Guest name tags?

maggieschieffer

Hi Everyone, I was wondering if it would be weird to get small printed name tags made for the guests (each with a straight pin). I'm having a mid-afternoon standing reception and the guests will be moving around and mingling. I know that place cards usually done for a sit down dinner -- what do you think?

mbcdefg

Did you ever see that episode of Seinfeld where the mayoral aide told David Dinkins that he ought to start a campaign where all New Yorkers should have to wear nametags to make the city friendlier? And then Dinkins lost the election to Rudy Guliani? Plus, if it's a standing-room-only reception, I really doubt that people would want to stick around long enough to walk around and meet other people. They're probably going to say hi, grab a few snacks and maybe one drink and then leave because they don't want to be standing up the whole time.

chosen175

I'm all for unique reception ideas, but save your money on this one.  Nobody is going to wear name tags at a wedding reception.  Chances are, they will be wearing nicer clothes and won't want to stick pins in them (or use stickers) and risk ruining their nice clothes.  Plus, at a cocktail type of reception, people mingle anyway - they don't need a name tag to talk to someone.

danieliza1127

Definitely don't.  No one will wear them and certainly no one will want to wear them. People will mostly mingle among their own friends and family, not strangers.  If they do encounter people they don't know, they will just introduce themselves.

Leah&Christian09

Spend the money on chairs instead. Name tags conjure up uncomfortable business seminars. If people don't have a place to sit, they won't stay long enough to mingle much anyway.

maggieschieffer

Thanks ladies - sounds like an overwhelming "No"! I should have put in my original post that there will be seating - just not a "meal".

aerinpegadrak

Nametags are for high school reunions and seminars.  For me, a nametag signifies that this is an event to be suffered through, not enjoyed.

mbcdefg

Glad you will have seating! :)Maybe you will like these ... they're not actual name tags, but place cards inspired by name tags (you could easily make them yourself by putting the "Hello My Name Is" stickers - check Staples - on tented place cards): http://www.mintd.com/products/show/7230-Hello-My-Name-Is-Placecards

alithebride

i understand your intention here but the execution is just not right for a wedding reception. place cards are one thing-it makes finding seats easy for guests. they rarely stick the place card to their lapels with tape and walk around all night with it on.nametags are great-for kindgergarten, various professional conferences or if you work at a restaurant that makes their employees wear them. not for a wedding. your guests are perfectly capable of introducing themselves to one another. in other words: DONT DO IT!!!

banana468

I really hate name tags.  At any non-business function where name tags are provided, many people aren't wearing their own name tag by the end of the night anyway.

trix1223

I'm afraid that I'd be the uncooperative person who "lost" my nametag.  It would just seem so weird at a wedding to wear a nametag.  I wouldn't.Really, the ONLY purpose of the escort cards at weddings is to help people find their tables....where they are sitting with people they already know.  They are not to help people at the table know each other's names.Since you're not having seating, no need for identification cards.At a wedding, I use the time to catch up with Friends & Family that I haven't seen in a awhile.  There's really no good reason for me to have to learn the names of random guests that I'll never see again.I'm also old enough, and have enough manners that when I'm meeting someone, I stick my hand out, say "Hi, I'm Trix".  I don't need a nametag on my chest to do that.Please don't do this.

Catwoman708

I agree with this, name tags are tacky: "Nametags are for high school reunions and seminars. For me, a nametag signifies that this is an event to be suffered through, not enjoyed."

niq24601

I saw a DIYer who did name tags that had "ask me about:" and then two or three unique conversation topics for each person. That seemed ... better but it would really depend on the audience. "How do you know the bride/groom?" is really a fine conversation starter for most people.

Lasairiona

I don't know anyone who would wear one. Not everyone wants to ruin their nice clothes with a pin. A straight pin is a bad idea because someone will get poked with it. That said, name tags and placecards are two entirely different things that serve completely different purposes. Most adults would feel like they were back in kindergarten with that type of thing and that you don't trust them at all to have social skills.

aerinpegadrak

The problem with the "ask me about" thing is that people will have to have the same conversation, repeatedly, all night long.  It's excruciating.  My old job added our hometowns to our nametags, to "spark conversations with guests."  It was so awkward, I ended up changing mine to someplace fictional so I wouldn't have to talk about it anymore.People can make conversation on their own.  If they're painfully shy, they want to be left alone, not to field questions from 150 well-meaning strangers about their trip to Europe.

dsouldiva

No. No. No.

megk8oz

I really don't like this idea. Its a wedding, not a business convention. If you're having table seating, just do place cards. If you're not doing a really formal meal, then just let people introduce themselves to who they want to. And if I were at a wedding w/name tags, I'm not going to lie, mine would be "lost", in about 5 minutes. Because, frankly, I don't want the groom's pervy drunk uncle/bride's creepy cousin/random relative's weirdo date knowing my name. That's just me, though.