Wedding Placecards Etiquette
Big wedding receptions usually require place cards to help guests find their assigned seats. Design your place cards to match your wedding stationery (invitation, program cards, dinner menu, escort cards, etc.). Place them on each table setting so guests can easily locate their pre-assigned seats. Or choose to employ ushers to guide guests to their proper tables according to a seating plan and matching guest list. Utilize place cards as well to communicate particular guest meals to the catering staff by adding discreet codes on them.
Other People Are Reading
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Full Name
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Write the full name of your guest, for example "Mr. James Miller" or "James Miller" on the place card, depending on the level of formality you prefer. Proper etiquette requires indicating full names to avoid confusion among guests with the same first or last names.
Print
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Decide to have the names handwritten, printed or done by a calligrapher. If you opt to have them printed on a computer and decide to use a script font, make sure they are readable by your guests. Purchase special paper from wedding or stationery suppliers.
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Layout
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Choose from several options regarding the design and layout of your place cards. If you choose a bi-fold or tent-fold card, make sure the name is printed on both sides so other guests across the table can read it as well. Print the name on both sides of a single sheet card as well, and use decorative note card holders to hold them up. These can also double as wedding favors.
Spouses & Dates
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Provide married couples with individual place cards. This goes for guests with dates as well. Make sure you find out the name of your guest's date before the wedding so you can print her name on the card. Provide a space in the reply card for the guest to write the name of his date, or ask him via a telephone or email.
Other Options
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Consider other alternative styles for your place cards. Frame the printed names with interesting picture frames and use them as seating cards/favors for guests to take home after the celebration. Or place wedding favors on top of each guest's plate with a card bearing his name, to double as place cards. This is a more creative and practical approach to place cards as opposed to using papers that are only thrown away after the festivities.
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References
- Photo Credit Table decorated at a wedding reception. image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
