you choose digital printing, you can print guest names, table numbers, and design graphics all at once.
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When to order
Wedding place cards are an important part of the wedding reception, serving as decor and helping with organisation, crowd control and giving guests a home base. Place cards are usually ordered one or two months before the wedding. This is because you will need to wait until your seating chart is set before you can address your place cards.
Place cards are typically ordered at the same time as table numbers or names, as these are often designed to match. You can choose to have your place cards custom-made by a calligrapher, or you can opt for digital printing, which is often a cheaper option. If you are having your cards digitally printed, you will need to finalise the guest list, including any plus ones, and provide the printer with the guest names, table numbers and any design graphics.
If you are having your cards handwritten by a calligrapher, you will still need to finalise your guest list and provide the calligrapher with the relevant details. However, you may have more flexibility to add last-minute guests if you are working with a quick calligrapher.
If you are writing the place cards yourself, you can order them at any time, but it is best to wait until your guest list is finalised to avoid having to rewrite cards. You can buy blank cards from most stationery stores or online.
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Frequently asked questions
A wedding place card is a piece of stationery that goes on the reception tables with guests’ names on them to let people know where they're sitting.
Place cards are set at the tables and indicate which seat each guest is supposed to sit in. Escort cards are used to indicate which table a guest is assigned to. Escort cards are usually displayed at the entrance to the reception and will have a table number.
The guest's name is the most important piece of information on a place card. Sometimes food options are included, and they can also include an entrée indicator for waitstaff.
Place cards are usually done per person. For couples, you can write "Mr. and Mrs." followed by the last name. If they are not married, write their full first and last names. For families, you can write "The [surname] Family".
Place cards are typically ordered one to two months before the wedding.
