Table cards and place cards
When you host a seated dinner there are two types of cards to consider: table cards and place cards.
Table cards are a must if you’re hosting a large seated dinner {i.e. more than one table}. They go on display in a place that is easily accessible to guests during cocktail hour. They communicate one crucial piece of info: what table your guests are to sit at during dinner. If you’re doing a traditional tented card, the name goes on the outside and the table number goes on the inside {see the first image}. There are lots of variations on table card design but be sure to include the guest’s name and the table number. To complicate things just a tad: table cards can also deliver another key piece of info…what meal your guests will be having for dinner. On the outside of the card, you can communicate the guest’s meal choice to the server with a symbol/ribbon/color of ink. Or you could use a stamp set like this one from paper source.
What is a place card?
Place cards go on place settings. They tell guests where to sit once they’ve found their table. How did they find their table? With a table card. Unless you’re having a small dinner party {one table}, you can not do place cards alone. If you do use place cards and people at the table are meeting each other for the first time, it’s nice to put the guest’s name on both the front and the back of the card.
Moral of the story: table cards are a must. They get people to their destination. Place cards are optional unless you want to structure seating at each table.
{apple table cards by Michelle Rago via InStyle; fabric table cards via Elizabeth Anne Designs; lemon place card via Country Living; votive place card via Country Living}
[...] I made this project for Jon and Lauren’s wedding last year at Veritas (photograph above by Elizabeth Messina). Before we get started, if you need a refresher on the difference between place cards and escort cards (sometimes also called table cards), you can revisit this post. [...]
Hi from Australia Courtney! Your blog is gorgeous and we have been inspired by this post! We have used it in our own blog – citing you and link to you of course! We hope you will stop by and see what we are up to down under
Thanks again and best wishes, Sally Thompson
Sorry you can find the post here: http://blushingblooms.com.au/blog/
[...] entree choice. In that case, the coding on this sheet would match the coding on your guests’ place cards. POST LABELS: planning dinner seating for your wedding, seating charts Leave a Reply Click [...]