Although often confused as the same thing, the Escort Card provides table placement, while the Place Card provides specific seating—think Thanksgiving at the grandparents. Both of these cards have a long tradition in weddings, and for your big day you can go traditional or creative.
The cards are generally paid for by the bride and groom, and should be placed near the entrance to the reception area. Once you have a seating chart, you can either order the cards from your stationer or a wedding designer, or you can make them yourself. If you have a wedding planner, see if she takes care of them as part of her services.
“Make sure you have copies of the seating chart, and give a list to the maître d’,” says Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events in New York City. “Many couples don’t realize they need a seating chart first, so sit down and hammer that out first.” Bobish recommends that all escort cards be alphabetized no matter where you place the cards.
A popular trend is for couples to hang escort cards from trees or other ornamental fixtures. Bobish thinks it’s a great idea, “provided it’s a small affair. It’s going to be mass chaos if you have two hundred guests looking in branches for their cards.” Bobish suggests something like a clothesline for larger affairs, which means you can still alphabetize the cards.
Another trend is to forego the escort cards altogether and provide a Seating Map. The map is placed somewhere where everyone can see it, near the entrance to the reception area. “It’s efficient because no one loses their cards,” says Bobish. “People are getting very creative in how they design them.”
Price-wise, escort and place cards can be all-out extravaganzas or purchased at discount stores. Many people hire calligraphers, and some opt for DIY. “Unless you or a good friend is an expert at calligraphy, use a professional,” says Bobish. For simpler cards and to save money, “you and your fiancé can easily create the cards on your computer.” Whatever you decide, it’s all in the cards.
-David Toussaint