Where do place cards go at the wedding reception? ?

Question

I thought at each person's spot, but what is a card table then?

Answer 1

If you put place cards at each seat, you'll still need the table up front with a list of who is seated at which table.  Make sure something on each table stands up w/the table number.  If you just want to assign tables not individual seats your list will go on the card table as well.

Answer 2

I didn't have place cards.. I had a chart that said who belonged at what table and two ushers directing anyone who was lost.  :)

Answer 3

A place card has two piece of information on it.   The guest's name and the number of the table they are sitting at.

So example:

Mr. John Smith

Table 3

Mr. and Mrs.Dan Johnson

Table 5

The place cards are all placed on a table near the entrance of the reception room.  As guests arrive, they  quickly find their name (best to alphabetize) and move to their table.     It makes seating quick and easy.

If the place cards were at each table, you'd have people wandering around for 30 minutes trying to find their names.

EDIT:  Personally, I would do them again.  But, that's just me.  The place cards make the process of seating people go much more quickly.  Instead, I guess you could make a very nice list for each table.  Make individuals sheets for each table with guests names.  You could buy some inexpensive frames and place the lists inside to make it look elegant.  Display those on the place card table.

Answer 4

Is there a way to put Table Number __  on the back of the cards to save you time and money?

Then designate someone to be the guestbook attendant, and assist guests in finding their seats (in case no one looks on the back)

OR print a list of your guests in alphabetical order, and have you guest book attendant check off the names and tell guests what table they are at, then you can place the cards on the tables and put the guest book on the card table.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Our tradition may be different to yours but here in the UK, the place cards are set at each individual place, the tables have a tall holder displaying the table number on them, and there is a table plan at the entrance to the reception, so everyone can see which table they are seated at. That way when everyone enters the reception they know which table they should look for and then they just find their place card on it.

Answer 6

The placecards are supposed to have table numbers on them, and those placecards go on a table right near the entrance.

I would imagine that you are going to have to find a way to add a number, do you really want your guests walking around during the cocktail hour, visiting every seat at all the tables until they find their place.

They are supposed to make seating easier, not more difficult.  Either find a way to add a number, start over, or settle for different placecards.

Answer 7

It's fine. Leave your beautiful place cards to mark each person's spot at the tables.  Then, have two ushers that are in charge of greeting everyone at the entrance to the reception and telling them their table number.  

The guests will know which table to go to, and then use your placecard to determine their exact seat.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Two different kinds of cards are used: "place cards" and "escort cards".

Place cards go immediately above the plate, with the guest's formal name (title and surname only) written in black script. The place card is usually folded once into a small "tent" so that it stands up.

Escort cards, properly used, are placed inside an envelope. Each envelope is addressed to one of your male guests. The card inside bears the name of the lady or ladies that he is to escort in to dinner, and the number of the table at which they will be seated.

You arrange the escort cards on the card table, where your attendant can hand them to the male guests as they arrive. The guest finds the lady whose name is on the card, and escorts her to the appropriate table. Once they get to the table, they check the place cards to find out exactly where at that table they are to sit.

Note that at a fully formal dinner, no gentleman escorts his own wife in to dinner. Couples are always seated apart from each other, in order to encourage broader conversation and more general socializing. So, the name inside each gentleman's envelope will be someone other than his wife, and if he doesn't know the lady he must ask a mutual friend for an introduction to her. That in itself can often act as a pleasant "icebreaker" activity. Admittedly most younger people, and older people who aren't familiar with strictly formal conventions, are unaware of this rule so if you decide to follow it, you might want to include an explanation in small print on the back of the escort card. Or you could follow the informal common practice and just let each man sit with his own wife or "date" -- I wouldn't, but most hostesses do.

Answer 9

They are placed by a table at the entrance so people can find their name and see where they are sitting. You can't have them all wandering around each seat looking for their name. You will need to put the number on the back or something then. I'm sure there is room.

Answer 10

Just figure out where you'd like to seat every person, and place them right at the spot.  If you add a seating chart, you can keep your cute cards, but eliminate the problem!  Give each table a number, and by each guest's name, put their table number.  Then, when they walk to that number table, they can merely look to find their place card!

Don't worry about a card table and a separate place card.  Just improvise whatever you'd like, because this is your wedding.

Hope this works out for you!

Answer 11

You MAY put them at the precise place where you want the person to sit. That is proper. The card table where everyone takes their own is less formal and a more recent custom but you can be sure if you dine at the Queens palace, she has a place card right ahead of the plate on the table  

Answer 12

If you have a check in table then I think that's where you should put them. If you want them to be a focal point then I would suggest that you have a table just for the place cards have them under a well lit area with a complimenting floral arrangement around it. I think that that is really cool that you made them yourself and you deserve the exposure. Good Luck!

Answer 13

my wedding etiquette book says you can do it one of two ways.

1- you can either put them all on a table and then when people come in they go to the table to find their name and table #.

or

2- you can just set them on each table at the person's spot, and when the guests come in they just walk around looking for their name.