What are wedding place cards?

Short answer

Wedding place cards are small cards with each guest's name on them, placed at the dining table to show where they should sit. They guide guests to their exact seat.

Wedding place cards are simple cards, usually around the size of a business card or slightly larger, with a guest's name written or printed on them. They sit at each place setting on the table, often leaning against a glass or resting on the napkin. Their job is to tell each guest exactly which seat is theirs.

Place cards are different from escort cards. Escort cards are usually collected at the entrance and tell guests which table to go to. Place cards are already on the table and point to the specific chair. Some couples use both, especially for larger weddings.

You can make place cards as simple or as fancy as you like. Plain white cards with black ink work well. So do coloured cards, handwritten calligraphy, or cards shaped like leaves, tags or luggage labels. What matters is that the name is clear and the card stays upright during the meal.

Place cards help guests feel looked after. They remove the awkward moment of wondering where to sit. They also help your caterers, because they can match each guest to their meal choice if you add that detail. You can buy blank cards and print them at home, or ask a stationer to print them for you.