I often get asked what’s the difference between seating cards and place cards. Seating cards will tell your guests which table they are seated at and place cards will tell them which place at the table is theirs.
Place cards are not required but they do look nice on a wedding reception table and sometimes they should be used.
The image above of the long reception table is from a wedding Dave and I recently went to. The tablescapes were gorgeous and each table sat 12 guests on each side—24 people per table.
Place cards were not used as you can see from the close up of each person’s setting below and that’s where confusion set in.
Because there were so many seats at each table, groups of friends/relatives who would have liked to sit together were divided on each side and each end of the table. We were a group of 10 people and because we all didn’t get to the table at the same time we were forced to separate into sections—2 people on one end, 2 people somewhere in the middle and 6 people sat themselves in one long row making it difficult to talk to anyone except the person right next to you.
The photo below is an example of a place card. They can be stand alone cards with a guest’s name printed or calligraphed on it. They can be placed on a napkin or above the charger or plate. Or you can combine a place card with another detail, such as the menu card or favor. To get some creative ideas, talk to your florist/event designer, stationer/calligrapher or click through online stationery galleries and blogs. Two of my favorite stationery blogs is Oh So Beautiful Paper and A Lucky Orchid Wedding.
The image above is by Beth Helmstetter and the calligraphy is by Laura Hooper Calligraphy via A Lucky Orchid Blog
