Everything You Need To Know About Escort Cards and Place Cards!

Every few years, our Special Moments Event Planning team creates a blog post about the do’s and don’t of escort cards, place cards, and seating charts.

Too often, couples and their families struggle with how these simple pieces of paper affect how smoothly their guests can find their seats at the wedding reception.

So, here is a step-by-step breakdown of everything you need to know about Escort Cards and Place Cards!

 

Escort Cards And Place Cards Are NOT The Same Thing.

An escort card contains a wedding guest’s name and the table to which they are assigned. It is generally displayed in the cocktail hour area or the ballroom foyer.

 

 

 

A place card containing a guest’s name is placed on a dining table. It is usually placed at the top of or in the guest’s place setting and is intended to show the guest where to sit at the table. 

 

 

Whose Name Goes On The Card?

Escort cards should contain the guests’ first and last names and the number of the table they are assigned to. It is perfectly okay to have a couple listed on one card; however, the format can change depending on the situation.

Depending on the formality of your wedding, you may choose to include guests’ titles on the Escort Card, such as Mr. John Smith or Dr. Anna Jones. For a married couple, you may write Mr. and Mrs. John Smith.

For less formal situations, your card may place one name above the other using first and last names, such as John Smith / Kim Smith or Anna Jones / Donna James.

When a wedding guest is included with a plus one, it is always nice to know the guest’s name and include their name on the card. However, printing John Smith and Guest on the card is perfectly acceptable.

Only one name goes on each place card placed on the guest table, indicating who is sitting where. There is no need to be too formal; first and last names are usually OK. When assigning seating for your wedding party, a first name works well unless you have multiple party members with the same first name.

 

What’s For Dinner?

If you have offered your guests multiple entree selections and they have ordered them in advance, you may need to go one step further with your escort and place cards.

In many cases, the caterer must know each guest’s entry selection. This can be done in several different ways, and either works well.

You can place some indicator on each guest’s Escort Card. We’ve seen everything from an uppercase letter placed in the corner of each card. Something like C for Chicken, B for Beef, and V for Vegetarian. In some cases, different colored jeweled stones, sea shells, or stars were placed on each card. Anything that works with your wedding motif.

 

A second option is not to place anything on the escort card; instead, place cards for each guest and add the indicator on that card at the guest’s seat. 

While it is a bit formal and unnecessary, creating a second card and assigning seating can eliminate a few problems. Sometimes, guests don’t pick up their escort card and instead look at their table number. Others stick the card in their pocket or purse, but the server still cannot know their entree selection.

Whichever you choose, it is always a fantastic idea to create a master list of each table, the guest’s names, and their entree selection. Many caterers require it.

 

Organizing and Arranging Your Cards

Escort Cards are usually displayed in your cocktail hour location or a foyer, depending on space. The table is organized to display cards alphabetically by the guest’s last name, from left to right.

Organizing your cards alphabetically by your guests’ first names or table numbers can create confusion and frustration, so keep it as simple as possible.

For place cards, you want to organize the cards in an order that flows logically. Pick a seat to be #1 and work clockwise from there, keeping the same #1 position at each table. This way, the planner, decorator, or catering team knows how the seating assignments are played out. Again, a master list for seating assignments at each table is necessary!

 

Other Things To Know

After covering the big stuff, a few details still need to be mentioned.

When creating escort cards for two people with different last names, they are usually listed alphabetically by last name. In the case of Mark Lucas and Chuck Gilbert, Chuck would be listed first, with Mark on the second line.

The biggest exception to that rule is an escort card for a friend and their guest. If Mark is your Guest and Chuck is his plus one, it is okay to list Mark first.

While it seems like there are many things to know, once you decide whether or not you are offering an entree selection and whether you need a place card, you can narrow the field on what you need to know.

Our Special Moments Event Planning team is always happy to discuss the process.