Wedding Place Cards

Wedding place cards  are only a small detail in your reception, but they are a detail nonetheless. If you are the type that wants everything in your wedding to blend seamlessly together, you'll probably be the type to get place cards  that match your invitations  and other stationery  goods. If this sounds like you, it is recommended to order the place cards at the same time as the other paper products. Formal weddings  are best suited to traditional looking stationery. Often, invitations and other stationery goods should be made on heavy-duty white or ecru paper  with black or dark grey writing, often done by a calligrapher. However, to save money you can always write the names on the cards yourself.

If you aren't one to stick to the rules, remember that this is your wedding and there is no limit to how creative you can get. Consider place cards that lend themselves to the overall ambiance that you are trying to create, whether it is based on a theme, color scheme, or motif. When it comes to how the place cards are supposed to stand, there is no rule about using tent-style folded paper even though it is the simplest and least expensive. You can use any number of options like those shown below through the use of place card holders.  You can also use painted silk flowers,  stones, or tags on wedding favors to indicate a person's seat.

Colorful and graphic cards that match your stationery are simple and easy.	Picture frame place cards  are lovely favors for guests to keep.	Luggage tag place cards  are perfect for destination weddings.	Pretty bud vase place card  holders double as a wedding favor.	A traditional folding card with enough simplicity to stand on its own.

About Escort Cards

Escort cards are similar to place cards, however they are usually given to guests as they enter the reception hall in order to guide them to their assigned seat. The outer envelope will state the guest's name and inside the envelope a card will have the table name or number on it. Escort cards are very cost effective because if you are tentative about seating or about the final guest count you can easily swap around the inner cards to move people around last minute. The same is not true with traditional calligrapher place cards.

An alternative to escort cards is a bulletin board style seating chart. These artistically done charts can be very effective. Most companies will allow you to customize the charts to fit your needs and preferences.

Table Cards

Get creative with your table cards!  They don't have to be boring numbers. If you have a theme, use it to your advantage. For example, a fall wedding would have table names such as red maple, oak, elm, birch, cottonwood, sycamore, etc. A spring wedding might use flower names such as rose, hydrangea, orchid, lily, iris, or violet. A beach wedding could have names of the beaches or shells on each table card. Finally, use table cards as a way to display your interests. They can be themed around your favorite vacation spots, movies, or books. You can even make each table card unique by including a bit about the cards meaning or significance to the couple.

Menu Cards

An interesting option to the standard place card is a personalized menu card.  If you are torn between how to spend your money and don't want to lose either of the options, make them personalized and get the best of both worlds. A menu card can have the guest's name on it, providing each person with their own menu and a little souvenir of the dinner. Or stick to place cards and get just a few menu cards for the table to share. Want to find out more about Menu Cards?

Related Guides
Thank You Cards	Invitations	Save-the-Dates	Wedding Programs	Hiring a Calligrapher