Seating your Guests at the Reception

It's time to plan for your wedding reception seating.  This is a "must have" item for your wedding day.  

There are several ways you can approach guest seating at your wedding reception. The most common method used to inform people of their seat assignment is the escort card.  This is the card that has the guest name and table number (or name) written on it.  This card will direct your guests to the tables where they will sit. These cards are typically in alphabetical order by last name on a table near the entrance to the reception.   These can coordinate with the wedding invitation or the wedding decor.  Most of our clients like to carry through the invitation theme during the reception.

Guests will find their table by locating either the number or name that is located at the appropriate table.  Table numbers often will coordinate with an element of the wedding invitation, or the escort cards.  They can either be free standing for the table top or a flat card to be inserted in a holder or a frame.

The seating chart is a great choice if you would like to have a beautiful memento of your wedding day.  When your guests enter the cocktail area or reception hall, they are greeted with a large visual display directing them to their table.  You may want to have a custom seating chart created just for you, or you could select a printed version.  The seating chart is especially fun if you are naming your tables in a unique way, because special paintings can be included to emphasize your table names.  The chart below is a map of Ogunquit, Maine and the tables were all named for birds.

If your venue is requiring that you notify the servers of the dinner items for each individual guest, the place card is a good solution. We have requests for this often, and we do a little fish, chicken, beef, etc. icon on the back top of the card.  Then the guest name is written on the front in calligraphy.  You may have the place card in addition to escort cards or a seating chart.  If the wedding is on the smaller side, the place cards will be located on the dining tables (instead on a table or display upon entry).  Your guests can find their seat by finding their card.  

The cards below were for meal choices surf and turf, vegetarian, or fish.  This couple named their tables for their favorite things.

So whether you use escort cards  or a seating chart to welcome your guests, people will appreciate your invitation to the meal!  Please let us know how we can help create some special paper goods to guide your wedding guests.

Thank you for the beautiful photos: Melissa Mullen Photography (white pumpkins),  Nadra Photography (buoys on cover),   Brea McDonald (oyster shell table sign), Courtney Elizabeth Media (Sunset Sky escort cards), Todd Danforth Photography (anchor escort cards), Rachel Buckley Weddings (blueberry table number)