Seating Chart vs. Escort Cards vs. Place Cards

If you’re having a wedding with assigned seating, you’ll need a way to lead your guests to their tables or seats, and the best way to do that is through calligraphy items! There are three different options that you can choose from to show your guests to their seats: seating charts, escort cards, and place cards. Wondering which you should opt for for your wedding? Let’s chat through the options!

Before we dive in— Hi, I’m Alane — a wedding calligrapher turned mentor and educator. If you’re a fellow calligrapher looking to grow your skills and your business, I’m here to help you do just that — with heart, strategy, and a whole lot of encouragement. Come say hi on Instagram (I love meeting new calligraphy friends!), and when you’re ready, check out the ways we can partner together to take your business to the next level.

Seating Charts

Seating charts have all your guests’ names and tables clearly written out, either in alphabetical order or by table number, so your guests can quickly find their seats. Pro Tip: If you have more than 150 guests, it’s recommended that your seating chart is organized by last name so that your guests have an easier time locating their seat.

Seating charts are the easiest option to set up and install at your wedding. Find a wall to lean it against or prop it up on a table or easel. No need to arrange 100 small cards in alphabetical order! (Don’t have an easel? Check with your venue before you buy one, as they may have one that you can borrow!) And not to mention, you’ll hit your guests with a big “wow” factor as soon as they enter your wedding!

They can be interactive! Use a mirror and your guests will have a blast taking insta-worthy selfies in front of it.

Seating charts create less waste, especially when they’re created on a mirror! The ink can be easily removed from the mirror after your wedding with a little windex, so you can use a one that you already own, you can purchase a new one to use in your home post-wedding, or you can rent one! (Psst. I’m now offering mirror rentals, so if you’re local to the Hoboken, NJ area contact me for details!) Also, a lot of my clients have kept the calligraphy on their mirrors and repurposed their seating charts as home decor! (Check out this blog post on more ideas for repurposing your wedding decor)

The possibilities for what your seating chart can be done on are endless: mirrors, acrylic, wood, fabric… you name it!

And you can make them extra personal by adding your monogram, wedding date, or a fun saying that welcomes your guests and let’s them know that you’re ready to party!

If you decide to go with a seating chart, be sure to as your florist to add some greenery or florals around it to really help it pop!

Escort Cards

Escort cards have your guest names and table numbers written on them. You can have an escort card for each individual guest or you can group couples on the same card. Depending on the size of your wedding, you can include first and last names or just first names. And depending on the formality, you can either include “Mr.” “Ms.” and “Mrs.” or leave those prefixes off.

Unlike seating charts, escort cards will need to be set up somewhere the day of your wedding, either on a table or on an escort card display board of some sort.

What are some pros of escort cards? Well, they’re also interactive! Your guests will need to walk up to a table or board and then find and pick up their card to bring to their table.

They can double as favors! Use something like marble tiles or shells that your guests can take home as a keepsake from your wedding. (People LOVE seeing their name written in pretty calligraphy!) Plus, doubling as favors cuts down on waste and makes them more eco-friendly!

Get creative with your escort cards! Think of different materials to use, bring in colors from your wedding, and arrange them in fun and unique ways! Here are a few of my favorite ideas that I’ve done for past brides: For a fall wedding, we wanted an organic feel, so we went with handmade paper with watercolor calligraphy and pulled in the couple’s colors of burnt orange and hunter green. Another couple made escort cards out of small envelopes, which had a note for each guest tucked inside. And another couple tied escort tags onto their wedding favors, which were bottle openers, and hung them on a wood board!

Your escort cards can be used to convey other important information, not just your guests’ names and table numbers. Use your escort cards to indicate what meal each guest has requested, so your venue knows what plate goes where.

Place Cards

Did you know? There is a difference between escort cards and place cards! Escort cards direct your guests to a specific table. Place cards direct your guests to a specific seat at that table (and they’re usually placed at the table, hence “place” cards!)

So, which option is right for you? Do you need one or all? Whether you decide to go with a seating chart or escort cards, that really just comes down to personal preference! And you only really need one of these options! If you have a seating chart, for example, you don’t need escort cards. However, some couples still include place cards for assigned seating at each table and to make their wedding experience more personal to each guest.

Are you team seating chart or team escort cards? Which will you opt for for your wedding?!

If you’re ready to bring your seating chart or escort card dreams to life, slide into my inbox and we’ll start to create some magic together! Or — if you’re a fellow calligrapher looking to grow your skills and your business, I’ve got you too! Let’s connect and explore how we can collaborate to take your business to the next level.