Reception Seating Arrangements

courtski2004

Ladies, I am getting ready to begin making out seating arrangements for the reception and wanted to get some feedback on how you displayed either the list of names or the escort cards for your guests.
I think I would like to have the escort cards on the tables prior to the guests arrival, and have a board and easel at the entrance so that guests will know what table they are seated at. What are your thoughts on this? Based on experience what do you think is the most effective way to do this? (without the obvious of not doing anything.)

professorscience

I've seen this done two ways.

At one exceptionally extravagant wedding, there were people at the door taking names and letting us know our table number, then our escort cards were at our seats.

The other one had a picture frame that was really cute, with some of the couple's engagement pics, and names and table numbers in alpha order.  It worked really well.  That time there were no escort cards -- we picked our own seats.

KendallandAlbert

I don't seem to have a pic saved, but I LOVED Lauren's way of doing hers.  It was fantastic!   Hopefully she will chime in with a link!

ETA: Well, I searched back 44 pages and couldn't find it.

We will most likely have ours up on a board like such so they are easier to see when multiple people are at the escort table.

fallbride1109

I had a table of escort cards set out outside the ballroom.  I wanted cute escort cards so that's what I did.    And it worked fine.

By putting the escort cards at the place setting, you are assigning seats essentially.  If you do the chart, you really don't need escort cards (unless you are wanting to assign seats).  I wanted to assign tables, but let them pick their seat once they got there.

courtski2004

Good point, Stephie...I am really just wanting to assign tables rather than seats.

marksle84

I saw this cute idea on etsy!. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to make.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61066472/seating-chart-with-engagement-photo?ref=sr_gallery_31&ga_search_query=photo+place+cards&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

fallbride1109

The other thing about the chart that bothered me was I was afraid they would find their name, then see someone they knew, start chatting, get distracted, and forget their table.  With the card, it's in front of them the whole time.

Just something to think about.  I really just liked the cards because they seemed more formal and traditional and that was the feel I was going for.

DFWIndian

There are some great ideas on TK as well. One of our friends just did the place cards on a picture frame and we got to take them home. I assume they were the favors now...lol. (see favors aren't as important as people claim). The table # were pics of them over the years.

MLandCJ

KendallandAlbert

And I am retarded.  They were in her bio the whole time

llc2011

Thanks Kendall!

Here is the picture of the actual escort cards.  That was the map that DH made so people knew which direction to find their table once inside the room since the tables were named and not numbered.

KendallandAlbert

Yeah, I made sure to save them this time to my ideas folder. 

The first time I saw the map, I thought it was the perfect compliment to the escort cards.  Definitely something we may steal for ideas!