Escort Card: The card on a table outside of the main dining room with the guests seating assignment.
Place Card: The card on the dining table where the guest will sit.
- Request your caterer or event coordinator give you a diagram of the room prior to sending cards to the printer. This will give you a better visual of the room and how many seats will be at each table, and you will be able to place your guests accordingly.
- Create a list of everyone’s name, including the invited guests, in alphabetical order and perhaps by table number. Give a copy to the person setting the table the day of the wedding. The list is a great way to double check the printer’s job and to make sure you didn’t leave anyone out. Also, it helps the caterer if there are any questions about seating arrangements.
- Be consistent with the wording on the cards, do not mix informal and formal wording. For example, make all cards Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Roberts or Martha and Jackson Roberts.
- To save money, you can have two names printed on the escort card for a couple or the invited guest and guest. The invited guest’s name is always first on the card, even if it is a man. To be clear, the invited guest is the guest’s guest.
- Have the printer put the table numbers on both cards for easy placement the day of.
- After receiving your cards from the printer, organize your escort cards in alphabetical order and the place cards by table numbers. Sometimes the printer will do this for an added fee. It’s almost better to do it yourself, so you can double check everything.
Don’t forget the possibilities are endless on the design of the escort and place cards. In fact, it does not have to be an actual card; it can be any object imaginable. No matter what you do, incorporate your theme and colors onto your cards to complete your look.
