Hello, hello! Our ‘Ask Emmaline’ inbox has been filled to the brim lately and we’re loving the questions rolling in! Earlier this week, we answered this question and today we’re tackling another common inquiry. Bride-to-be Kellie wrote us asking, “Do I need place cards and escort cards at my wedding?” Kellie says that her fiancé, Tim, thinks, “having both seems like overkill”, but Kellie wants to know if it’s the norm to have both at a wedding. So, what’s a couple to do? Ask Emmaline! Read on to see how we tackle this common question PLUS get inspired with handmade escort cards by Shine Wedding Invitations. Enjoy!

Do I Need Place Cards and Escort Cards?

First things first: what’s the difference? Place cards are cards that show guests where to sit at a particular table; escort cards lead guests to their particular table. The cards go hand-in-hand, but does every couple really need them? Well, it depends. If your guests will be assigned to a table and a specific seat at that table, yes, you’ll need both place cards and escort cards. You don’t need both if guests are assigned at a particular table (but not a specific seat at that table). In this case, you’ll only need an escort card. And, you do not need an escort card for each individual guest; two guests can be placed on one card. If you are unsure of your guest’s “plus one”, indicate “and Guest” on the card.

If your wedding is casual, you can skip both place cards and escort cards at your wedding and let guests sit wherever they’d like. Keep in mind, however, that it is nice to have an assigned seat as a guest and makes one feel welcome. If you are having non-assigned seats, a sign near your entrance telling guests to sit where they’d like is helpful. “Reserved” signs can be placed on a handful of tables for the bridal party and immediate family.

Where to Display Escort Cards

Escort cards can be displayed anywhere your venue allows, but most often they are placed on a table at your reception entrance. This makes it easy for guests to find his or her card and take a seat.

Get Inspired!

To inspire you, we’ve hand-selected some of our favorite modern escort cards by Shine Wedding Invitations. These cards can coordinate with a collection of invitation suites and are available in a multitude of colors. Here are a few handmade escort cards that caught our eye…