How to Address Escort Cards for Families With Children
I often get a bare stare when I mention "escort card" and "place card" in the same sentence.
Champagne Flute in lieu of Wedding ceremony Escort Card (Vue Photography via 100 Layer Cake)
It's understandable. Unless you grew up attending formal soirees (or had a grandma who was a stickler for formal community at holidays), you likely accept never heard of the difference. If you've heard both phrases mentioned earlier, y'all may have believed the ii to exist synonymous. Each serves a very different purpose, however.
From escort menu etiquette to identify card ideas, scroll on for my exclusive Escort and Place Cards 101!
What'southward the departure between an escort card and a place card?
For the tape, it's piece of cake to get confused hither. Some sources state that an escort card and identify carte du jour are the same thing – simply with different implied formalities. These sources describe both escort cards and identify cards as a means to tell guests at which table they're sitting and are placed near the reception archway. Furthermore, these sources state that escort cards are more formal and may accept an outer envelope with name and inner card with tabular array number, while place cards are less formal and are usually tented cards. The level of formality at your wedding would dictate which to employ.
However, I've long understood escort cards and identify cards to be two totally different things, and I've written this post with the following in mind:
An escort carte du jour serves the purpose of telling guests at which table they volition notice their seats, while a place card tells guests at which seat they're sitting effectually the tabular array.
When in dubiety in the future, consider the names! Escort cards escort yous to your table, and place cards show you your identify at the table.
When do I need escort cards and place cards at my wedding?
You only need escort cards and place cards if you're hosting a medium to large reception with assigned seating. First, decide which guests y'all'd like seated at which tables, then create the place cards and escort cards to reflect your plans.
Hot tip: Write the table number in small print on the back of each place card so that it's easy to divvy upwardly when prepping the reception tables.
Do I have to use escort cards and place cards at my wedding?
You can avoid using either if you lot plan to nada assigned seating in general at your nuptials. However, I just suggest foregoing cards if your nuptials reception will be small – remember 50 or fewer guests. Otherwise, I exercise suggest escort cards (and place cards!) for a number of reasons. To proper name a few, escort and place cards accept the drama and uncertainty out of finding a seat for your guests, help command who sits nearest to y'all on the large day (Mom and Dad will want the best seats in the house!), and encourage guests to find their seats quickly to fix for your grand archway to the party.
Where should I place my escort cards and place cards?
Escort cards should be arranged near the reception entrance and very easy to spot. If you lot believe guests may arrive at generally the same time, exercise not identify your escort card organization then close to the reception entrance that it causes a line to form exterior the building!
Place cards should be prepare at each place setting effectually your tables to bespeak where each invitee should sit.
Hymeneals Trip the light fantastic toe Flooring Sign for Escort Card Tabular array (Image: Ashley Biess Photography; Sign: marrygrams) ● Wedding ceremony Escort Menu Keys – (RomaBea Images via Hymeneals Chicks)
How should I arrange my escort cards?
Go far easy for your guests to find their seats by arranging your escort cards in alphabetical order by final proper name. While this is a fabulous area to decorate for your guests, attempt non to clutter your escort card table with so much that it takes a long time to find guests' names.
How should I address my escort cards?
Rather than create an escort bill of fare for every guest (similar y'all would with place cards), create an escort card for each political party if seated at the aforementioned table. Utilize the following for examples:
Married Couple: Mr. and Mrs. John Smith
Single with Unnamed Invitee: Miss Jane Doe and Guest
Unmarried Couple: Ms. Jane Doe and Mr. John Smith
Family: The Smith Family unit
I but want to assign tables. Practice I accept to apply place cards too?
I propose place cards unless yous're opting for a very pocket-sized wedding with 50 or fewer guests.
In theory, as long equally guests know which table they should sit down at, y'all can exist fairly confident that everyone will sit down at the appropriate place. Do exist prepared to have a few seating mishaps if you leave out the identify cards, however! Mistakes happen, and Aunt Gertrude might only plop down at Table 6 instead of Table 9 and not realize her blunder until another guest arrives for his or her seat. Then at that place's always the unexpected guest who RSVP'd with regrets just shows up and takes a seat promised to someone else (nevertheless doesn't know it because you left out the place cards!). In any negative scenario, you lot risk putting your guests in an embarrassing situation.
Are there alternatives to using escort cards and place cards for my wedding reception?
Weddings are ultimately a reflection of who you are and what you want your guests to experience, so yous can e'er nix the formalities of cards and opt for something more creative! The virtually popular alternative to escort cards is a seating chart. Do be mindful that this could cause a traffic jam at the reception entrance, though, since guests won't be able to find their names quite every bit easily every bit with an alphabetized escort carte listing.
What other questions do yous have well-nigh escort cards and identify cards?
Inquire me in the comments below!
Featured paradigm courtesy of Christen Jones Photography.
Source: https://www.thepinkbride.com/escort-card-place-card-questions-answered/