Escort Cards vs. Escort Board

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A question I receive a lot as a wedding planner is: “What’s the best way to show guests where to sit?”

I know the seating chart is a daunting “last month of wedding planning” task, one of those to-dos that must wait until last minute because of the RSVP deadline. But here are some things to think about before the final month to make your seating chart process go as smoothly as possible!

Escort card

The formal card that is set out in alphabetical order as guests are moving into the dining room for dinner. This card has the guest’s name and table number so that he or she knows where they’re being “escorted” to from the entrance of the venue.

Place card

The card that is preset at the place setting of each dining table. This place card is essential if there are different entrée selections that guests have noted on their RSVP cards. You will need to have a different indicator for each entrée option. A popular way to indicate the different dishes is by using a different colored card for each type of meal.

Escort board

An escort board displays an alphabetical list of guests by last name with the respective table number next to each name; the list is typically separated by letter on a large board that’s usually 24 by 36 inches in size. There are two types of escort boards: ones that are fully printed through your invitation designer like the one to the right, or you can make your own “board.”

To go the DIY route, take a large piece of fabric and wrap a 24 x 36-inch foam board, then hot glue the edges of the fabric to the back. Then, hot glue a second foam board to the back to cover any jagged edges. Next, print the guests’ names out onto 4x6 or 5x7 cards alphabetically by last name with the respective table number next to each name. You can use as many 4x6 or 5x7s as you would like but just make sure each one has a “title” that indicates which letters are on that specific card. (See picture for details.) And finally, glue, pin or tape those cards in alphabetical order to the board that you have made. If desired, you can frame the board with an open air frame 24 x 36-inch frame to really finish out the whole look.

One small thing that sometimes gets forgotten is table numbers for the tables. If you are one of my clients, ask me about this as I have lots of ideas for you! If you decide to name the tables instead of using numbers, you’ll have to display a floorplan with the table nameson the respective tables near the escort cards or board; otherwise, guests will not know what sequence the names go in, even if it is alphabetical order.

 

Pros and Cons of Escort Cards

Pros:

  • They are more traditional and guests know exactly what they are when they see that table full of cards.
  • You can double them as place cards if you are doing different options for a plated dinner and you do not want to pick every guest’s seat for them.  If you do this, remember you have to make one for each guest individually.
  • Easier to make extras at the last minute if guests decide to RSVP two days before the wedding.
  • You can double them as a favor by tying each one to a fun treat (a cookie, bottle of champagne, popcorn etc.)

Cons:

  • If you are trying to double them as place cards to indicate entrée selections, you will need to tell your emcee to let the guests know to place them in front of their place settings at the table prior to the start of dinner service.
  • If the writing is too fancy or the lighting is too low, guests might have trouble seeing their names.
  • They can get out of order quickly if guests accidentally pick up the wrong person’s card and place it in a different spot on the table.
  • If your foyer or cocktail area is tight on space, then an 8 to 10-foot table full of cards may be hard to squeeze in.

Pros and Cons of an Escort Board

Pros:

  • Guests can quickly find their names under the corresponding letter.
  • You do not need to alphabetize individual cards; the list is already printed in alphabetical order.
  • Guests can easily look at where other friends are sitting to make sure to visit those tables and catch up with them at some point in the evening.
  • The board is portable and can be moved in the middle of cocktail hour from the front entrance of the venue to the entrance of the dining room to give people two chances to find their names and table numbers.
  • It is compact and takes up little to no space in a foyer or cocktail space.

Cons:

  • It cannot double as place cards or favors.
  • If you decide on the fully printed option, last-minute guests are not on there and you will have to tell them individually which table they are sitting at.
  • I hope this helps out with your seating chart process! I know it can be an overwhelming task during your last month of planning, but having assigned seats is so inviting and efficient for your family and friends at your reception.

XOXO,

Christine M Darden