Wedding Reception Forum

Difference between escort cards and seating charts

What is the difference between escort cards and seating charts? 

I have bought place cards for the reception but am confused as to how to use them in a large setting. I know that a place card usually is set at the place where a person is to sit. But in a large room does the person just walk around until they find their seat? Or do I need a board with a master list of the table that the person is to sit at and then they can find their specific seat? Any advice or ideas are appreciated. 

Re: Difference between escort cards and seating charts

  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited June 2014
    We did table cards.   This told the guest what table to sit at, but not what seat. Below is our table cards.  They were displayed at the entrance to venue/room.  Ours were in alphabetical order.


    image

    Some people also assigned seats.   Not a fan, plus it's time consuming.    In that case you would either use a card or chart to direct the guests to the table, then they walk around looking for their actual seat.     

    I've only been to one wedding like that and it was only because they bride hand made gifts for each individual person so that is why she wanted everyone to assign specific seats.  She had cards displayed at the entrance, then when we got to the table to looked for our specific seat.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • Ours were on river rocks, and they were alphabetical with the table number written on the back. I think if you have a large wedding, you might consider having a large board so people can see it easily and not have to crowd around. 


    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
    image
  •  We DIY a large board, that sat on the end of the guest book table, when you first walked into the reception room. Each table was numbered, and we had groomsmen escort each guest to their table. (More to keep organization, and so guests weren't wandering around, searching for which table was which).  We didn't have assigned seats, just assigned tables. Worked out great for us!

     *J
  • Place card - a card that is set at a "place" at the table to indicate which seat a person should sit at.

    Escort card - a card placed on a table somewhere near the entrance (usually in alphabetical order) that has the person's name and the number of the table they are sitting at. The card is used to "escort" them to the correct table.

    Seating chart - basically the same information as an escort card, but they they don't have anything to take with them to their table.

    If you are having place cards then you should have a seating chart or escort cards so that guests aren't wandering around having to look at names on every single table. That would take forever.
    image
  • tcnobletcnoble member
    First Comment First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its
    edited June 2014
    Going along with the OP's questions... If you're doing table assignments, can you put The Smith Family Table 3 on one card or should each member of the family have their own escort card?? And if so, if there are multiple Smith families, would you put John Smith and Family, Greg Smith and family, etc?? Thanks I'm advance for the help ladies! ETA clarification
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • tcnoble said:
    Going along with the OP's questions... If you're doing table assignments, can you put The Smith Family Table 3 on one card or should each member of the family have their own escort card?? And if so, if there are multiple Smith families, would you put John Smith and Family, Greg Smith and family, etc?? Thanks I'm advance for the help ladies! ETA clarification
    The only kids I invited were my 7 nieces and nephews.  They were not sitting with their parents so I gave them their own card.   With only 7 I would have even if they sat with their parents. 

    Growing up I mostly got my own card, but sometimes we were put with my parents. I do not think it really matters for minors.   Adults should get their own.

    I would put first names regardless.






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  • tcnoble said:
    Going along with the OP's questions... If you're doing table assignments, can you put The Smith Family Table 3 on one card or should each member of the family have their own escort card?? And if so, if there are multiple Smith families, would you put John Smith and Family, Greg Smith and family, etc?? Thanks I'm advance for the help ladies! ETA clarification
    I put full names on the cards (and some middle initials for same first and last name people) and every guest got their own escort card. Our escort cards were boxes of hand dipped chocolate truffles though and I'm thinking if I didn't give everyone their own there would be some upset people :)

    I think if you have families with small children it would be perfectly ok to give them a family escort card. Definitely put first names for people with the same last name. It would be too confusing not to.
    image
  • What is the difference between escort cards and seating charts? 

    I have bought place cards for the reception but am confused as to how to use them in a large setting. I know that a place card usually is set at the place where a person is to sit. But in a large room does the person just walk around until they find their seat? Or do I need a board with a master list of the table that the person is to sit at and then they can find their specific seat? Any advice or ideas are appreciated. 
    They work best when used together.  The seating chart lists where each table is and who is seated there, and it hopefully helps eliminate a lot of the "walking around to find my table."  The escort cards tell each person individually which table to sit at, but without some kind of chart or scheme that makes sense, the persons still have to figure out where their particular respective tables are.
  • Sometimes escort cards are one card per couple, so I don't see why they couldn't be one card per family if the family was all sitting together. How you write the names really depends on how formal your wedding is. "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Family" vs. "John, Jane, Tommy, and Timmy" would both be acceptable depending on your formality. 
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards