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Escort Cards vs. Place Cards
Deciding who will sit where at your reception is a daunting task, and takes a considerable amount of thought and time. "Oh, no...we cannot put Uncle George next to Aunt Mary! They don't get along!" The best way to get started is with a diagram of the hall. Draw your table layout and do your general table assignment. Your next step will be to decide if you want to assign the individual place settings or if you would prefer to allow your guests to choose their own. This is where your decision to use use Place Cards or Escort Cards (otherwise known as Seating Cards) will come in to play.
  • Place Cards...in the past, were typically used at more formal weddings, but today are most often used for small weddings. They have only the guest's name and would sit on each individual place setting, letting each guest know their 'place' at the table. If you decide on place cards, you will also need a seating chart to display in the foyer to direct your guests to the proper table.
  • Escort Cards (Seating Cards) ...are displayed together on a separate table, usually in the foyer or on the receiving table. They would have the guest's name as well as the table number where they are to be seated. They can be arranged alphabetically or by table number. The guests can pick up their card casually during the cocktail time or while photographs are being taken, and the card will 'escort' them to the table they have been assigned to.

Place Cards have been the more popular choice in the past, but more and more couples today are opting to go with escort cards. By choosing to use escort cards, you save yourself the time and hassle of trying to decide who will sit next to whom, and you can also forgo having to create a seating chart. Escort cards also give your guests a chance to mix it up a bit. Instead of husband, wife, husband, wife...perhaps the women would like to sit together, allowing the men to to do the same.

Whether you choose place cards or escort cards, make sure the style of the card reflects the style of the wedding. With so many choices available, it should be fairly easy to find a card that will complement the tone of your big day.

Congratulations and happy planning,
Pamellia Johnson
Creative Director