There are plenty of jokes about wedding reception seating–for instance, Aunt Pam can’t be at the same table as her sister-in-law, or they will get into a fight. Whatever your reasons for distributing your family and friends throughout the reception hall, when the big day arrives, you want to make it as easy as possible for them to find out where they should go.
Your seating chart and escort cards can fill more than just a utilitarian role, however. Believe it or not, they can add a whole new level of charm and whimsy to your special day! Check out some of our favorite ideas for creative seating instructions that will get your guests to the right spots and bring a smile to their face at the same time.
Escort Card Ideas
While they go by many different names, the industry designation for the little name card that helps each guest find their designated spot is an “escort card.” A basic tented escort card is small yet visible, and is a great way to let each guest know exactly which table they should head for.
There are plenty of opportunities for creativity with your escort cards, though! Our designers can help you think through ideas for cards that go on each guest’s champagne class, or attached to a bud vase or other item that may be intended to go home with your friends and family members at the end of the night. This is a very nice way to tie your cards together with wedding favors as a souvenir of your special day.
Charming Charts
Of course, you don’t want your guests to have to wander around to every table searching for their name. A well-designed seating chart at the entrance of your reception venue lets each person know which table is theirs, expediting the seating process and minimizing the need for busy serving staff to direct folks in the right directions.
We have found that there is great value in making your seating chart as large as possible! Not only does it help out those elderly guests whose eyesight may not be what it used to be, but it also allows guests to see the necessary information from a distance without everyone having to crowd around a sheet of paper and squint to find their names.
Needless to say, a huge display like an oversized seating chart also provides lots of opportunity for you and your wedding stationery designer to express creativity! We love to decorate and surround these seating charts with flowers, monograms, special symbols, and other elements that celebrate your wedding in a big way.
Maximizing Creativity
There are tons of other ways to put your unique stamp on the seating process. As just one unusually creative example, we helped one couple with this picture frame-themed seating chart. The escort cards within each frame let the guests know which table to head to, serving the dual purposes of directing traffic and also adding fun and unexpectedness to what can sometimes feel like a job to the guest!
One of the pitfalls to avoid when getting creative with seating charts is making it too complicated to follow easily. Whatever you do at the entrance to the venue and on the tables, make sure it is intuitive and immediately conveys the essential information to the guest without too much effort. Your display may be beautiful, but if guests can’t figure it out right away, you may end up with everyone giving up and sitting wherever they want to!
Work With the Design Experts
We’ve designed stationery for a few successful weddings, to say the least, and we can help you refine your ideas and come up with new ones in order to make your special day as gorgeous and as free from distractions as possible. From creating a watercolor wedding map for your custom wedding invitations design to printing large format seating charts and everything in between, we are ready to help!
Email us to set up a virtual meeting or an appointment at our studio here in Mount Pleasant, SC, just outside of Charleston. We are excited about helping you create exceptional and effective wedding day stationery for your ceremony and reception.
Leave a Reply