Place cards, distinct from escort cards that direct people to their tables, inform the guests which chair they are supposed to sit in. The traditional card is small and tented and placed in front of each setting to subtly and tactfully inform the guests of their appropriate table and setting.

To make your place cards more distinct, you can choose any kind of prop that you like to tell your guests where to sit. Some couples have hand painted their guests names on to small stones when they have an outdoor reception and others have used die-cut flowers to not only notify their guests on where to sit but also enhance the appearance of the reception.

If you want to do your escort cards (which tell people their table assignment) differently and more conveniently, you can place the card into a small envelope that has the table number on the outside rather than placing the table number on the escort card itself. This way, you can easily change guests’ table numbers at the last minute simply by changing envelopes rather than having to redo the escort cards themselves.

Place cards should be ordered with your invitations if they are going to be printed with each individual name and made to match the theme or colors of the invitations and wedding. If you are doing them yourself or with your significant other or even your bridesmaids, the place cards should then be purchased and made/designed about four weeks before the wedding date.