Crafting Wedding Place Cards: A Diy Guide

Place cards are an essential part of a wedding reception, helping to streamline the event and ensure guests feel valued and comfortable. While they are small in size, they play a significant role in creating both order and elegance for your special day. Place cards are also a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding, infusing your personality and style into the celebration. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about making your own place cards, from choosing the right materials and design to adding creative flourishes that will wow your guests.

Choosing the right materials

Place cards are traditionally made from paper or cardstock, but you can get creative and use other materials such as shells, tiles, rocks, candles, mirrors, or even leather tags. If you opt for paper or cardstock, choose a thickness of around 80 lb to make the cards sturdy enough to stand on their own, but not so thick that they crack when folded.

For a more elegant look, consider using rich stock paper with fancy script and elegant cardholders. If you want to include intricate designs, calligraphy, or elaborate fonts, a larger card size will ensure the text is legible. The standard size for place cards is around 2 inches by 3.5 inches, but you can choose a different size to match your table layout and wedding decor.

If you're looking to add a pop of colour, experiment with different coloured backgrounds, fonts, and embellishments. You can also use different colours or designs to indicate meal choices, which will help your servers know what to serve to each guest.

When it comes to writing on the place cards, you can either print or handwrite the guest names. Handwriting adds a personal touch, but it can be time-consuming, especially for larger weddings. If you opt for printing, you can use a service like Avery Design & Print Online, which allows you to easily customise and print your place cards in minutes.

Don't forget to proofread your place cards carefully to avoid any mistakes in guest names or table assignments. With the right materials and attention to detail, your DIY wedding place cards will surely impress your guests!

Selecting a colour scheme

• Consider your venue: The venue you choose will help establish the overall tone and theme of your wedding. If your venue has a lot of decorative elements, try to select colours that complement its existing features and architecture. If your venue has a neutral colour palette, such as a rustic barn or an open field, you have more flexibility in your choice of colours.
• Think about the season: Using seasonal colours is a great way to elevate your wedding décor, especially if your venue is outdoors. For example, soft pink and pastel colours are perfect for spring, while cool blue tones suit summer celebrations. Warm colours like reds, yellows, and oranges are ideal for autumn, and rich burgundy or dark neutrals are perfect for winter.
• Mood and ambiance: Consider the mood and ambiance you want to create at your wedding. Colours can enhance the mood and influence how you and your guests feel. For instance, dusty rose and mauve create a romantic atmosphere, while earthy terracotta tones evoke warmth and familiarity. Bold colours will naturally draw more attention, so reserve them for focal points like your bridal bouquet or the wedding arch.
• Use a colour wheel: A colour wheel can be a valuable tool for experimenting with classic colour schemes. Complementary colours are those that are opposite each other on the wheel, such as yellow and violet. Analogous colours are neighbours on the wheel, like blue, blue-green, and blue-violet. Three colours evenly spaced on the wheel, like red, blue, and yellow, form a triad. Monochromatic colour schemes use gradients and tints of the same colour.
• Add neutrals: To create a sophisticated palette, add neutral colours like white, ivory, beige, or tan to your chosen colours.
• Get inspired: Draw inspiration from wedding trends on sites like Instagram or Pinterest. Look at real weddings and incorporate elements that you like into your colour palette. You can also take cues from your surroundings, nature, and the current season.

Remember, your wedding colour palette doesn't have to be matchy-matchy. A tonal or layered palette can often look more sophisticated than a perfectly colour-coded scheme. So, have fun with your colour choices and don't be afraid to experiment!

Adding decorations

Calligraphy

Add a calligraphy flourish to the names and table numbers. You can hire a calligrapher, ask a friend with decorative writing experience, or buy a calligraphy pen and practice your own style. Calligraphy adds an elegant and artsy touch to your place cards.

Crystals

Glue a tiny crystal to the centre of the card, perhaps within your monogram. Clear or coloured crystals will add some bling to your cards. Use tweezers to place self-stick or glued-backed crystals neatly and without mess.

Hole Punch

Use a decorative hole punch in the shape of a starburst, heart, or bird in the corner or centre of each card. Detailed hole punches can look like expensive laser-cut invitation accents.

Stamp Art

Check your local craft store for a pretty rubber stamp and stamp pad. This can add a rustic, Victorian, or embossed shimmery effect to your place cards.

Feathers

Glue a feather to each place card if you're using feathers in your centrepiece or wedding décor. This will tie your design style together.

Colourful Border

Choose a place card with a colourful border, and write your guests' names and table numbers in the same colour pen. This is a simple but effective way to add flair to your place cards.

Messages

Write a message inside folded tent-style cards, such as a personal thank-you note or a romantic quote. Handwriting adds a special touch, and guests may appreciate the extra effort.

Guest Names

Consider writing the guests' names on both the front and back of the cards. This way, when guests at the table introduce themselves, those sitting across the table can see a reminder of their names.

Pop of Colour

Add a vibrant splash of colour to each place setting. Use lemons as place card holders, with the guest's name written on a small scroll of paper attached to the fruit with a pin.

Natural Look

For a simplistic, natural look, opt for plain white cardstock with a muted touch of colour. Add a tiny bundle of dried flowers to bring texture and a pop of colour to your place settings.

Writing the cards

Basic Etiquette

It is important to know some basic wedding place card etiquette to ensure your reception runs smoothly. Here are some key considerations:

• Size: Place cards typically come in various sizes, but the standard dimensions are similar to a business card, around 2 inches by 3.5 inches. However, you can choose different sizes to suit your table layout and wedding decor. Just ensure the cards are large enough for guests' names to be clearly read from a few feet away.
• Handwriting vs. Printing: Whether you handwrite or print the cards depends on the scale of your celebration and your budget and timeline. Handwriting adds a personal touch, especially for small weddings. Printed cards offer elegance and consistency, especially with tools like Avery Design & Print Online (ADPO), which allows for easy customization and printing.
• Names: Traditionally, place cards include guests' full names (first and last) to avoid confusion, especially in larger weddings. However, using only first names can create a sense of warmth and familiarity in more casual or intimate settings.
• Titles: In traditional etiquette, formal titles like Mr., Mrs., Ms., and Dr. are included. However, you can exclude them if your wedding is more casual and relaxed. Just be consistent across all cards to avoid any unintentional snubs.
• Individual or Couple Cards: This decision depends on guest familiarity and preference. Individual cards offer a tailored touch, especially for larger weddings with diverse connections. Couple cards keep things tidy and encourage social interaction.

Additional Tips

• Font Size and Legibility: Choose a font size that is easy to read from a few feet away. Select a font that aligns with your wedding theme—fonts with serifs are more formal, as are cursive letters.
• Cardstock Quality: Use high-quality cardstock to ensure your place cards look polished and professional.
• Ordering and Timing: Order your place cards well in advance to allow for assembly and any potential changes. It is recommended to order them once RSVPs arrive and your seating chart is confirmed, typically about a month or two before the wedding.
• Proofreading: Carefully proofread your place cards to avoid sending guests to the wrong table! Double-check names, table numbers, and any other details.
• Display: Display your place cards creatively. Use place card holders or get innovative by displaying them in a way that complements your wedding décor.
• Meal Choice Indication: If needed, clearly indicate guests' meal choices on the place cards. Use different colours, designs, or small icons/images to distinguish between options.

Creative Ideas for Writing the Cards

• Calligraphy: Add a calligraphy flourish to the names and table numbers. You can hire a calligrapher, ask a friend with decorative writing experience, or buy a calligraphy pen and practice your own style.
• Decorations: Glue small decorations, such as tiny crystals, feathers, or pressed flowers, to the cards to tie in with your wedding theme and décor.
• Hole Punch: Use a decorative hole punch in a fun shape, like a starburst, heart, or bird, to add an intricate and unique accent to each card.
• Stamp Art: Visit a craft store and choose a pretty rubber stamp and stamp pad to create a rustic, Victorian, or embossed effect that matches your wedding theme.
• Colourful Border: Choose place cards with colourful borders, and write guests' names and table numbers in a matching colour pen.
• Personalised Messages: Write a handwritten message inside folded tent-style cards, such as a thank-you note or a romantic quote. This adds a special touch that guests will appreciate.
• Guest Names on Both Sides: Consider writing guests' names on both the front and back of the cards. This way, guests can easily remember each other's names when making introductions at the table.

Displaying the cards

Displaying your DIY place cards creatively is an important part of your wedding decor. Here are some ideas for how to display your place cards:

Place card holders

Place card holders are a classic way to display your place cards. These can be as simple or as ornate as you like, and can be made from a variety of materials such as wood, metal, or acrylic. Place card holders are a good option if you want to ensure your place cards are sturdy and won't blow away in an outdoor setting.

On the place setting

Place cards can be placed directly on the place setting, either on top of the plate or napkin, or tucked into a napkin ring. This is a good option if you want to ensure your guests can easily find their assigned seat.

On a display board

If you're short on table space, or want to create a more interactive display, you can create a display board for your place cards. This could be a simple board with pins or clips to attach the cards, or something more creative such as a ladder or a tree branch. This option can also serve as a fun photo backdrop for your guests.

With a place card "vessel"

Place cards can be displayed in a vessel such as a basket, tray, or box. This is a good option if you want to create a cohesive display that matches your wedding decor. For example, you could use a vintage tray or a rustic wooden box to hold your place cards.

With a creative prop

If you're looking for a more unique way to display your place cards, you can get creative with props. For example, you could use a small easel or stand for each card, or hang them from a string or ribbon. You could also attach the place cards to a prop that ties into your wedding theme, such as a small picture frame or a miniature version of your wedding favour.

With natural elements

If you're having an outdoor wedding or a wedding with a natural theme, you can incorporate natural elements into your place card display. For example, you could use rocks, shells, or leaves as place card holders, or write your guests' names directly on stones or shells.

Frequently asked questions