…talk this wa-ay!
Erm, I seem to be getting off the point. Which is most certainly not walking or big Rock songs, but how to tell your guests where they are sitting.
The dreaded table plan.
I’m definitely not going to cover the logostics of who should sit where here, that is a whole other post, just how you might tell them where to sit exactly.
I have to say, I’m not a fan. Firstly because (and this is not the fault of the much maligned table plan itself,) there really isn’t much scope to get creative with it. I’ve seen the odd original one but they are few and far between, certainly nothing to get excited about that’s for sure.
Something that does completely float my boat though is the concept of an Escort Card. For those of you who don’t know what the (actually rather old fashioned) escort card is, they replace the idea of a table plan with small cards upon which the guests name and table number are written to guide them to their seat. They can be tent-fold or flat and if you want to get really fancy you can even put them in their very own envelopes with the guests name on the outer.
Image: Beth Helmstetter
And why do I like these you might ask?
Well. Partly because I am obsessed with stationary and the opportunity to expand on a theme with even more paper goods is music to my ears. And secondly because they are just so darn cool!
There are so many things you can do with escort cards which are traditionally displayed on a table of sorts, thereby creating a focal point in the reception/drinks space. And lord knows, however much you love your venue there’s always an area that needs jazzing up, a space that needs breaking up or something you would much rather distract attention from. And that ladies, is where the escort cards come in.
So how about a few ideas on how you can expand your theme by using escort cards…
Image credits L-R top to bottom: The Knot, Beth Helmstetter, The Knot and Project Wedding (last 2).
Autumn/Winter wedding? How about pine cones arranged with the escort cards propped up against them? A box full of bristly Fir tree branches and berries and the cards arranged amongst them? Or a silver tray of fake snow on which to rest some winter white and silver tent cards.
Spring/Summer ideas I’ve seen include single blooms in bud vases and the escort card attached by ribbon, name cards pinned into apples (or any other appropriately sized shaped and coloured fruit for your day).
Film theme? Pop them in a few bowls of popcorn. Seaside venues beg for shells to prop the cards up in, travel themes are complimented with luggage tags and wine lovers are acknowledged with corks for stands.
All images from The Knot
And don’t let your fun stop there, think about the escort card table too. Where can you place it to serve both it’s purpose and also be decorative? Add some candles in similar holders to your tables and think about having the flowers from your church or ceremony do double duty on the table. Would you like to display a board of photos from your years together behind the cards or maybe you could dangle them from curly willow branches for a nature inspired rustic day.
A brilliant way to keep your tables clean and clutter free is to display your favours on a table with the tags serving as escort cards. Or how about replacing the cards altogether with smooth pebbles written on with a metallic marker pen, autumn leaves, origami cranes or biscuits iced with names?
Image from Beth Helmstetter.
Get creative and let us know if you are thinking of having Escort cards for your big day…
Yours Truly,
Contra
xoxo
Oh I am LOVING this post…..I now have a head full of ideas on this snowy morning….i’m thinking of cellophane bags with home-made cookies, tied with gingham ribbon and a parcel tag attached with the name
Thanks petal! xxx
…or maybe kilner jars with pickles, jams and jellies
x
Sorry forgive my ignorance or maybe just plain old blonde moment, how do escort cards work? From a guest picking up a card with their name on, how do they where to sit?? x
Hi Emma – I hadn’t heard of this until fairly recently but I think that the escort card has the guests name and their table number (or table name) written on it, directing them to the correct table then at the table there is also a place setting with their name on, indicating which seat they’re at. So if I’m right, the escort card is in addition to a place setting but instead of having one overall table/seating plan…hope that helps x
AJS is right… You still need place cards.
Great ideas StripeyCat!
Xxx
Traditionally…
If you know where you want your guests to sit – you produce a table plan and have their name cards at the place where you want them to sit.
If you know what table you want your guests at but would like them to choose their own seats at the table, then you make escort cards. The escort card has the name on the front and table number on the back. When they pick up their escort card, they know which table to go to and then pick a seat and use the escort card as a place setting.
However, you can obvioulsy do whichever you want but that is the traditional difference between them! Can you tell I work in Events??
I like both but I am a bit of a control freak and my guests will be sitting in seats chosen for them!
Thank you
I assume the table name/number is written on the reverse of the card. This is where my confusion was as I couldn’t see the table name/number in photos.
Oh now another decision to make, escort cards or table plan hmmm…
Right, I’ll tell you what I did for my wedding…
I had tent fold Escort cards with the name centrally on the front and in the bottom right, the table number.
When they arrived at the table, each person had an individual menu with their name at the top. This could have been a place card only thought. I decided I didn’t want all hell breaking loose and people being miffed if they didn’t get to sit where they wanted. Sometimes, removing all choice is better!
If you look closely at the champagne bottles, apples, tickets, starfish and cranes they all have table numbers on too. The ones with the mini parasols have pictures corresponding to the tables I think.
Thanks for the traditional viewpoint Emma!
xoxo
Sorry, I meant Sarah!
xoxo
I love the cinema tickets!
This may be a bit OCD, but how do you organise the escort cards before they get picked up? Alphabetically? This just screams “work event” for me! Can just imagine myself standing behind a table (beflowered clip board in hand) and handing them out while ticking each guest`s name =) Any other ideas?
HI Mai, you can solve it all, get on the day coordination, and the wedding planner will sort it out, definitely no clipboards for you. Alternatively you can ask the venue staff, give them strict instructions on how you want them placed. Alphabetical order is good then your guests can find them selves easily.
I love the idea of escort cards too.!
I was a bit OCD about this too – wanting then to look great after all the effort making them…
I asked my fabulous florist to keep an eye on what the venue were doing and arrange them for me.
I should have added earlier too, Escort Cards are brilliant if you want to avoid last minute table plan issues – one drop out or ill guest doesn’t mean the whole thing is ruined. – my tables were relatively small and we had a cancellation 2 days before so i had to actually re-jig 3 tables to accommodate that and only had to re do 3 cards instead of a whole plan.
Blimey, I feel rather stressed about it all now! The thought that people might drop out two days before is making me come out in cold sweats…