escort vs place cards

gattamelata

Are escort cards necessary for a smaller wedding? We're only having 70 people across 7 tables. Is it too much of a pain to find your personal place card at one of seven tables?

I don't want people having to hunt around for their seat but I'd much rather have place cards because they look cute as table decorations, rather than have escort cards with a table number. Would that be a pain?

Summer2011Bride

I personally would prefer being able to easily find my name in an alphabetical order rather than walk around finding it. I also hate when seats are assigned; I think assigning tables is a good idea, but I like some freedom to choose my own seat within that table.

What you could do is have a map or diagram of the tables when guests come in with everyone's name listed at the table they're sitting at. That would do away with both place and escort cards.

FWIW, even if you have escort cards, they can still double as cute table decorations. Most guests will put their escort card on the table where they are sitting once they reach their table, which is the same spot it'd be in had they already been on the table. Usually these cards have both the guest's name and table number. What else would you want to put on them?

Queen Jane

This was the one snafu we had at our wedding. H was supposed to get a large printout of the seating and place it on an easel we brought so guests could find their seats. We had only name cards, with no table number on them. Well, he either ran out of time or forgot, so our DOC set up the  name cards on the tables, and one of our friends had volunteered to standby and direct anyone who needed help.

We had 69 guests over 11 tables, and they all found their seats just fine. Our friend said that no one even asked her where to go or anything, it was a pretty natural progression. 

Of course, this was not my preference, it's just what happened. If you want to place the cards on the tables, I would have a large list for guests to look at on their way in.

gattamelata

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_escort-vs-place-cards?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:41feebec-1dbc-4929-9755-3749d3f93122Post:bc2cc580-5914-4ada-9b22-b96802a7084d">Re: escort vs place cards</a>:
[QUOTE]This was the one snafu we had at our wedding. H was supposed to get a large printout of the seating and place it on an easel we brought so guests could find their seats. We had only name cards, with no table number on them. Well, he either ran out of time or forgot, so our DOC set up the  name cards on the tables, and one of our friends had volunteered to standby and direct anyone who needed help. We had 69 guests over 11 tables, and they all found their seats just fine. Our friend said that no one even asked her where to go or anything, it was a pretty natural progression.  Of course, this was not my preference, it's just what happened. If you want to place the cards on the tables, I would have a large list for guests to look at on their way in.
Posted by Queen Jane[/QUOTE]


I was thinking that might be a good compromise, have a big list with the table numbers in the front then have the individual name cards on the tables. Normally I don't think assigned seats are necessary but we're making personalized favors/place cards for each person and I dont know how else to display them. thanks.

jennxrocks

I personally agree with Summer2011Bride. I am doing escort cards instead of place cards. I like the idea of them being in alphabetical order and all the people need to look for is the tablle number. They can each decide who they are sitting by at their assigned table.