table assignments escort cards

29 Creative Wedding Escort Card Displays to Help Seat Your Guests

Wow your guests (and help them find their reception seats) on your wedding day with these creative wedding escort card ideas and displays.

Cavin Elizabeth Photography Josefina Weddings & Events

Escort cards  are just one of the necessities you'll need for your wedding reception. They correspond to your  wedding seating chart  and play a crucial role in helping your wedding guests find their table assignments. But even though your escort cards are first and foremost functional details, they don't have to be boring. These creative wedding escort card ideas and displays will inspire you to think outside the box—or card, rather—for added ways to play up your wedding theme on the big day. (And if you don't want to stop there, take a look at our favorite  wedding place card display ideas  to surprise your guests once they take their seats.) Personalize your reception decor with these creative wedding escort card ideas. 

Jasmine Norris Photography

Champagne Escort Card Wall 

Get the party going as soon as guests walk in the door by pairing your escort cards with glasses of bubbly! Champagne walls have been trending for a few years now, and truthfully, we can't get enough of them. Personalize yours with a neon sign, flowers, or colorful balloons. Of course this wedding escort card idea works for the 21-and-older crowd, so if you have any underage guests, be sure to swap out champagne for juice or sparkling water.

Cushing Field House

Dessert Escort Card Display

Who says you have to wait until after dessert to eat dinner? Individually boxed treats, like cookies, macarons, doughnut bites, or cupcakes, will give your wedding guests something to snack on when they first arrive at the reception or cocktail hour.  

Wilder Floral Co.

Flower-Filled Hutch

If you're hosting a  vintage-inspired wedding  or garden-themed wedding, this wedding escort card idea is romantic and aesthetically fitting. Source an antique hutch from a  local event rental company  and turn it into a focal piece with your escort cards and botanical details.

J. Anne Photography

Event design by  Angelica Rose Events , Escort cards by ShePaperie

Champagne Escort Cards With Stirrers

Here's another option if you love the champagne wedding escort card idea. Fancy drink stirrers, like these engraved rose gold ones, immediately turn ordinary glass flutes into stylish (and drinkable) escort cards.

Fleur, Inc.

Calligraphy Escort Card Wall

Use a wooden board surrounded by greenery and lush flowers to turn even the simplest of wedding escort cards can be transformed into a memorable display.

Wall of Roses

If  roses are your favorite flower , you won't want to miss this wedding escort card idea. Use a pegboard or slotted shelves to display escort cards that are attached to individual roses—this assortment of white, blush, and pink blooms is incredibly pretty.

Cloud 9 Weddings & Papers

Rope Escort Card Display

Use twine to tie paper escort cards to vertical ropes, creating a rustic, laid-back look that's fitting for an outdoor wedding.

Cmart Celebrations Wedding & Event Planning

Nautical-Themed Escort Cards

Boat-shaped escort cards are a fun way to add detail to a  nautical wedding theme . Add a watercolor accent to the display to tie the whole aesthetic together.

Rock Paper Scissors Events

Vintage Buffet 

Your escort cards can also double as wedding favors—just make sure you add a custom tag or label for each guest. These gourmet bottles of olive oil look so stylish atop a vintage buffet decorated with fresh greenery.

Keychain Wedding Escort Cards

We love this unique wedding escort card idea: retro-style keychains engraved with guests' names and table numbers. The best part? They're great keepsake items for your friends and family to use long after the wedding.

Owl & Envelope

Ombré Wedding Escort Card Wall

For a modern  minimalist wedding theme , arrange calligraphy escort cards in an ombré pattern against a white backdrop. Add a floral installation to one side for a touch of drama.

Blossom Events

Hanging Wedding Escort Card Display

If you love the  hanging centerpiece  look, take the idea to the next level by using a suspended arrangement to show off your wedding escort cards.

Nicole Smith Wedding Planning

Book-Themed Wedding Escort Cards

This creative escort card display is perfect for a book-themed wedding (or if you're getting married at a library venue).

Velvet Alley Events

Clothespin Wedding Escort Card Display

Clothespins are an easy but decorative way to showcase both traditional and alternative escort cards, like these seed packets.

Wandering Heart Paper Co.

Wedding Escort Cards With Wax Seals

Use  wax seal stamps  to instantly give ordinary paper escort cards a regal,  Old World look . We love classic wax colors like gold and silver, but you can find almost any hue to match your wedding colors—or melt colors together to create a swirled effect.

Amy Abbott Events

Tropical Wedding Escort Cards 

Using leaves as escort cards will bring island-inspired flair to your reception space. Showcase the leaves on a framed bulletin board along with candles and streamlined wedding decor for a  chic tropical theme .  

Life in Bloom

Neon Sign Wedding Escort Card Display

A  glowing neon sign  adds spunk and personality to your wedding decor, and your escort card display is a fabulous spot to show off a custom sign that bears your last name or initials.

Mason Alley Calligraphy

Wedding Escort Cards With Crystals 

Send your guests to their seats with all the good vibes by pairing each wedding escort card with its very own crystal. You can choose the crystals  based on their meanings  or simply use stones that match your color palette. And you don't have to stop at escort cards—you can  incorporate crystals  into the rest of your wedding decorations for a cool bohemian look. 

Odalys Mendez Photography Chancey Charm

Seashell Wedding Escort Cards

Sea urchin shells make lovely wedding escort card ideas for  a beach wedding or coastal theme . Use shells in the same color palette and place them on a bed of sand for the most decorative look. Another on-theme option: using colorful sea glass instead of dried shells.  

Alchemy Event Studio

Wedding Escort Cards With Lavender

For a classic  garden wedding , display your escort cards in a tray of loose lavender buds. The natural fragrance will have your venue smelling heavenly!

Pamela Price

Compass Wedding Escort Cards 

Personalized compasses tied with striped ribbons make decorative wedding escort cards if you're having a  nautical preppy theme .

Nessa K Photography

Wedding Escort Cards With Greenery

If your motto is "less is more," you'll love these simple botanical escort cards. Ask your florist to save any leaves that were removed while creating your  wedding flower arrangements . Mixing and matching the greenery will only add to the earthy aesthetic.

Hyde Park Photography

Macramé Escort Card Display

Macramé details  are a must for any boho wedding theme. This innovative escort card display is giving us all the free=spirited vibes. Plus, you can repurpose the macramé as a wall hanging in your home after the wedding is over.

Rustic Glam Rental Co.

Potted Succulent Escort Cards

Potted succulents  are a two-for-one deal when it comes to wedding escort card ideas. They make adorable escort cards, especially for an eco-friendly wedding or greenhouse venue, and at the end of the night, your guests can enjoy them as  take-home wedding favors . Succulent escort cards also serve as a decorative accent when displayed on a ladder shelf like this.

Black & Hue Photography

Branches & Greenery 

You can create this escort card display relatively easily by repurposing tree branches or logs. Cut paper-sized slits into the branches at even intervals, and then add greenery and fresh flowers for bursts of color and texture.

Lovers of Love Photography

Moss Wall Escort Card Display

Are moss walls the new floral walls? We can't say for sure just yet, but this stylish escort card display could convince us once and for all. The dark wood laser-cut sign paired with the moss creates  a woodland-inspired, fairytale effect  that is perfect for an outdoor wedding at a vineyard or forest venue.

LVL Weddings & Events

Champion Ribbon Escort Cards

Make your guests feel like the VIPs that they are by awarding them ribbons guiding them to their corresponding tables. This option is a whimsical take on classic style, and it's one of our favorite wedding escort card ideas if you're getting married at an equestrian farm or stables.

Elias Kordelakos Photography

Faux Grass 

Tuck your escort cards into neatly arranged crates of faux grass for  a classic springtime vibe .  

Sebesta Design

Moody wedding escort card display.

Transform an ordinary wooden board into a decorative display by adding flowering vines along with your escort cards. The dark brown and burgundy hues in this display would be gorgeous at a  moody fall wedding .

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Insanely Creative Escort Cards and Seating Displays

These unique ideas for escort cards and seating charts won't just blow your guests' minds—they'll guide them to their tables.

After the ceremony and cocktail hour , your guests will be looking for their reception seats. That's why you're currently looking for ideas to guide them there on the big day. Sure, you can go with classic seating cards , which are typically just pieces of paper with names and table assignments on them. But not everyone wants to follow tradition , and if you're one of those people, what's the fun in plain-white rectangles? Don't worry—your search for innovative ideas is over. Throughout the years, we've come across dozens of creative escort cards, as well as some incredible seating charts and displays.

You won't believe the things that couples have swapped in for stationery. We've seen items that doubled as wedding favors , edible goodies, and a whole lot more. Even if brides and grooms did go with paper goods, plenty have revamped the standard design by using cool colors, gorgeous calligraphy , and other memorable accents.

To plan your own seating cards or display, look to these examples from real weddings for inspiration. There are ideas fit for every kind of wedding, whether yours is modern, rustic, formal, whimsical, or something else altogether. As you'll see, others have turned to their themes, hobbies and interests , and many other things to dream up how to guide their attendees to their tables. We encourage you to do the same for cards or charts that truly speak to you and your partner, and for a design that'll amaze all of your celebrants, too.

Calligraphed Cloches

A Vintage Affair , Park Floral Design , and Taryn Eklund teamed up to create this cloche seating display, which showcased pretty blooms covered by glass that was calligraphed with the guests' names and table assignments.

Lollipop Wall

This idea by Lovestruck Events was both pretty and tasty. Lollipops were used in lieu of escort cards and arranged on a white wall.

Romantic Cards

Xs and Os were found throughout this celebration, including as wooden escort cards by The Pointed Nib .

Clear Chart

This see-through The Inviting Pear chart displayed a seating directory, as well as the couple's initials, wedding date, and a cactus motif.

Map Display

This California wedding was inspired by the location, all the way down to the state-themed seating chart.

Inside Jokes

This bride and groom matched their tables with illustrations related to some of their inside jokes. The drawings were put on escort cards that were clipped to hang on a display.

Marbled Lucite

A lucite board guided guests to their seats at this reception. It was painted in purple with a unique, marbleized design.

Paper Flowers

For this flower-filled celebration planned by Pineapple Productions , paper zinnias by Cheree Berry Paper were calligraphed by Arney Walker Studio to display attendees' names and their table assignments. They were pinned to a board covered in green fabric—the whole thing resembled a garden bed.

Beach Balls

This couple worked with Karson Butler Events to plan something truly unique—they used black-and-white beach balls as escort cards, and stored them in their venue's pool. Synchronized swimmers were on standby to find them and hand them to guests!

Cards with Seals

Blush paper squares were calligraphed in green ink by Julie Song for this event. White wax seals displayed each guest's table number.

Hanging Bells

Talk about wedding bells! At this Christmas-themed celebration, paper "ribbons" were calligraphed by Laura Hooper Calligraphy with names and table numbers. Then, they were attached to vintage ringers. Finally, the escort "cards" were strung from the ceiling; Lauryn Prattes Styling and Events staff helped guests retrieve them.

Arrows on Target

Designs by Ahn created this incredibly-imaginative, camp-inspired display of escort arrows on a target board.

Chart Surrounded by Greenery

This pretty display included text written in a fun font. The board that they were on was framed by thick foliage.

Cards on Soap

These on-palette bars of soap served as favors, but they also held escort cards calligraphed by Nicole Miyuki .

Watercolor Cards

How lovely are these blue, hand-painted escort envelopes with The Left Handed Calligrapher writing? They were displayed on a linen board at this airy wedding.

Wooden Structure

Seating cards with botanical designs were attached to standing wooden structures at this event. The displays were also spruced up with greenery, and had lanterns hanging from them.

Cards on Fruit

For this wedding, escort cards were calligraphed by Joya Rose and then stuck into citrus fruits , which matched the display's floral arrangement.

Flower Vases

Pretty vases of assorted Cress Floral Decorators flowers were tagged with seating assignments for this couple's event.

Luggage Tags

Guests traveled to their seats with the help of these leather luggage tags, which doubled as useful favors for this reception.

Incorporate your love of your pet into your seating display. This couple chose to have cards with pop-up dog cutouts.

Apple Barrel

Attendees picked their Deborah Delaney Design cards from a bin of over 500 apples at this wedding.

Hanging Mirrors

Beth Helmstetter planned this tropical wedding, where table assignments were scribbled onto suspended, ornate mirrors.

Pressed Flowers

This wall, titled "Our Favorite Wallflowers," held pressed-flower seating assignments. Guests' names were written in pretty calligraphy.

Hanging Plants

At this destination wedding, flower-filled vessels hung from seafoam-green ribbon, on which simple white escort cards were placed.

Boxwood Wall

The Left Handed Calligrapher wrote these guests' names, which were displayed on Color Box Design & Letterpress cards. The paper flowers were placed on a boxwood wall, where real blooms also laid.

Illustrated Chart

Storybook-worthy animal illustrations adorned this sweet seating display.

Tasseled Cards

LVL Events organized this spring wedding, using yellow tassels to spruce up the seating cards.

Cards and Photos

This decorative clothesline held escort cards interspersed between photographs of guests.

Paper Leaves

Paper leaves in vibrant greens served as seating cards at this wedding. Betty Ling calligraphed the names.

Pilot Wings

When two pilots get married, there has to be a nod to their cool jobs. Each guest was assigned a pair of Amber Moon Design wings on this career-themed display.

Paper Golf Balls

This groom loved golfing so much that the sport was incorporated into the reception décor. White Houston Invitation Services escort cards mimicked—you guessed it—golf balls.

Embroidery Hoops

Blush & Whim made this display happen, using homey needlework escort "cards."

Bugs on Cards

When one of our editors married an "insect obsessive," she drew inspiration from nature. This escort-card table hosted 54 different species, all held in place with pins. Guests could find their names on the paper, plus the bugs' taxonomic name, common name, and place of origin.

Charmed Display

Quirky golden charms brought a touch of whimsy to these elegant, unique table assignments.

Tropical Wall

This wall hosted table assignments and a fun banana-leaf print. The assignments themselves were penned on slabs of hexagonal acrylic, then attached to the wall in brass standoffs. The bride cut out the gold-foil names herself, making a modern, glam display.

Wooden Blocks

This backyard wedding boasted the coolest display, dreamt up by Amorology Weddings . Laura Made It , Back Up Backdrops , and Betlem Calligraphy also had a hand in the design. Guests' names were penned on wooden blocks and strung from a structure for attendees to find.

Oars with Tags

A camp-inspired wedding wouldn't be complete without summertime-activity inspiration. This sign, which doubled as an escort card display, was constructed out of vintage oars. For even more customization, the bride handwrote the names.

Calligraphed Marble

Rather than paper, these guests' names were calligraphed by Anne Robin onto marble . The stone's pattern also made it onto the stationery suite.

Paint Brushes

A colorful, art-themed wedding practically requires creative escort cards like these. Paintbrushes dipped in paint, left to dry, and signed with guests names prompted attendees to match their brush to the color of the tablecloth at their table.

Hanging Cowbells

Let your seating cards serve as noisemakers and favors, too! These cowbells calligraphed with guests' names suited the couple's rustic wedding.

Potted Plants

Talk about a green thumb! For her escort cards, this bride registered for a special horticultural license to export Hoya kerrii plants from Thailand. The creative idea even inspired us to create our own plant tags .

Quartz Seating Cards

This jewelry designer bride's affinity for raw quartz inspired her genius escort cards by Bash Please .

File Cabinets

This old-school display consisted of index cards filed into card catalogs.

Shot Glasses

At this wedding, escort cards attached to copper shot glasses ensured that guests received a fun favor—and directions to their chairs. (An accompanying shot of Don Julio 1942 tequila was optional, but encouraged.)

The popular game "Cards Against Humanity" sparked this fun idea. While the fronts of the cards contained guests' names, the backs said only one word. Attendees had to try to match up the word with a prompt that was printed on a large card on each table. In case they got stuck, a small number was also provided.

Tagged Instruments

Wylie West Creative made these hand-painted wooden maracas, jingle sticks, and tambourines, which tripled as escort cards, favors, and noisemakers.

Paper Pineapples

Pick a shape you love—like pineapples—and use it for your seating cards!

Jungle Toys

Fun yet inexpensive were the two goals for this bride and groom's seating cards. They got both with this smart suggestion from wedding planner Jove Meyer . Plastic jungle animals tied to tags and grouped by table (elephants for one table, tigers for another, etc.) were easy and playful as can be.

Personalized Notebooks

Bands calligraphed with the guests' names marked these wood grain-covered journals from Field Notes . The table assignments were listed on the first page of the booklets.

Window Chart

For this crafty seating chart, a friend of the couple placed a piece of glass in a window frame that rested on an easel. The bride wrote guests' names with a white paint marker.

Ladder Display

Tag-shaped cards with guests' names and table numbers were strung between two ladders for a warm, rustic look.

Rather than relying on escort cards, this couple let guests find their tables (all named for constellations) on a star chart-style seating diagram.

Lawn Flamingos

At this all-pink wedding, guests found their tables in a maze of kitschy lawn flamingos that held calligraphed seating assignments.

Seed Packets

This couple, avid gardeners, added calligraphed tags from Laura Hooper Calligraphy to seed packets, which doubled as escort cards and wedding favors.

Lemon-Filled Display

A bumper crop of lemons in a Plexiglass case framed this couple's seating display.

Drink Flags

A flag motif appeared throughout this wedding—these Cheree Berry Paper escort cards (calligraphed by Arney Walker and placed in Champagne flutes) were just one iteration.

Planning & Inspiration

Escort card table or seating chart: which is right for you.

Amanda and Thomas Wedding – Escort Card Table Detail – Essex House – Kelly Guenther Photography

Ask anyone who has gone through the process, figuring out the seating plan is one of the most brain-racking tasks of wedding planning. Unfortunately, once you have the plan mapped out on paper, there are still more details to consider in this area – specifically, the manner in which your guests will be guided to their seats. Typically, an escort card table or seating chart is used as decorative place marker, welcoming everyone to the reception while instructing them to where they should go and settle into for the rest of the night. The main goals of the escort card table and seating chart are to maintain visual interest, usher seamless flow from Part 1 to Part 2 of the event, and provide clear seating information. Unsure of which option is best for you? We are here to help.

Amanda and Thomas Wedding – Escort Card Table – Essex House – Kelly Guenther Photography

Escort Card Table Of the two options, the escort card table is a more complex display, requiring detailed forethought in design and execution. The table is usually set up at the entrance to the dining area, and on it are the escort cards (arranged in alphabetical order) with each guest’s name and seating assignment. This setup requires that everyone actually walk up to the display, stop, and find their card, so ample space around the display is necessary to avoid major congestion. NOTE: Unless you specify on the card, guests will have to choose their seat once they locate their designated table.

Emily & Daring Wedding- Battello NJ- Card Table Trunks Garland and white and green floral arrangements- Photography by Casey Fatchett

Laura and Charlie Wedding – Escort Card Table – Cipriani – Christian Oth Studio

Stefanie and Mike Wedding – Guest Card Display – Gotham Hall – Emma Cleary Photography

Diana and Tim Wedding – Standing Escort Card Display Detail – Pier A – Alex Knight Studio

At the same time, the escort card table opens up the door for couples to be creative and fun while expressing their unique personality and style. An eye-catching floral centerpiece or installation such as a ‘living tree’ or ‘living wall’ can be used to draw people’s attention. The choice of design for the escort cards is very important with hand-written calligraphy, luxe paper, elegant details, accent colors, and thematic flair all making a big impression. Escort cards can even double as wedding favors, which cuts down on excess paper waste while being budget-friendly.

Melanie & Nick Wedding – Guest Name Cards – Suffolk Theater – Sean Gallery Photography

Rashna & Sean Wedding – Escort Cards – Bronx Zoo – Dideo Films Photography

Dayna and Matt Wedding – Escort Cards – Gurney’s Montauk – Andreas and Nico

Kelsey and Matt Wedding – Escort Cards Succulent Wedding Favors – New York Botanical Garden – Hitches and Unions

Yelena and Chris Wedding – Escort Card Table Russian Nesting Doll Favors – Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Sascha Reinking Photography

Seating Chart

Nailah and Hasan Wedding – Welcome Sign – Liberty Warehouse – Jenna Cavanaugh Photography

Simply put, the seating chart is a large sign, or a group of small signs, with all your guests’ names clearly written out and arranged by table number. Placed at the entrance to the reception, it allows for a quick transition through spaces as guests simply have to find their name and head to their seat. There is no need to design, make, and neatly set out 100 or more cards, which is cost-effective and cuts down on time, work, and use of additional paper.

Amanda and Donald – Ladder Seating Chart Display – Liberty Warehouse – Photography by South Eleventh

Aerin and Steven Wedding – Greenery Wall Seating Chart Display – 26 Bridge Brooklyn – Photography by Susan Shek

The creative possibilities are endless when it comes to materials and styling – acrylic stands, wood, vintage mirrors and painting frames, and chalk boards can all be used to create a beautiful backdrop. Wow-factor is important here – highlight the display with an arrangement of flowers and greenery that ties into the rest of your floral decor. For a personal touch, handwrite each guest’s name (or hire someone to!), include your wedding monogram, wedding date, or a meaningful quote or song lyric. NOTE: You must decide if guests will choose their own seat once they arrive at their table, or if place cards, the more formal and personal option, will be waiting for them at their assigned seat.

Ashley & Tiffany Wedding – Chalkboard Seating Chart Display – Green Building Brooklyn – Amber Gress Photography

Natalia & David Wedding – Seating Chart Display – Bowery Hotel NYC – Ayelet Gat

As you can see, making sure your wedding guests find their spot at the party requires careful consideration and planning. So escort card table or seating chart, which is right for you? Both options effectively get the job done. In weighing your decision, it really comes down to personal taste rounded out by some practical logistics. Here are some further questions to help set you on the right path: Is the tone of your event formal or more casual? What is your wedding style? Is this a chance for you to exercise your eye for art & design or DIY skills? Where are you at with the budget? What is the transition through spaces at your venue like?

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When it comes to planning a wedding, every detail counts. From the color scheme to the floral arrangements, each element plays a crucial role in bringing the vision of the bride and groom to life. One often overlooked aspect of wedding planning is the escort cards. These small, yet essential cards play a significant role in guiding guests to their designated tables, creating a seamless and organized experience for everyone in attendance. Whether you’re well-versed in wedding etiquette or a newcomer to the world of wedding planning, understanding the importance and significance of wedding escort cards is key to ensuring a smooth and successful event. In this article, we will delve into what wedding escort cards are, their purpose, and offer tips on how to incorporate them into your wedding day.

Table of Contents

Introducing wedding escort cards: a must-have for organized seating, the top benefits of using escort cards for your wedding, choosing the perfect design and style for your wedding escort cards, etiquette tips for creating and displaying wedding escort cards, maximizing the impact of escort cards on your big day, future outlook.

Wedding escort cards are a must-have for any organized seating arrangement at a wedding. These small, elegantly designed cards not only add a touch of sophistication to the event but also serve the practical purpose of helping guests find their assigned seats. As guests arrive at the wedding reception, they can easily locate their designated tables by referring to the escort cards, which are typically displayed at the entrance of the reception area.

These cards are customizable and can be designed to match the overall theme or decor of the wedding. Couples can choose from a variety of materials, shapes, and designs to create escort cards that reflect their unique style and personality. Whether it’s classic, modern, rustic, or whimsical, there are endless options to choose from when it comes to wedding escort cards. From traditional paper cards to more creative options like mini chalkboards, acrylic tiles, or even hand-painted seashells, couples have the freedom to get as creative as they want with their escort cards.

In addition to adding a decorative element to the wedding reception, escort cards also help to streamline the seating process, ensuring that guests are guided to the right tables without any confusion or delay. With the names of each guest and their corresponding table number clearly displayed on the escort cards, the seating process becomes smooth and efficient, allowing guests to quickly find their seats and start enjoying the celebration. Plus, these cards can also double as keepsakes for guests to take home as a special memento of the occasion.

Escort cards are a must-have for any wedding, as they provide a seamless and organized way to direct guests to their assigned tables. While some may opt for alternative seating arrangements, such as a seating chart, escort cards offer a personalized touch that adds to the overall aesthetic of the event. Whether you’re planning a formal affair or a casual celebration, escort cards can elevate the guest experience and make your special day even more memorable.

There are numerous benefits to using escort cards for your wedding, including:

• Efficient Seating Arrangements: Escort cards help to streamline the seating process and ensure that guests can easily locate their designated table without confusion or delay.
• Personalization: Escort cards can be customized to reflect the theme and style of your wedding, offering a unique and creative way to welcome guests as they arrive.
• Guest Engagement: Escort cards provide an interactive element for guests to explore as they search for their table assignments, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the event.

When it comes to planning your wedding, every little detail counts. From the flowers to the table settings, each aspect of your special day should reflect your style and personality. One often overlooked element that can make a big impact is the escort cards for your guests. These cards not only help guide your guests to their tables, but they can also add a beautiful and personalized touch to your wedding décor.

Selecting the perfect design and style for your wedding escort cards is an opportunity to showcase your creativity and set the tone for your big day. Whether you’re going for a classic, elegant look or a more modern, whimsical vibe, there are endless options to choose from. Consider the overall theme and color scheme of your wedding, as well as your personal preferences, when deciding on the design and style of your escort cards. From traditional paper cards to creative alternatives like mini potted plants or antique keys, the possibilities are truly endless.

Here are a few key factors to consider when : – Theme and color scheme: Ensure that the design and style of your escort cards complement the overall theme and color scheme of your wedding. – Personalization: Add a personal touch by incorporating details that reflect you and your partner’s personalities or interests. – Practicality: Choose a design and style that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional for your guests.

Creating and displaying wedding escort cards is an essential part of the event planning process. These cards assist in guiding guests to their designated tables for the reception. To ensure the process goes smoothly, it’s important to follow proper etiquette when creating and displaying wedding escort cards.

When designing wedding escort cards, it’s crucial to keep in mind the overall theme and aesthetic of the wedding. The cards should complement the wedding decor and reflect the couple’s personal style. Additionally, it’s essential to ensure that the information on the escort cards is accurate and easy to read. Here are some :

• Use high-quality materials: Choose durable cardstock or paper for the escort cards to ensure they hold up throughout the event.
• Include clear instructions: Clearly indicate the guest’s name and their table number on each escort card to avoid any confusion.
• Coordinate with table decorations: Ensure that the design and color scheme of the escort cards complement the overall table decorations for a cohesive look.

When planning your wedding, it’s important to consider all the little details that will make your big day memorable. Escort cards are a key element that can elevate the guest experience and add a personalized touch to your wedding. These cards are used to direct guests to their assigned tables at the reception and can serve as a decorative keepsake for them as well.

What are wedding escort cards? Escort cards are typically small cards that feature the guest’s name and their table number or assigned seat. They are displayed at the entrance of the reception venue, either in alphabetical order or grouped by table, making it easy for guests to find their seating assignment. These cards can come in various styles and designs, allowing couples to incorporate their wedding theme and colors into the escort card display.

Q: What are wedding escort cards? A: Wedding escort cards are small cards that are used to help guests find their assigned table at a wedding reception. They typically include the guest’s name and table number and are placed at the entrance or in a designated area for guests to pick up as they arrive at the reception.

Q: How are wedding escort cards different from place cards? A: Wedding escort cards are often confused with place cards, but they serve different purposes. Escort cards direct guests to their assigned table, while place cards are placed at each individual seat to indicate where each guest should sit at the table.

Q: Why are wedding escort cards important for a wedding reception? A: Wedding escort cards are important for ensuring a smooth and organized seating arrangement at the wedding reception. They help guests easily find their assigned table, minimizing confusion and the potential for seating mix-ups.

Q: What are some creative ways to display wedding escort cards? A: Wedding escort cards can be displayed in a variety of creative ways, such as on a decorative board, hanging from a tree or chandelier, or even incorporated into a unique display that fits with the wedding theme. Couples can also get creative with the design and style of the cards to add a personalized touch.

Q: How should wedding escort cards be organized for easy guest access? A: When organizing wedding escort cards, it’s important to arrange them in alphabetical order by last name, making it easier for guests to find their card quickly. It’s also a good idea to have a designated area or table where guests can easily locate their cards upon arriving at the reception.

Q: Are wedding escort cards a necessary addition to a wedding reception? A: While wedding escort cards aren’t absolutely essential, they do contribute to a more organized and seamless seating arrangement at the reception. They show thoughtfulness and consideration for guests, making the overall experience more enjoyable for everyone.

In conclusion, wedding escort cards are an essential and practical element of any wedding celebration. Not only do they help ensure a smooth flow of events, but they also add a touch of elegance and personalization to the overall décor. Whether you opt for traditional paper escort cards or get creative with unique display options, these little details can make a big impact on your guests’ experience. So, as you plan your big day, don’t overlook the importance of wedding escort cards – they are sure to be appreciated by both you and your guests. Cheers to a beautiful and seamless wedding day!

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The First Look ✨

• Escort cards direct wedding guests to their intended table. Less formal than a place card , they don’t assign guests to specific seats but are often placed on a table near the wedding reception entrance.
• It helps to ensure the table signage is legible and the escort card table is placed in a highly visible area.
• You can fold the escort cards into tents or even origami shapes . You can also attach escort cards to useful items like a packet of wildflower seeds, wine glasses, or sunglasses.
• Get all the help you need with escort cards (and so much more) with Zola, the wedding experts !

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Whether it's rustic , modern , or vintage , you can add a personal, diy touch to your wedding table, centerpieces, and table setting settings with unique wedding table numbers that stand out. Plus, Zola makes it easy to manage all your Day-of Paper , integrating details from your Guest List, RSPVs and Seating Chart seemlessly into your wedding planning process. Shop Zola's new table numbers today!

After all of that conferring with your partner about who should sit with whom, you want to make sure your guests find their seats with plenty of ease (and no confusion at all).

So, how do you bring your seating arrangements to life so that everyone knows where to go? This is where escort cards will come in and save the day. If you’ve never used escort cards, we’ll go over:

• What are Escort Cards?

How to Use Escort Cards to Effectively Execute Your Seating Arrangement

• 15 Ways to Get Creative with Escort Cards

Allow us to (ahem) escort you to the ways and wonders of escort cards.

What Are Escort Cards?

Escort cards are little cards displayed at a wedding reception (usually at a table near the venue entrance). They feature a guest’s name and designated table assignment so wedding guests know where to go right away.

Think of escort cards as a well-heeled usher who will guide your guests to their tables. Almost as if they’re escorting the guests to their assigned seating arrangements (get it?).

Escort Cards vs. Place Cards: When to Use Them and How

Escort cards and place cards are sometimes used interchangeably when talking about wedding arrangements, so the terminology can get confusing. While they more or less serve the same purpose (getting your guests in their seats and ready for a good time), there are a few differences between a place card and an escort card.

Let’s break them down.

Escort cards:

• Direct your guests to their table number and not a specific seat.
• Are more informal than place cards, since they don’t assign an exact place.
• Can usually be set up on a table or display near the entrance to the wedding reception.

Place cards:

• Indicate the exact place the guest will be seated.
• Are usually set up on a place setting at the table or by a specific seat.

Depending on the specificity of your seating arrangements, you can use either escort or place cards. If your seating chart describes who sits next to whom, you can use wedding place cards (and escort cards, too). If your seating arrangements have guests sitting in specific groups (and not specific chairs), you can just use escort cards.

If you decide to use both, an escort card can be helpful in directing your guests to their table before they figure out their specific seats. That way, you can avoid a traffic jam of guests stopping at every place looking for their name by redirecting them to their own tables first.

Are Escort and Place Cards Really Necessary?

If you’re having a smaller or more informal wedding, you might decide to eschew the headache of a seating arrangement altogether, but even tiny gatherings can use a little direction. That’s where the more flexible organization of a wedding escort card may come in handy.

Organizing your guests by tables can be useful for:

• Evenly dispersing your guests for balance in group photos and wedding videos.
• Figuring out exactly how many tables, chairs, linens, and place settings you need.
• Avoiding the added cost of empty seats and underpopulated tables.
• Helping your wedding venue caterers figure out who ordered what if you provided different meal options.

On this last point, some venues may require you to have place settings so that their catering service can unobtrusively carry out their jobs without mixing up meal choices. Imagine if you were served your Aunt Rosa’s vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and salt-free meal choice instead of the filet mignon you’ve been looking forward to for months. That tastes like a disaster that can be easily averted with place cards and escort cards.

In the end, whether you use escort or place cards is up to you, but if you have a seating arrangement, they’re indispensable to carrying out your plan flawlessly.

Escort cards are your chance to direct your friends and family onto the path to a wonderful night, but if they aren’t used effectively, they can be a source of confusion instead.

Here are some pro tips to making the most of your escort cards:

• Clearly label escort card paper with first and last names: Avoid any mix-ups between Riley from work and Riley, your eight-year-old niece by listing full names on escort cards.
• Make sure that your numbering system is easily understandable: Nix the Roman numerals and always underline your 9’s so they don’t get confused with 6’s.
• Alphabetize your escort cards: Make it easy for your guests to find their names by arranging them on a table alphabetically.
• Provide clear signage: Your tables should have clear corresponding signage that shows exactly which table number or letter it is. If your guests include relatives or friends whose English is a little rusty, make sure that the signage is offered in all of your families’ languages.
• Use in conjunction with place cards: If you have a more formal seating arrangement, you can use both place cards and escort cards so that people can double-check that they’re at the right table.
• Take advantage of your seating arrangement: Blow up your seating arrangement into a larger display so that people can refer to the floor plan when consulting their escort cards to figure out where their tables are.

Keep these tenets in mind, even if you go out of the box with your inspirational escort cards. Don’t let your imagination get in the way of all the work you put into perfecting your seating arrangements.

Tip: Elevate your escort cards with a lovely holder. The little detail will make the escort card feel extremely chic. Find your perfect holder (and all kinds of other beautiful wedding decorations) at Zola’s boutique .

15 Ways to Get Creative With Your Escort Cards

Once you’ve finalized your seating plan, you can transform it into beautiful displays that are as decorative as they are useful.

#1 Tented Escort Cards

Tented escort cards are a popular go-to format because they provide a bit of multi-dimensional intrigue as well as the fact that they are easier to pick up off the table than a flat piece of paper. You want to make sure traffic moves quickly in the reception area and keep people from holding up the line as they try to grab their card.

Tented cards are also useful because you can have useful information, such as the table number, tucked inside without interrupting the beautifully designed names on the front. You can dress escort cards with elegant calligraphy or colorful designs that match the theme of your wedding. Add gold trimming for the Roaring ‘20s or glue tiny sprigs of lavender for springtime weddings.

Tip : Do you have a design you absolutely love and want present from your Save the Dates to your Thank You notes? Zola’s wedding stationary builder allows you to upload your own designs onto a variety of paper styles. Create a paper suite devoted to your special day (and don’t forget to add a little sparkle with our custom foil options!).

#2 Raise Your Glasses With These Escort Cards

This escort card display makes clever use of beautiful glassware by doubling as escort cards. Hang decorative flags with your guests’ names and table numbers off empty champagne flutes that they’ll use for the many toasts to the happy couple in the night ahead.

You can tie the card to the glass with:

• A bit of twine for a rustic feel.
• A delicate strip of lace for a classic wedding day vibe.
• Brightly colored ribbon to tie in your wedding colors.
• Braided copper wire for an edgy modern wedding.

Wine glass tags or markers can also double as escort cards. Bonus: with these, you’ll never have to worry about drinking out of someone else’s lipsticked glass by mistake.

#3 Wax Sealed Thank You Letters

Address envelopes with your guests’ designated tables and decorate them with wax seals for a unique finish. If you have monograms designed for the wedding, use a custom stamp to show it off.

These envelopes also make the perfect opportunity for you to get a head start on your thank you notes for the attendance of your nearest and dearest on this special day.

Tip : With a little help from Zola, your Thank You notes can feel as touching as your wedding vows. Browse our hundreds of customizable designs to find a Thank You note that speaks to your day. You can even upload favorite photos of the wedding space (or yourselves) to the notes for a thank you note that feels more like a treasured keepsake.

#4 Strike a Match With Your Guests

Personalized matchbooks are a unique way to display your escort cards, but why not turn up the heat and make this a two-part wedding favor? The matchbooks will lead your guests to the candle favors at their designated seats personalized with each of their names.

Take home your wedding’s signature scent and reminisce over good times with the strike of each match.

#5 The Name in the Bottle

For a beach wedding or nautical-themed wedding, these tiny glasses with slips of the guests’ names and table numbers are the perfect little memento. Fill them with grains of sand, gold leaf, beach glass, or seashells for some extra decoration.

#6 Make a Wish With Origami Cranes

According to Japanese tradition, the completion of folding 1,000 paper cranes, or a senbazuru, will grant good fortune, happiness, or a wish by the gods. While you might not have 1,000 wedding guests, strings of origami cranes with your guests’ names and seating numbers can make a stunning hanging display.

Origami cranes make beautiful and colorful decorations that can be a part of your larger wedding decor, as well. If you like, you could arrange a fun activity by providing stacks of origami paper and instructions and encouraging your guests to fold one to make a wish for the happy couple.

#7 Keep Your Guests Refreshed with Escort Bottles

In long, exciting events like wedding ceremonies and receptions, it’s important to keep hydrated. Why not make sure your guests always have some liquid on hand with personalized bottles of refreshment?

Colorful bottles of sparkling water or cider make attractive displays, and you can always hang little tags off the neck if you don’t want to go through the effort of designing and creating individual name labels.

#8 Plant the Seeds for a Happy Future

Plants are all the rage these days, and every plant parent has a hard time adding another member to the family. They make the perfect wedding favor, but can they escort you to your seats, too? Use plant markers or wooden labels to indicate your guests’ names and seating assignments. Are potted plants too unwieldy for your venue space? Small packets of seeds provide the perfect surface for seating assignments without taking up as much space.

Here’s a tip: Pick hardy plants that can survive the drive home, or that require minimal care for new plant parents. Ivy, pothos, or spider plants are excellent no-fuss options. If you have a desert-themed wedding, succulents or cacti are popular gift choices, too.

#9 Set Up a Hanging Light Display for Your Escort Cards

Avoid traffic jams at the wedding venue entrance by setting up a hanging display along a long stretch of wall or empty area so that guests can spread out while they look for their escort cards. Use twine and wooden clothespins to hang your cards for a more rustic look, or ribbons and rose gold clips for something more elegant and romantic.

Light up your entire aerial display with tiny fairy lights for an extra bit of twinkling allure, and turn it into a gorgeous backdrop for photos and selfies.

#10 Photo Seating Arrangements

Are there tons of photos floating around of you and your loved ones? Repurpose them into a charming visual display by writing each guest’s name and table number on the back or bottom of their photo.

Print all your photos in black and white so that they match better, or use a printing service that can turn them into polaroids for a retro aesthetic. There are lots of ways to display photo seating arrangements, from colorful binder clips to tiny metal stands and recycled wine corks. If you frame them, they also make special keepsakes.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and what better way to bring up happy memories than to have physical prints of those captured on film?

#11 Personalized Coasters

Coasters are a popular choice for wedding favors, but if you inscribe them with your guest’s name, they become a much more special gift.

Extra bonus: with just a little sticker or removable label on the back, it can also do double duty by pointing your friends and families to their respective tables.

If you choose geometric shapes or something that fits together like a puzzle, the coasters can be organized into an aesthetically pleasing display that welcomes your guests in.

#12 For Destination Weddings

If you’re having a destination wedding or travel works into the theme of your reception, escort cards are the perfect place to bring out the jet setting theme:

• Turn your escort cards into paper airplanes and suspend them as a part of the decor.
• Include escort cards as a part of mini-wedding passports that will include important information to the day’s festivities, including your seat number, the wedding program, and the wedding menu card .
• Print custom postcards focusing on one particular landmark or view for each table. Then, write the name of your wedding guest on the cards. That way, guests can send these handy little escort cards to their friends to say “Don’t you wish you were at this awesome wedding?”

#13 For Outdoor Weddings

Whether you’re having your wedding on the beach or in a garden, outdoor weddings mean sun. Give your wedding guests direction and a fun way to beat the heat or glare with a few thoughtful versions of an escort card:

• Hang colorful sunglasses with your guests’ names written on the side of the frames at their table.
• Make fun paper fans labeled with the table number and you and your partner’s names and wedding date.

#14 Preserve Between Glass

If you’re an artsy DIY type, pressed flowers and leaves on paper are a great way to add more flora to your wedding stationery. Add the guests’ names and table assignments to the bottom and put them in decorative frames to turn them into creative escort cards.

#15 Sky Lanterns

Sky lanterns are used in festivals and celebrations in Asia and other parts of the world and they make a breathtaking sight glowing against the night sky. Give each of your guests a sky lantern kit with their names and table assignments, and a marker so that they can write their own wishes for fortune or happiness on the side.

Check your local laws before you plan on a lantern lighting ceremony, since they are illegal in some areas due to fire hazards. If you do incorporate sky lanterns, make sure that you follow safety protocols.

Guide Your Guests to Your Incredible Wedding at Zola

With so many elements to a wedding, it can be easy for something to slip through the cracks. Don’t let your carefully laid seating plans go to waste. Add escort cards to your to-dos on Zola’s wedding planning checklist so that you can figure out which options are right for your special day.

Still figuring out the guest list? Use Zola’s guest list manager to keep track of everyone you need to seat. When you get to making up your escort cards or place cards , that list will come in handy to ensure that everyone has a spot, so that you don’t have to worry on your big day about finding an extra chair. Your guests will have a blast and you’ll be able to sit back and soak in the victory of a conflict-free night surrounded by the company of your loved ones.

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Your Guide to Wedding Reception Seating Chart Etiquette

• Kim writes and edits articles for The Knot Worldwide, specializing in etiquette and planning advice
• Kim manages freelance writers for The Knot Worldwide
• Prior to The Knot Worldwide, Kim was Associate Bridal Editor at Washingtonian magazine and Associate Fashion Editor at Conde Nast’s Brides Local magazines

Your parents are divorced, your last unattached friend is hypersensitive to being seated at the "singles" table, and you have one couple coming in from out of the country who only know you and your partner. What should you do? With a little tact, diplomacy and common sense, you can create wedding seating arrangements that will make everyone happy.

Creating a wedding seating chart is a task that you can start thinking about early on in the planning process , but you can't complete until all of your RSVPs have come in (usually less than a month before the big day). You'll also need to work with your wedding planner and wedding venue to determine the reception venue's layout, including the shapes and sizes of your tables, where the dance floor will be located, and more. Once you have all of this information at the ready, it's time to create your seating chart. Here's everything you need to know to figure out the seating chart etiquette of who sits with whom at your wedding.

In this article:

Do We Really Need a Formal Wedding Seating Plan?

What should you keep in mind when assigning seating, who sits where, what other factors should we take into account when choosing wedding seating arrangements, should we seat all of our single guests at the same table, where should we seat young children, what are place cards, escort cards and seating charts do we need all three.

You may feel like developing a formal seating plan isn't really necessary, and that your guests are intuitive and go-with-the-flow enough to figure out where to sit. The logic: If you provide enough seats, can't everyone just figure it out on their own? The answer is: Yes...eventually. If you've ever been to a wedding without a seating plan before (and survived the riptide of guests trying to find their places, or seen the bottleneck after they've been through the buffet line trying to figure out where to sit), then you know why making one is a great idea. Taking the time to develop a plan will reduce your guests' anxiety of trying to find a seat (whether it's family and friend dynamics, not knowing if some tables should be reserved for VIPs, and not wanting to exclude anyone in a group or without a plus-one) and your involvement in mediating issues.

On the other hand, if you're having fewer than 50 guests, you may not need a detailed plan if you don't want one. You could also choose to designate the head tables (including you two, your wedding party and parents) with place cards , and allow the other guests to seat themselves. Some couples opt to have a cocktail party or buffet with a few tables, so guests can alternate sitting and eating. If this is what you plan to do, make sure your elderly guests have a place to sit down, possibly even by designating a separate table for them. But the bottom line is we always recommend having a seating chart—your guests don't want to make any mistakes and they simply like knowing that you thought of them and where to place them.

Relationships, and possible tensions , between guests should be kept in mind when creating wedding table assignments. If your wedding is going to serve as a reunion for many college friends, seat them together so they can catch up. If a friend is attending alone and won't know many people, put them at a table with strong conversationalists and naturally amicable people who will make them feel comfortable. Leah Weinberg of Color Pop Events shares that when she was planning her own wedding, "as soon as I sent out my invites, I started grouping guests into tentative tables and thinking of what groups folks would naturally fall in—my mom's family, my dad's family, work friends, college friends, family friends, etc. Then, as RSVPs came in, I was able to make modifications. But I had the bulk of the work done about two months before the big day, so that made it a much less stressful task once I did have my final numbers."

Adds Natalie Good of A Good Affair : "Don't procrastinate in preparing your seating chart. Often this is where the drama comes out within families so it is best to work on it early and hear your parents requests so you have time to come to an agreement without the pressure of a deadline."

Find your kind of venue

Trying to figure out where to put all of your guests? We've got the answers to all of your wedding seating chart etiquette questions.

The Head Table or "Table One"

Before we settle on who sits at the head table , let's define exactly what it is. Planners often reference head tables, estate (or king's) tables and sweetheart tables, all of which are different but can serve as table one, depending on your needs.

The newlyweds may sit at a long rectangular head table or round table at the focal point of the room, or alternatively, at their very own sweetheart table. Some couples choose to have no table at all, but to leave a few seats empty at every table so they can mingle throughout the reception.

Classically, the groom sits to the bride's right and the best man sits to her left. The maid of honor sits to the groom's right. Depending on how large the table is, the other attendants can also be seated near the couple. Back in the day, spouses and significant others were relegated to different tables, but this tradition is now generally ignored. If you can only fit the best man and maid of honor along with their dates at your table, do so. Seat remaining attendants and their plus-ones at another table.

While table one most frequently includes the couple, their wedding party and the wedding party plus one's , "a head table can really be constructed in whatever way makes the most sense for the couple and who they want to sit with," says Jamie Chang of Passport to Joy . "Table one could be the couple and their wedding party and their partners, it could be the couple and their family or parents. There is no right or wrong way to construct the head table as long as it's created with everyone's enjoyment in mind."

Karese DeHaan of Detailed Floral Design agrees that you and your partner's preferences should be the guiding force behind the decision of who sits at table one at the reception. "One fun decision to make early in wedding planning is who you would like to sit with at the reception. Do you prefer to sit with your friends at a head table or would you like to sit at a sweetheart table just the two of you? There is no right or wrong, and the decision often comes down to your unique personality and the feel you are going for at your reception. However, this decision will be integral in the layout of your whole reception and will determine your course for details such as which tables to rent and the florals to order. A head table generally seats the couple, their wedding party and often the wedding party's significant others. This can create a more energetic and fun atmosphere as the large group interacts. Seating so many often requires a very long table. A sweetheart table will create a more romantic feel, designate a little time alone, and feature you as a couple. This allows the wedding party to be with other guests they know and are closest to. Choosing who you will sit with at the reception is an opportunity early in the planning process to create the mood you envision for your wedding day."

Family Tables

The parents of the couple often sit opposite each other at a large family table, with grandparents, the officiant and other close friends. Another option is for the parents to head their own tables, with their close family members and friends. In the case of divorced parents, each parent may also host his or her own table, smoothly diffusing any awkwardness or discomfort.

Mix and Match

As for the rest of your wedding guests, should you put friends together or seat them with people they haven't met? While it's may seem like a great idea to mix in a few new faces at each table (and totally okay to do so sparingly), remember that people are most comfortable when they know some of their dinner companions. Ashley Thompson of Ashley Creative Events suggests to-be-weds "group your guest list in ways that will maximize the fun they have at the wedding! For instance, designate a table of college friends or work friends."

As you seat guests, be considerate. Not even your most gregarious friends will want to sit at a table full of complete strangers, so put acquaintances together when you can. If you have guests who don't know anyone, seat them near guests with similar interests. If you have a group of friends that can't fit at one table, split them down the middle, and fill in each table with other guests. Whatever you do, don't leave one of the crew out.

If you have no idea what to do with your parents' friends, let your parents and future in-laws arrange those tables. They'll be thrilled to be involved, and this may keep them from trying to control the rest of your seating plan.

It's important to consider the layout of your reception space when determining your table arrangements, and consider guests with disabilities and other needs. For example, older guests should not be seated too close to the music (live band, DJ, speakers, etc.), but should have clear lines of sight to the dance floor. Make sure that guests in wheelchairs or with other movement concerns have clear and easy access to both the dance floor and the exit. And for guests in wheelchairs, make sure their chair at their table is removed in advance.

Immediate family and wedding party members should be seated closest to the dance floor, as they'll likely be the ones to hit the floor first—and most often—and will need to easily see and participate in toasts, speeches, special dances and more.

According to Thompson , "nix the idea of a 'singles' table. You may have been playing matchmaker behind the scenes to see if you could set your old co-worker with your cousin, but this may embarrass your guests or make them feel uncomfortable. Instead, you can sprinkle the singles in with their married or couple friends to give them a sense of comfort."

If young ones will be attending the wedding , a kids' table is a good idea, so long as it is located near where the children's parents will be dining. Consider placing some coloring books and other activities at the kids' table to keep youngsters entertained.

Now that you've figured out where to put everyone, decide how to lead them to their seats.

Place Cards

Place cards await guests at each table, designating their specific seats. They can be anything from a simple tented card to a tree leaf with gold calligraphy.

Escort Cards

These cards are displayed near the entrance of the reception in alphabetical order. They usually include each guest's name and table number. Once at the table, guests usually select their own seats, but escort cards can be used along with place cards as well to designate seats.

Seating Chart

Usually displayed alphabetically or by table in a pretty frame near the entrance of the reception, seating charts list your guests' names with their designated tables. Additionally, place cards may be used at each table to designate assigned seats, if you wish.

Note: Guests should never alter seating assignments or switch assigned seats at a wedding reception, but it's perfectly acceptable to mingle at different tables after dinner.

Before creating your seating plan, it's a good idea to obtain the floor plan and make several copies. This way, you can experiment with various different arrangements before making your final decision. When in doubt, trust your instincts. And no matter how perfect your final seating plan seems, you'll undoubtedly receive at least one last-minute phone call begging you to change something to make a guest happy. Try to be accommodating, but don't let it stress you out. Chances are, after dinner, everyone will get up and mingle anyway.

Hannah Nowack contributed reporting to this article.

Wedding Escort Cards Etiquette You Need to Know | Organizing

• February 26, 2020

Did you know that there’s such a thing as wedding escort cards etiquette? I’m a wedding planner who’s planning her own wedding and even I didn’t fully understand everything that goes into organizing the seating arrangements and escort cards! Where do you even start?

Good news…I‘ve done the research and I’m here to help! Read on to learn all the etiquette you should follow to keep your guests from wandering around your reception completely lost.

WAYS TO SHARE SEATING ASSIGNMENTS

You don’t realize how many options there are to display your seating assignments until you dive into wedding planning. So, what exactly is the difference between escort cards, place cards, and seating charts, and which one should you use?

Wedding escort cards are the most traditional and formal. Typically, the guest’s name is calligraphed on the outside of a small envelope, and inside the envelope is their seating assignment. This can be used in conjunction with place cards, or it can be used on its own.

The same can be said about seating charts, which are more modern and trendy. A seating chart typically lists each guest’s name alphabetically by last name or grouped by table. The guests can then find their table and sit at any seat, or you can have place cards indicating exactly which seat is reserved for which guest. Place cards can also be used entirely on their own, set up on a separate table outside the reception for guests to pick up on their way in.

Something to consider when choosing how to display your wedding seating arrangements is if you are giving your guests a meal choice. If you are, place cards are necessary to indicate to the catering team which guest is getting which entrée choice. If you’re having a buffet or only one entrée choice, place cards are completely optional.

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON YOUR WEDDING ESCORT CARDS

When it comes to wedding escort cards etiquette, there are a few important things to be sure to include. First is the guest’s name. This seems rather obvious, but there is certain etiquette that must be followed when addressing escort cards.

Always use a guest’s full first name; for example, if your best friend goes by Sam, but her name is Samantha, you should always put Samantha on her escort card. When using titles, be consistent across all your escort cards. So, make sure that if you put Dr. Samantha Smith, you also include Mr. Robert Smith. It isn’t necessary to include titles for children under 18.

Escort cards can also be addressed for each couple or family, rather than each individual guest. If you decide to do this, be consistent. For example, if you start addressing them as “Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith,” do that for each one. You can also address them as “Robert and Samantha Smith” if you prefer. Just make sure that they follow the same pattern so your guests don’t get confused!

If you’re unsure of a guest’s name, it’s not a good idea to put “Ms. Samantha Smith’s Guest” on their escort card. Instead, leave space on the reply card included with your invitations, or reach out to your guests individually and confirm the first and last name of their plus one. After all, your friend or family member thinks they’re important enough to include in your special day. You should make sure they feel that way!

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON YOUR WEDDING PLACE CARDS

Place cards require a bit more information than escort cards since they serve multiple purposes. In addition to the guest’s name and table assignment, an important item that needs to be included on your place cards is your guests’ meal choice. The easiest way to do this is to assign a different colored sticker or gemstone to each entrée choice so that it is less obvious to your guests and matches your color scheme. However you choose to code your guests’ meal selections, it’s important to let your planner and catering team know!

SEATING ARRANGEMENT DISPLAYS

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When it comes to displaying your seating arrangements, the options are endless! Whichever option you choose, there are some etiquette rules and standards that should always be followed.

Be sure your escort cards, place cards, or seating charts are legible. Reception rooms are often dimly lit, and your guests need to see where they’re supposed to sit! Cards should also be displayed alphabetically by last name. Of course, you won’t be the one setting these items up, so organize them by last name before handing them off to your planner.

It’s also important that the style that you choose fits the setting of your event. For example, if your reception is outdoors, it may not be a good idea to do folded paper place cards. They might easily blow away and then no one knows where to sit…so plan accordingly!

I recommend creating a master list of every guest, their seating assignment, and their meal choice. Send your planner a copy so he or she can look at everything in one place and ensure that it’s accurate.

DO YOU NEED SEAT ASSIGNMENTS?

Because all this wedding escort cards etiquette can seem overwhelming, you may be asking yourself if you even need all of this hassle! Unless you’re having an intimate or informal wedding, the answer is typically yes. The rule of thumb is weddings with less than 50 guests don’t require assigned seating. This doesn’t mean that you can’t assign seating with an intimate wedding; you know your guests best and what they’d feel most comfortable with, so go with your instincts!

In the end, your wedding day is all about you and your future spouse! Choose the seating arrangement option that works best for you, your guests, your time, and your budget. There are SO many escort card and place card ideas, so there’s sure to be an option that works perfectly for your wedding!

MORE WEDDING ESCORT CARDS ETIQUETTE TIPS

Want more advice for organizing your wedding guests and seating arrangements? We’ve got you covered! Check out some of our previous posts on this and related topics:

Open Seating vs. Assigned Seating for your Wedding Reception 7 Tips on Creating Seating Charts for your Wedding Wedding Guest List Organizer

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our favorite wedding escort card ideas

If you’re feeling extra creative, below you’ll find 20 unique escort card ideas that will not only help direct guests at your wedding but also add to the aesthetic of your special day.

By MINTED , Last Updated: October 11, 2023 6 minute read

First things first: what’s the difference between a place card and an escort card? While both are meant to help guide guests on your big day, place cards designate specific seats for guests. For sit-down receptions, a place card can also indicate which meal guests are receiving without interrupting any conversation.

Think of escort cards as the more casual option that helps guide guests to a pre-assigned table, but gives them the freedom to choose their seat. Leaving escort cards arranged on a welcome table is perfectly acceptable. But, if you’re feeling extra creative, below you’ll find 20 unique escort card ideas that will not only help direct guests at your wedding but also add to the aesthetic of your special day.

Alixann Loosle Photography (@alixann_loosle_photography)

20 unique escort card display ideas

1. attached to a straw.

Planning to serve signature cocktails at your reception? Why not start the evening off right by advising wedding guests to pick up a straw which will have their escort card attached to it. If you are having a tropical beach wedding , you could use bright fluorescent straws, or even attach the card to drink parasails.

2. Attached to Succulents

Purchase little terra cotta pots or tins to match your wedding color scheme and pot your succulents. In each pot, place an escort card attached to a toothpick. You can also use a clothespin to fasten the card. These are perfect for an elegant garden wedding and can double as a wedding favor ! When guests sit down at their table, it’ll add some extra greenery, too.

3. Attached to a Lollipop Stem

Find lollipops that are in your wedding colors and attach your escort cards with a coordinating bow. Lollipops are naturally cheery and playful and are perfect for a modern spring or summer wedding . Finish this escort card display idea off by placing all the lollipops upright in a bed of moss or a strip of grass for a secure and upright display that’s as pretty as it is useful.

4. Hanging From a Vine

Perfect for a rustic wedding , try hanging a long piece of greenery between two trees or in a door frame. You may want to ask your florist to create something or you can turn the idea into a fun DIY project. We like a combination like eucalyptus and fir for contrast. Along the vine, use mini clothespins to pin the escort cards in place. Alternatively, attach vines to hang down from a branch or a frame and pin your wedding stationery that way.

5. Attached to a Christmas Tree

If you’re having a holiday winter wedding , think about wedding escort card ideas that tie in with the season. One option is to creatively use a Christmas tree as a way to display them. Use a variety of paper and ribbon colors to assemble your cards, which will make the tree more colorful. Alternatively, have silver or gold ornaments made with each guest’s name and table number on them. It will be fun for guests to look for their names while taking in the scent of pine. They can then keep the ornament for their own tree at home!

6. Attached to a Pinboard

Pinboards are used often at weddings (to display photo collages, messages from guests, etc.) but there are a million and one ways to make them unique. If you’re looking for a modern look, order a collection of flat leather squares in a color that matches your wedding theme. Have a calligrapher write each guests’ name and table number assignment in gold or silver font atop each leather square. Pin up the leather cards in a pattern that is geometric and photo-worthy.

The Love Birds by Morgan Ramberg

Shade Garden by Robin Ott

Blend by Sarah Lenger

Forever Intertwined by Lindsay Stetson Thompson

7. Hanging From a Chandelier

Perfect for a formal or traditional wedding, your guests will be surprised and delighted when they see that the chandelier doubles as an escort card display, where the crystal droplets are etched with seating assignments. This by far has to be one of the most glamorous escort card ideas on our list.

8. Geodes On a Wall

If you’re having a bohemian-themed wedding , chances are you’re bringing in some celestial elements. So what better way to lead people to their tables than with geodes that have their names and table number engraved in them? Select pieces that match your wedding colors and display them creatively on a wooden wall decorated in greenery as an added statement piece.

9. In A Bed of Sea Glass

If you’re having a beach wedding , try tying the theme in with your escort cards too. Find an elegant try or trough and fill it with sea glass. Next, line up the escort cards in the pebbles of smooth glass. This makes for a beautiful and dramatic display in addition to being a functional piece for guests to locate their seating arrangement for dinner.

10. Nestled in a Pinecone

For couples who love the outdoors and are having a woodsy wedding, nestle your escort cards to stand up in pine cones. Place them on a table covered in a rustic woolen blanket or cloth to really add to the look. If you’re having your wedding in the winter , you can make your pine cones appear dusted with snow by brushing them with hodge-podge and then covering them with Epsom salt!

11. Tucked in Luggage Tags

If you’re a jet-setting duo, hosting a destination wedding , or have friends coming from near and far, incorporate a travel theme into your wedding. Wedding escort card ideas like wrapping their table assignment information in a custom-made luggage tag are both fashionable and functional! The loop on the luggage tag also makes it easy to hang them from a pinboard or from strings on a wall.

12. As a Cocktail Flag or Champagne Flag

Planning a fairy tale event by the sea? A nautical-themed wedding is beautifully inspired by different aspects of sailing, including the sails themselves. Escort display ideas for a nautical wedding include name tags shaped like sails resting in champagne glasses. This treatment encourages guests to pick up a drink and take it to their table for the first toast. Consider choosing one of your wedding colors to be displayed as the primary flag color.

13. Pinned to a Bed of Flowers

If the wedding setting is glitz and glam, then make the escort card display a jaw-dropping statement of elegance. Use a large ornate gilded frame covered in flowers and pin the escort cards into the bed of flowers for a beautiful statement. Your florist will be able to suggest the perfect wedding flowers to use and help piece together the look.

14. Aligned on Notched Wooden Log

If you are inspired by natural elements, consider featuring your escort cards cut into tree branches with exposed bark. Draw from the locale of your wedding when deciding which wood to use. For a Colorado wedding, limbs from an aspen tree can remind guests of their location. Mango wood or koa wood would compliment a Hawaiian wedding. From a sustainability standpoint, look to only feature wood and limbs that have naturally fallen.

15. Attached to Figurines

Add a level of playfulness to your wedding with added details like these. Punch a hole in your escort cards and loop a piece of colorful string that matches your wedding colors through it. On the other side, connect the card to a small animal figurine. This escort idea works great for a whimsical wedding, where there are some elements of fairy-tale and wonderland. Use figurines of small woodland creatures and perhaps some made-up animals too. Spray paint them gold or silver to add a level of shine to the display.

Bianca by Jessica Williams

Gallery by Lindsay Megahed

Fancifully by Everett Paper Goods

Botanical Arches by Kelly Schmidt

16. Hanging From Bottles

These escort cards are perfect for a vintage Great Gatsby-style wedding . Reference the art-deco look by arranging a bunch of bottles of varying sizes and colors. Consider perfume bottles, mini liquor bottles with great details, and antique medicine containers. Punch holes in your escort cards and loop string or lace through each one so you can hang the escort card around the neck of the bottle. Arrange the bottles on a table covered in a geometric pattern.

17. Tucked In Baskets of Seasonal Fruit

If you’re planning a barn wedding or one that’s out in the country, a simple and beautiful way to display escort cards is by finding an antique chest of drawers and filling it with containers of cherries, strawberries, or grapes. From there stick escort cards in each container. Try and pick up the fruit at a local farm or roadside stand, which will give your guests a taste of the local crops. Not only is it colorful and bright, but it’s also creative and inexpensive.

18. Placed In Wine Corks

For breathtaking vineyard weddings, try incorporating wine into the escort card display by cutting a slit in wine corks and sliding escort cards into the gap. Lined up in rows on a table, the escort cards will look elegant and tie in perfectly with the theme of the day.

19. Attached To a Pumpkin

Autumn weddings are beautiful for many reasons, including the seasonal colors. Pumpkins are a cheery way to attract guests to an escort card table and attaching escort cards to the top of the pumpkin stems is a cute look. As guests arrive at their tables, the pumpkins will add another layer of decoration to the table, too.

20. Resting In a Library Card Catalog

Find a vintage card catalog and fill some of the drawers with flowers and others with escort cards. This idea can work for so many wedding themes! It is darling, sweet, and also versatile enough to be modern and moody. Don’t be surprised if this display idea receives some compliments.

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The Dos and Don’ts of Wedding Escort Cards

In a post-COVID world, it’s more important than ever to have assigned seating at your wedding. So let’s talk wedding escort cards! This detail may be a small one, but did you know that escort cards can make a big difference in both practical and design terms? Unlike place cards, which are placed directly on the tables to let guests know which chair to sit in (and are just as important for social distancing), wedding escort cards direct them to their table. And, while you can keep things simple and classic, why not add a bit of flair? With a bit of creativity, your escort display can be a fun way to welcome your guests, speed up the seating process, and make a great impression!

Here are a few dos and don’ts to consider.

DO let guests access seating assignments during cocktail hour. In the past, seating displays were often set up at the entrance to the reception space. However, this can lead to crowding that’s anything but social distancing-friendly. Instead, give guests plenty of time to find their seating assignment during the cocktail hour, instead of all at once.

DON’T create a bottleneck. Another way to stop people from bunching up at the escort cards is to set up multiple tables or displays, spaced well apart. Be sure to allow enough flowers or decorations to make them all pretty, and provide clear signage so guests know where to find their card.

DO make it easy for guests to read their names. Another way to prevent crowding is by making it easy for guests to read their names. Make sure the font or writing on your wedding escort cards is legible as well as pretty. If you are placing them on a table, lay them at a 45-degree angle. Also, ensure the lighting in the escort card table area is good by using a spotlight or lots of candles.

DON’T group them by table number. One of the biggest mistakes couples make is to organize their wedding escort cards by table name or number, instead of alphabetically. Unless you have a tiny guest list, this makes it nearly impossible for guests to locate their name. So, for example, if you have multiple escort card tables, you could split them by guest surnames A through H, I through P, and so on.

DO work with your wedding stationery designer or calligrapher to keep the look cohesive. While an escort card display can stand as a design feature on its own, it should be in theme with the overall look and feel of your wedding.

DON’T have more wedding escort cards than you need. While you need one place card per guest, you can have one escort card per couple or family. Of course, if you’re attaching escort cards to favors, you may want them to be individual, but otherwise, there’s no need to create more waste than necessary.

DO get creative with your presentation. The escort card display is something all your guests will interact with, so why not make it memorable? Have fun, and make it a real feature! Draw inspiration from your wedding theme or your love story. Think big and bold, and incorporate fun floral elements or hanging installations. You can also incorporate non-traditional objects and favors, like fruit, shells, plants, candy… the options are endless!

DON’T forget to decorate the table (if you’re using one). Even if you’re opting for a more traditional tented escort card display, be sure to decorate the table. Add florals or props like hurricane candles, and create visual interest with containers placed at different heights. Even just adding a beautiful linen on the table can really make it pop.

DO get organized to save yourself stress. Before the wedding, sort the cards alphabetically and clip them together in groups, or place them into ziplock bags. If you don’t have a wedding planner, choose someone who can set up the display for you and give them a clear diagram. You should also have some blank cards on hand to allow for any late changes.

DON’T wait until the last minute. Leaving your escort cards until the last minute is a recipe for stress! Don’t procrastinate. Give yourself plenty of time by starting about three weeks ahead of the wedding. You’ll be so glad you did! Just make sure all of your RSVP’s are in first!

Put these tips into action and your wedding escort cards will be a pleasure rather than a chore.

xoxo, Mindy

Image by Jose Villa

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Unique and Fun Escort Cards and Seating Chart Displays

If you ask us, there’s always something to celebrate. Whether your next event is a thematic dinner party or an intimate afternoon brunch, why not show your guests to their seats with something eye-catching and unexpected?

Escort cards and seating chart displays are perfect for communicating table assignments to your friends and family. Regardless if you choose escort cards or a seating chart, they should be prominently positioned near the entrance of your event. Be sure that your escort cards display the names of each of your guests along with their corresponding table number. Below are seven escort card and seating chart displays that won’t just impress your guests—they’ll guide them in style.

Photo by  Sylvie Gil Photography

Ribbon escort cards.

We love how simple materials can make an eye-catching statement, like this lovely seating chart made of ribbon. Because ribbon comes in a wide variety of hues, it’s the perfect way to accentuate a color palette, like this display on Ruffled . (An added touch of floral detailing never hurts either!)

Photographer: Amy and Jordan Photography

Escort cards in elegant vintage boxes.

Whether they’re repurposed or bought new, there’s just something charming about vintage boxes. Along with a personalized escort card, you can fill them with just about anything (like these sweet little flowers featured on Style Me Pretty ).

Photographer: Sally Pinera

Escort cards that double as a cheese plate.

Escort cards that come with a bite-size block of cheese? Yes, please! We love how this couple, featured on Style Me Pretty , came up with escort cards that double as a light snack on the way to the table. (All that’s missing is a pairing of white wine.)

Photographer: Kate Ignatowski

Escort cards made from seasonal fruit.

How precious are these little oranges? This clever couple, featured on Wedding Chicks , created escort cards by pinning green paper leaves with the names of their guests. Depending on the time of year you host an event, consider incorporating seasonal fruit into your escort card display.  

Photographer: Flora & Fauna

Rainbow escort card pockets.

Along with names and table numbers, these rainbow-colored escort pockets (featured on Brides ) contained personalized love notes that thanked each guest for attending. What could be sweeter than pockets with love notes?

Photographer: Jenny Smith and Co.

Love thy neighbor seating chart.

When it was time to for the reception to start, this couple invited guests to “love thy neighbor” and find their names and seating assignments on glass houses. Each little house was filled with flowers and greenery.

Photographer: Meiwen Wang

Featured on style me pretty, escort cards with a touch of home.

Who doesn’t appreciate a touch of personalization? Your guests will love being greeted by escort cards that offer a nod to their home state.

Photographer: Erin J Saldana Photography

Featured on green wedding shoes.

Before you can execute a plan for your own escort cards and seating chart display, you’ll need to finalize your seating chart. Digital services like Greenvelope can help ease the process of building a seating chart for your event. Greenvelope allows you to translate all attending guests and their plus-ones directly to a seating chart . No spreadsheets, pin boards, or pulling your hair out required. If you’re interesting in using Greenvelope for invitations, RSVP tracking, and seating charts, you can get started here .

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Great Ways to Add a Creative Element to Escort Cards

Set the tone for your reception with an escort-card display that's uniquely you.

What was once just a directional tool has now become a statement part of the big day that your guests will look forward to throughout cocktail hour. Find out how to dress up your escort cards or seating chart! By Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events

Once you’ve narrowed down your guest list, sent the wedding invitations , and received your RSVPs, it will soon be time to create your seating chart. After the arduous task of selecting where your friends and family will sit at the reception, you’ll get to enjoy the fun experience of choosing what you want your guests’ table assignments to look like!

These escort cards are a great opportunity for creativity and personalization at your wedding . You want each of your loved ones to stare in awe and say, “This is so them!” Every single wedding attendee will stop at this escort card table or display, so be sure to make it both memorable and fabulous.

What’s Required?

First, you need to analyze what you need based on your wedding venue and the type of meal service you are hosting. We always recommend assigning tables since open seating is a recipe for disaster, but will you assign seats as well? If so, you will need a place card or personalized menu at each seat. 

Is it windy where the escort cards will be displayed and therefore paper is not an option? Try using unique items such as a miniature bottle of bubbly or a tag attached to a small favor.

Will your escort cards also need a meal indicator on them for the catering team to reference? If so, make sure you have a sign instructing guests to display it at their seat for the catering staff.

It’s Time for Personalization

Once you have all of your logistical needs outlined, write a list of characteristics about you as a couple that your guests would recognize. Perhaps you both love to travel, you are known as wine connoisseurs, or your love story started in a New York City taxi. 

Think about your proposal, your first date, what you have in common with each other, and what you do on the weekends together. From your list of personality traits or preferences, you can come up with ideas for either the design of the escort cards themselves, the trinkets they’re attached to, or the motif of your escort-card display!

Fun Examples to Inspire

There are so many fun ideas of which to take advantage! A couple who loves Italian food may consider olive oil bottles as their escort cards. The Champagne lovers might want a swizzle stick displaying the table number in a chilled glass of bubbly. A couple who said “I love you” for the first time on a hot-air balloon may decide to make a large statement with a whimsical wall display. The pair who spends every weekend at the beach might do a message in a bottle creatively arranged in a sand box. A chef groom may choose cutting boards as a seating chart or a French bride who is famous for her macarons will want to share the dessert in a numbered box. A Palm Springs wedding may need a fluorescent, retro flair and a vineyard celebration may look best with more flowers. Be creative!

Decorate the Space

In addition to the escort cards themselves, have some fun with the setting! Knowing that every guest will see this display before they enter your reception space, work with your floral designer to add lush greenery and flowers that foreshadow the décor to come. If your space allows, add candles to this display as well to create a romantic ambience from the start.

These elegant, yet simple, additions will create a cohesive design that will effortlessly blend the concept of your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception to make it recognizable throughout the evening. You can also rent or purchase props to adorn the area with personalized or decorative additions – perhaps a vintage suitcase for a couple who loves traveling, a glass shelving unit filled with framed photos for nostalgic brides and grooms, or a box full of moss for a garden wedding.

While escort cards aren’t one of the most anticipated parts of planning a wedding , they provide a unique opportunity to add your own twist on the celebration. What was once just a directional tool has now become a statement part of the big day that your guests will look forward to throughout cocktail hour. Even the most classic and timeless events can take advantage of incorporating a bit of personality, so don’t miss out on this fun way to creatively personalize your fête.

For more tips and advice from wedding planner and designer Tessa Brand of Tessa Lyn Events , discover what your bridesmaids wish they could tell you , read a guide to wedding seating charts , and find out what to do the morning of the wedding !

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How to Set Up a Wedding Escort Card Table

Last Updated: December 13, 2021 References

This article was co-authored by Ivy Summer . Ivy Summer is a Certified Wedding Planner and the Owner of Voulez Events. Ivy has over 10 years of experience consulting, planning and coordinating weddings around the globe. She has also created a DIY online wedding planning workshop for couples, called "Plan Your Wedding Like A Pro." She currently resides in Greece where she continues to work with a worldwide network of planners and wedding professionals. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 4,843 times.

If you use escort cards instead of a seating chart to tell guests their table assignments at your wedding reception, let your escort card table set the tone for your reception. Go with formal cards in envelopes or table tents on a nicely decorated table for a traditional approach. Alternatively, you can set up a creative or whimsical table or display that matches your wedding theme. Just remember to keep the cards in alphabetical order so guests can find them. If you’ll also have place cards at each table to assign specific seats, try to match these to your escort cards.

Creating Your Escort Card Display

• Fill in open spots on the table with flowers, ivy, or other botanicals.
• Put the escort cards in the picture frames and let guests take those home as favors.

• Try displaying the cards in antique trays that are decorated with antique jewelry or items like antique clocks, compasses, and looking glasses.

• Attach escort cards to distressed, antique shutters for a rustic look.
• Pin luggage tags or escort cards that look like boarding passes, postcards, or antique luggage labels to a map for a travel theme or destination wedding.

• Write a table number on large helium-filled balloons in your wedding theme colors and attach escort cards for the guests at each table to the strings of the balloons.
• String up a line of escort cards between antique window frames or two wooden ladders. Attach the cards to the lines with clothespins or ribbons.

Setting Up Tables with Food and Drink

• Try attaching elegant escort cards to the stem of a full champagne flute. [7] X Research source

• You can also attach escort cards to colorful drink umbrellas. Provide drinks for the umbrellas on the escort table or from circulating waiters.

• You can gild the apples or pears by painting them with gold paint.
• Pin escort flags in mini cupcakes instead of fruit. Arrange these on pretty trays that are organized by table number.

Adding Greenery to Your Display

• Let guests take home the terrariums or pots as favors.
• For gardeners or a DIY look, attach escort cards to seed packets.
• For a simple and elegant display, attach calligraphic escort cards to lavender bundles.

• Use escort cards with a floral cut-out detail. Set them up on a table covered in rose petals and votive candles for a simple and romantic display. [11] X Research source

• Attach escort cards to pots covered in moss and use the pots as favors after the wedding.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Ivy Summer. Certified Wedding & Event Planner. Expert Interview. 17 August 2021.
• ↑ http://www.brides.com/gallery/wedding-escort-card-seating-chart-display-ideas
• ↑ http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/230944/creative-seating-cards-and-displays
• ↑ http://www.mywedding.com/wedding-ideas/20-stylish-seating-charts-to-greet-your-reception-guests/
• ↑ http://www.brides.com/story/how-to-have-stress-free-escort-cards
• ↑ http://www.womangettingmarried.com/10-wedding-place-cards/
• ↑ https://www.brit.co/table-cards/
• ↑ http://www.instyle.com/weddings/escort-cards-table-design-creative-ideas
• ↑ http://www.bridesmagazine.co.uk/planning/receptions/table-plan

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Momental Designs Unique Wedding Invitations featuring the artwork of Kristy Rice. We love to create handmade custom wedding invitations, unique wedding invitations, birth announcements and stationery. We create unique wedding stationery including custom programs, wedding menus, custom seating charts and seating cards. We also offer bat mitzvah, bar mitzvah invitations, party invitations, wedding shower invitations, baby shower invitations. If you are searching for a handmade custom invitation, a unique party invitation, bridal shower invitation, or even a beach themed wedding invitation please contact us.. We love to create destination wedding invitations, hand-painted invitations and very artistic invitations.

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Escort and Place Cards

Not sure of the difference between the two?

Place cards only show an individual guest’s name, and are placed directly at their seat. An escort card (also known as a seating card), includes a table assignment, and may be for an individual, or a couple. They are usually positioned at the entrance of the reception, and guests use them to find their table assignment. Meal choices can also be added to your cards, if requested by your venue.

Most of our designs here can be used for either option, we simply need the seating details from you!

Die Cut Escort Cards

Flat Escort Cards

Handwritten Place Card

Handwritten names give this style a classic but not overly stuffy vibe.

Classic Envelope Seating Cards

A petite envelope to greet guests. Inside a lovely card with their table assignment is included.

Mini Envelope Style Seating Cards

Hand Cut Leaf Seating Cards

Watercolor Flowers Escort Cards

Meal choices can be subtly indicated on the inside or bottom corner of each card.

Watercolor Seating Card with Borders

Also can be made flat instead of tented, this can be easily adapted to be either a seating card or place card.

Watercolor Place Card with Foil Pattern

Handwritten guest names in white….

Wood Arrow Wedding Place Cards

Wooden arrows with hand painted details make a fun alternative to paper.

Tented Place Card

Our simplest tented design, with hand painted highlights.

Tented Place Card with Borders

Hand torn and painted edges accent this glittery card, with mirror cardstock for extra glam.

Meal choices can be indicated with a small icon or simple text.

Tag Place Cards

Mark guests’ places by tying these to a favor or napkin.

Tented Square Place or Escort Card

A sweet and simple place card design.

Die Cut Place Card

Another die cut option, simple but elegant.

Flat Escort Cards with Borders

Abstract Hand Painted Place Card

Abstract shimmer painting on a flat place card.

Tented Escort Card with Meal Choice

Note each guest’s table assignment and meal preference.

Oval Place Cards

Heavily hand painted, shown here with hand-written calligraphy.

Privacy Overview

The Lazy Girl's Guide To Planning A Wedding

How To Not Cry Over The Table Seating Arrangements At Your Wedding

You'll need a strategy for this one.

You may have wondered: Do I need a seating chart? This is one of those “is this a big deal” questions that actually can be pretty important if you have more than 20 or so guests. “I didn’t think about it until a few hours beforehand, and boy, was everyone mad at me. It was a hot mess,” says Judy, 37, from Queens, New York. Luckily, seating charts also aren’t one of those things that have to be overinvolved. But having a strategy can help your guests avoid awkward moments and can actually make the entire evening go more smoothly.

When Should You Actually Start Planning Your Table Seating?

Once RSVPs come in is when you can begin the seating charts, but keep in mind you may want to keep things flexible with room to swap people in and out. It also depends on your vision for seating: Place cards (which have your guest’s name, table number, and seat assignment) are less forgiving than escort cards, which simply have your guest’s name and table number, says Liz Curtis, founder and CEO of Table + Teaspoon , a tabletop and tablescape rental service. If you’re getting place cards printed, you’ll need at least two weeks prior to the wedding to lock in the guest list and the seating, but that’s not counting the time and energy it takes to figure out where everyone is going to sit.

Choosing actual seats for each guest, as opposed to a table assignment, is a time suck to consider. “Though it’s lovely for your guests to feel like their seat was personally picked by the bride and groom, the amount of stress that goes into collecting information from your soon-to-be spouse, their parents, and your parents about every single guest in order to place them is overwhelming,” says Curtis. Instead, you could just focus on table assignments via place cards. By 72 hours before the event, your seating chart should be “locked” — but know that you may need to do one or two switches prior to the actual reception.

If you want to avoid printing and keeping track of cards for every single guest, consider printing a seating chart board . This way, everyone can glance at the board before they head into the reception to find out their table number and they won’t need to take anything with them. Though, with a board, any major last-minute switches might be more difficult.

How It Worked IRL

It’s important to think about your guests when you assign tables — a lot of couples like to put elderly relatives toward the perimeter, so they can easily excuse themselves to the restroom and they’re not blasted with music from the dance floor — but don’t overthink it. Camille, 31, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, made the table seating planning process simple. “I went to a wedding where a friend purposely mixed tables to have her friends meet new people with somewhat common interests. I hated it,” Camille says. “I just wanted to sit with the people I already knew. So for my wedding I put together people who knew each other and if there weren’t enough to fill a table, put them with people of a similar demographic or age.”

And know that seating is just one of those things that may have some day-of hiccups. “The seating changes at the last minute, so be prepared for that,” says Laura, 33, from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, who added that she brought blank seating cards so they could be filled in on the day of her wedding.

The Best Hacks To Cut The Hassle

If your mom or your partner’s dad has a lot of opinions on who sits where, let them — and allow them to take control of seating the relatives and their friends, while you focus on your friends. That’s why using a program online can help. Curtis recommends AllSeated and StyleMePretty , which can allow multiple people to log in and work through assignments in real time. Also, to make planning your tables easier, consider having different table sizes.

Liz Curtis, founder and CEO of Table + Teaspoon, a tabletop and tablescape rental service

This article was originally published on Sep. 28, 2021