Creating Wedding Place Cards: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding place cards are an essential part of your big day, helping guests find their assigned seats. They can also add a stylish and creative flair to your wedding decor. Making your own place cards is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your wedding. From calligraphy and crystals to feathers and folded tent cards, there are endless ways to design and decorate your place cards. You can even get creative with escort cards, adding unique touches like feathers, lollipops, or even black-and-white beach balls! With a bit of imagination and some simple tools, you can easily make wedding place cards that are both functional and elegant.

Foldable place cards

To make your own foldable place cards, you can use a program like Microsoft Word or Canva. Both options offer templates that you can customise with your guest names and table numbers. With Microsoft Word, you can use the Name Card Generator to quickly create place cards. You can also modify the templates to match your wedding style and add your logo or themed artwork.

Canva also has a wide range of templates and customisation tools to create place cards that match your wedding theme. You can add textures, backgrounds, and choose from over 130 free fonts to design place cards that are truly unique.

When designing your foldable place cards, it's important to consider the size. The standard place card size is 2 inches by 3.5 inches, but this may vary depending on your printer's paper size and margins. Pre-cut card templates offer even more size options, such as 1.75 by 3.75 inches, and can streamline the cutting and folding process.

Once you've designed and printed your place cards, carefully cut them out and fold them. You can also add a finishing touch by choosing a specific type of cardstock, such as matte or foil-pressed luxe paper.

Adding a calligraphy flourish

Calligraphy flourishes are decorative strokes added to your writing to make it more elaborate and eye-catching. They can range from simple curves and loops to more intricate designs with curves that cross over themselves. Flourishes add elegance and individuality to your calligraphy, transforming a basic piece into a true work of art.

Tools for Practising Flourishes:

Before you begin, it's recommended to practise with a monoline pen or even a pencil. That way, you can focus on the shapes and achieve smooth strokes without worrying about varying the thickness of your lines. Once you get comfortable, you can try using brush pens or oblique pen holders for more advanced techniques.

Basic Rules of Calligraphy Flourishes:

There are a few key guidelines to keep in mind when creating flourishes:

• Flourishes are based on oval shapes. The loops and curves should be slightly stretched circles, avoiding sharp angles.
• Lines should cross at approximately 90-degree angles. This rule applies to more complex flourishes with intersecting lines.
• Do not cross two thick lines. You can use both thick and thin lines, but ensure that at least one line is thin at each intersection.

Where to Add Flourishes:

When adding flourishes to your wedding place cards, there are a few spots that work particularly well:

• Uppercase letters with ascending loops, such as H, L, and F.
• Lowercase letters with descending loops, such as G, J, or Y.
• The T-crossbar is an easy spot to add embellishments, and you can even connect it to the following letter for a playful touch.
• The end of a word or line is a great place to add a bold flourish without worrying about legibility.
• In the middle of a word, flourishes can fill up empty space between descending loops.

Practising Flourishing:

The key to mastering calligraphy flourishes is to practise, practise, practise! Fill pages with random swirls and swooshes, building your muscle memory. Then, try adding them to your letters. Start with simple spots like minuscule t's and y's, and gradually work your way up to more complex flourishes. Remember, it's okay to make mistakes—flourishing is an art that takes time and dedication to perfect.

Using stamp art

Choose the Right Stamps

Select stamps that complement your wedding theme and style. For example, if you're having a rustic or vintage-themed wedding, opt for stamps with natural elements or whimsical designs. If your wedding is more elegant and sophisticated, consider intricate or embossed stamp designs. You can find a wide variety of stamp options online or at your local craft store.

Select the Right Ink

The ink you choose will depend on the colour of your place cards and the impression you want to make. For a subtle and elegant look, choose an ink colour that matches your place cards. If you want the stamped design to stand out, opt for a contrasting colour. You can also find ink pads in various colours, including metallic and glitter options, to add a touch of sparkle to your place cards.

Practice Stamping

Before you start stamping your place cards, practice on scrap paper to get a feel for the pressure and technique required. This will help you avoid making mistakes on your actual place cards. Ensure the ink is evenly distributed on the stamp to avoid blotchy or uneven impressions.

Stamp Each Place Card

Once you've mastered the stamping technique, it's time to start stamping your place cards. Carefully align the stamp with the desired area on each place card and apply even pressure. If you're using self-inking stamps, simply press the stamp onto the place card. If you're using a separate ink pad, gently press the stamp into the ink pad, then onto the place card. Allow the ink to dry completely before handling the place cards further.

Add Personalization

To add a personal touch to your stamped place cards, consider customising them with your guests' names and table numbers. You can use a different colour ink or a fine-tipped pen to write this information below or next to the stamped design. This extra step will make your guests feel special and add a unique flair to your place cards.

Display Your Place Cards

Finally, display your stamped place cards in a creative way that complements your wedding décor. You can use place card holders or get creative with your display by attaching them to favours, hanging them from branches, or placing them in small picture frames. Your beautifully stamped place cards will add a unique and memorable touch to your wedding tablescape.

Escort cards vs place cards

Escort cards and place cards are often confused for each other, but they are distinct. Both types of cards designate where each guest will be seated at a wedding reception, but place cards are more specific and formal than escort cards. Place cards direct guests to a specific seat at a specific table, whereas escort cards direct guests to a table, allowing them to choose their own seat.

Escort cards are usually placed in a grouping before the entrance to the dining area, while place cards are placed at each table to denote each guest's assigned seat. Escort cards are typically used in place of a seating chart and are best suited for situations where specific place settings at the table are not necessary. On the other hand, place cards are used in conjunction with a seating chart, which informs guests of their table, while the place card indicates their designated seat.

While it is possible to skip escort cards, table cards, and a seating chart, it is not recommended. Without guidance, guests tend to spread out and leave empty seats at most tables, requiring more tables, chairs, centrepieces, linens, and other expenses. For a truly informal wedding where seating is ample and scattered, forgoing both escort and place cards can work. However, for sit-down or buffet receptions in a traditional venue, escort and place cards, or at least one of the two, are crucial to avoid seating confusion.

Couples often choose to have both escort cards and place cards or opt for just escort cards. It is generally not advisable to have only place cards without first informing guests of their table assignments, as this can lead to chaos and stress as guests search for their names. The exception to this is if you are having a small wedding with a single long table, eliminating the need to specify table numbers.

Flat cards vs tent cards

When it comes to wedding place cards, you have two main options: flat cards or tent cards. Flat place cards are often used with a place card holder, which can add flair and style to your wedding tables. If you're feeling creative, you can opt for unique card holders, such as eucalyptus bauble holders or personalised wooden nameplates. Flat cards are a good choice if you want to add a decorative element to your table setting.

Tent cards, on the other hand, are designed to be folded in half and can stand on their own. They are also known as foldable cards. The main advantage of tent cards is that they are freestanding, so you don't need to worry about finding card holders. This can save you time and money, as you won't need to source additional materials. Tent cards are a more straightforward option if you're looking for simplicity and ease of use.

The choice between flat and tent cards ultimately depends on your personal preference and the style of your wedding. If you're looking for a more unique option, you could even opt for something completely different, such as fresh magnolia leaves or modern acrylic cards.

In terms of size, place cards typically come in two dimensions: 3.5" x 2.5" or 3.78" x 1.48". You can also find square-shaped tent cards that are 3" x 3" when folded and 6" x 3" when open. It's important to consider the size of your tables and the overall aesthetic you want to achieve when deciding on the size and style of your place cards.

Frequently asked questions