After numerous discussions about “place card table” with new brides, I decided it’s time to iron out the details! I’ve joined the quest
to standardize the industry speak when it comes to guest seating. Why? Because there’s immense confusion regarding the smallest wedding details. It seems brides, vendors, and venues aren’t clear on the difference between place cards and escort cards.* Some aren’t even aware of the term “escort card.” And sadly, many use the terms interchangeably, which only adds to the confusion. No problem. That’s why Full Circle Eventi is here, and let me tell you…I spend a lot of time explaining the difference.
Basically — here’s your 101 on this very necessary part of your stationery trousseau. Later, we’ll get into escort card DISPLAYS — but today, we’ll just focus on how to tell your guests where to find their chair for their tushes.
The terms are not interchangeable but are used in such a way by designers as to cause some confusion. Think of it like this:
- An Escort Card *escorts* the guest to their table
- A Place Card *places* the guest in a seat at the table
Before we go any further, let’s review the three basic ways to seat your guests:
Option 1 Free for all. Guests sit wherever they want.
Option 2 Limited choice. Each guest is assigned to a specific table, but may sit next to whomever they wish.
Option 3 No choice. Each guest is assigned to a specific seat.
Option 1 is usually not the best idea (I’ll save the “why” for another post). In fact, it is entirely appropriate and expected (not to mention practical!) to have some level of assigned seating at a wedding reception.
If you choose Option 2, you need to inform each guest of his or her table assignment. Walla . . . the escort card. Each guest (or each couple) will have an escort card bearing their name. They are typically arranged on a table alphabetically by last name, and look something like this:
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Brown
Table 17
Escort Card (aka Seating Cards / Seating Chart):
(papersource.com)
Most typical form is in an envelope with the guest name on the front and a small card inside that states the table that the guest is seated. These are typically found at the cocktail party or at the entry to dinner. Escort cards come in many forms other than envelopes—a tent card with the name on the front and the table number on the inside or more unique displays, such as the images on the board below.
(case; apples; escort cards; crystal drops; frames; crystal keys; corks)
What I love about this mix of cards is that you can see –there’s no right or wrong way to present the information – as long as it’s done creatively. And just a note from experience — lining them up in rows on a table outside + wind = escort card litter all over the cocktail party.
So . . . as long as you’re telling your guests where to go both literally & figuratively, you’ve got an escort card. Mr. and Mrs. Brown will pick up their card and it provides the direction, in a sense, escorting them to table 17.
An escort card identifies only the table reserved for each guest, not the actual place. If there is no other indication as to where they should sit, they choose whatever seat they wish at table 17.
However….
Placecards (aka Place Cards, Place Setting Cards):
If Mr. and Mrs. Brown arrive at table 17 and find place card at each setting, then they look for their names and sit exactly at the place this card is set. Place cards identify the specific seat reserved for each guest. They bear the guest’s name and are most often set above the place setting facing out so the place may be identified.
papersource.com
This is not a necessary piece of stationery – you can live without it *IF* you are not offering a choice of entree to the guests in the invitation which has to be specified to the caterer at time of service. To speed service, place cards are indicated on the place setting & would indicate what the guest has chosen to eat for dinner. This card typically simply has the first name of the guest for seating instead of the more formal Mr. and Mrs. (this obviously depends on the formality of your wedding).
(tags; heart glass tag; napkin tag; napkin tag; butterfly glass tag; heart)
Notes for brides:
If you’re using escort cards WITHOUT place cards…
- It’s a good idea to set the escort cards at each place for the bridal party so they don’t have to worry about where exactly they should sit.
- You might also consider presetting escort cards for parents, grandparents, and other honored guests to ensure they get a “good” seat.
If you’re using escort cards WITHOUT place cards AND offering meal choices….
- Be sure to create a separate escort card for each guest and indicate their meal selection (rather than putting couples or families on one card).
- You might want to reconsider adding place cards to ensure that each guest’s meal choice is viewable by the catering staff. Not every guest will place his escort card on the table in front of him.
If you’re using place cards WITHOUT escort cards…
- If you want to use place cards, you must find a way to convey each guest’s table assignment. Escort cards are one way of doing that, so if you don’t want to use them, you must find another way.
- One common alternative is to create a chart of sorts, listing your guests alphabetically along with their assigned table. For example…
(photo here at Mthree Studio)
(wood planks; monopoly; chalk board; picture frames; graphic; window pane; shutters; frame; scroll)
- Another idea is to supply ushers with a list of guests and table assignments, and they can escort guests to their seats. (although a very timely seating method)
After reading all of this, now you know why a “place card table” is an oxymoron and therefore cannot and does not exist. Please tell your wedding professionals who don’t know the difference. Or we could all just call them “plescort cards.”
Got questions? Confused? Leave a comment!
*Escort cards may also be referred to as “seating cards.”
Hello everyone thanks for
good information.