While you’re planning your wedding, you’ll undoubtedly encounter “place card” and “escort card” and may not know the difference.

Many couples use the same term reciprocally, but they actually refer to two different things. There is a big distinction between these key reception elements so I’ll explain the difference to you in this blog post.

Escort Cards vs. Place Cards

Escort cards tell guests at which table to sit at during your reception. The term escort refers to an “accompaniment of someone or something”, and in this case, accompanies your guests to their table.

An escort card is simple, requiring only their first name and last name and a table number.

It looks something like this:

• Guest’s First and Last Name
• Table Number

When they pick up the card at the entrance of the venue, they will continue on to find their seating assignment and select any place they wish at that table.

That is, unless there is a place card there when they reach it.

Dun dun dun.

Place cards are a bit more specific: they tell your guests at which seat at the table to sit.

It looks something like this:

• Guest’s Name (First and Last or First only)

That’s it!

Now that you know the difference between place cards and escort cards, let’s identify whether you need to have both, only need one, or can skip both cards.

When To Use Escort Cards

Escort cards are required, unless you use a seating chart instead. Either one is great, and it really just depends on your personal style.

Both options tell guests where to sit, but one is an individual card and the other is a large poster.

Can I Skip It?

No.

You need a seating assignment of some kind, as guests really love to have a seat saved in their name. It creates a more cohesive, relaxed environment.

(Don’t believe me? Read: Should You Assign Seating at a Wedding Reception?)

When To Use Place Cards

Place cards are nice to have and are only required if the following applies:

• You want to ensure guests have a specific seat at a table,
and/or
• You are having plated meals where guests select entrees ahead of time

If these two things apply, you need place cards.

The benefit of a place card is that it does so much more than seat your guests. It is the easiest way for your reception’s waitstaff to see what meal to serve the guest. To do this, simply add one of these entree stickers on the back of the card and they’ll be able to glace and see it.

This eliminates many errors in serving plates, and waitstaff will appreciate the gesture (less guesswork!)

Now that you know the difference of place cards vs escort cards, it’s time to pick out yours! You can shop place cards and escort cards — with free guest addressing! — from Minted here. There are designs for every theme, season, and style. You can’t go wrong!

Hope it helps!

xo
Emma

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