Wedding Reception Seating Chart, Escort And Place Cards

A wedding reception seating chart lets each guest know where he/she will sit at your wedding reception. Usually each table is numbered to make it easier for the guests and for the servers.

As the guests enter the reception area, there should be a chart with the name of each guest, along with the table number they will be sitting at. Some brides and grooms let couples sit together to make them feel comfortable.

Some couples use escort cards instead of a seating chart. The cards would be outside of the reception area on a table, a bulletin board, or on a creative display, like a Christmas tree in December.

Once a guest is directed to his or her table, place cards on the table let the guest know which place setting he or she should sit at.

Others like to mix it up so no couples are sitting together. This makes for a more interesting conversation during dinner. You can either sit in icy silence or talk to the people at your table. You get to meet new people, which can be fun for some and uncomfortable for others, depending on your level of shyness and adventure.

At my reception, we allowed families to sit together. I think it is easier on people to sit with at least one familiar person. I hate to have to meet everyone at my table. It is okay to meet some new people, but familiar can be fun, too, especially at a happy occasion. (I like it when I get to sit with my husband, which is not often since he spends most of each year in the Middle East now.)

Getting back to the wedding reception seating chart, this can be hung on a wall as a poster. It can be hung on an easel near the entrance. It can also be displayed on an entry table. It is wise to have a friend or relative man the display and help people find their seating assignment, especially if there is a large number of guests.

This can be made easily with pretty colored poster board and stick-on papers with the name of each guest. The papers can also be glued on. Use different colored gel inks or paint pens to write in the names of the guests and their seating assignments.

Use coordinating colors that go with the wedding colors. In the center of each table, display the number of that table so the guests can easily find their seats.

In place of a seating chart, some couples use wedding reception escort cards to let their guests know which table to sit at during the reception.

It is helpful to have small cards folded in half so they are standing like tents on a table either outside of the reception area or just inside the doorway. The card should give the name of the guest or couple along with the table number.

Escort cards can also be tacked to a decorated bulletin board, or displayed in some other creative way.

For ease and to keep the line moving smoothly, display the names of the guests in alphabetical order.

The guest removes the card and takes it with him or her to the assigned table.

Once the assigned table is found, each guest should find a place card with his or her name on it, letting the guest know where to sit.

Wedding reception place cards can be handwritten, professionally printed, or printed by the bride and groom at home from their computers. They can be painted or stamped so they do not look so plain. Some creative brides use calligraphy. Others glue craft foam numbers on to the cards in an assortment of colors. Use brightly colored magic markers for the names of the guests on white or off-white cardstock.

One fourth of a sheet of cardstock is a good size to use for each card. Fold the small piece of cardstock in half so the card stands up like a tent and decorate. Just be sure the name of the guest and the table number are easy to read.

A little creativity from you can produce unique and beautiful wedding reception place cards. Place cards tell each guest where he/she will sit at the reception.

When the guests enter the reception room, they can pick up their seat assignment from a chart near the entrance or from tent-style escort cards on a table outside of the reception area and then find their seat. A pretty place card with the name of each guest, along with a hand-made wedding favor, will let each guest know that you are glad he/she is there to spend this happy occasion with you.

Sure, you can just fold a rectangle of card stock in half and write the name of a guest and stand it up next to a place setting. There is nothing wrong with this. Many brides and hostesses do this everyday.

Christmas Wedding Place Cards

by Mary
(Binghamton, NY)

Here is an idea for cute Christmas wedding place cards. Buy plastic Christmas balls painted in one color with metallic paint or use glass balls. Using a paint pen that writes in a metallic color like silver or gold, write each guest's name on a ball. Place a napkin on the top of each plate and place the ball with the guest's name showing on top of each napkin.

This Christmas ball is also a favor that guests can take home and put on their Christmas tree.

Christmas Ball Place Cards
by: Juanita

Mary,
Christmas ball place cards -- This is a great idea and one that is so inexpensive and easy. Plain glass balls painted in metallic colors is the best way to go. Both silver and gold paint pens are great but there are now other metallic colors as well. I have done this before with Christmas balls, but not as place cards.

It would also work with clear glass balls. Fill them with confetti or colored raffia or ribbon and write the guest's name on the outside. So pretty.

Thank you!

Wedding Place Card Lemons

by Jaclyn
(Beacon, New York)

If you are having a summer wedding, using yellow as a wedding color, wedding place lemon cards will look beautiful on your table.

Use large, firm, bright yellow lemons. Using a gold or silver paint pen, write the name of each guest on a lemon and place on the dinner plate of each guest.

An orange, a grapefruit, or a lime would also work. A black paint pen may show up better on some of the citrus fruits.

Citrus Fruit Place Cards
by: Juanita

Jaclyn,
I like the idea of writing directly on the citrus fruit place cards. What a great idea! No leaf to cut out, no ribbon to tie. How simple and yet how colorful lemon wedding place cards would be.

Thanks so much for the great ideas.

But, if you want your wedding reception to stand out from the others, add a little something to your place cards.

You can combine the wedding reception place cards with wedding favors such as using a large, shiny apple with a stem. Using green card stock, cut out a simple leaf. Use a silver or gold paint pen to write the name of the wedding guest on the leaf. Punch a small hole in one end of the leaf and tie it to the apple stem with a small length of thin cord or ribbon. Voila! Something different, yet simple, personal yet useful. A place card and favor rolled into one.

How about using wrapped old fashioned candy sticks or candy canes? Using a ribbon or cord, tie a small square or rectangle with the name of the guest in the middle of the candy stick or candy cane. Lay the candy across the dinner plate with the name showing.

A pretty napkin ring can be made into a place card. Tie a tag with the name of the guest using thin cord to the napkin ring. Lay the napkin across the dinner plate with the name showing.

Plant a small cactus or other miniature plant in a tiny flower pot and write the name of each guest on the pot using a paint pen. Place the flowerpot behind the plate with the name facing the plate.

These are just a few ideas for creating beautiful yet original wedding reception place cards.