You’ve received all your response cards and you’ve made your seating arrangement. How do your guests know where their table is?

Escort Cards are usually “tent” cards, which are folded at the top. They have the guest’s name and table number written on them. They are usually placed in alphabetical order on a large table at the entrance of your event hall. When your guests arrive, they find their escort card and then find their table. Depending on your choice of style, you can have formal or informal escort cards. A formal card would be written as:

Mr. and Mrs. John Martin

Table 3

An informal card would be written as:

John and Becky Martin

Table 3

Place Cards are pre-set on the tables at the seat assigned to the guest. You would have a seating chart available at the entrance of your event hall. When your guests arrive, they find their seating assignment on the seating chart. Place cards are a little more time consuming, as someone actually has to set them out on the tables prior to the start of your reception.

You are essentially limited only by your budget, your time constraints and your imagination as to your seating cards. You can have themed cards decorated with ribbons that reflect your colors; you can attach packets of flower seeds (seeds of love); the possibilities are endless! Just be sure to buy extra cards to account for any errors!

As the writing of escort or place cards is usually one of the last minute tasks that is accomplished just a few days before the actual event date, it is probably a good idea to assign this project to a close trusted friend or your calligrapher. You would need to allow at least two days to complete this project, and be available to answer any questions that may arise.