Escort cards vs. place cards… what’s the difference?

These two cards are often used interchangeably, but there actually is a difference between the two.

Escort cards let your guests know which table they will be sitting in. There’s usually a table in front of the reception room with the guests’ names written either on cards or on envelopes. They’re probably arranged in alphabetical order, although there are some unique ones where the cards are hanging on branches, or on a wall. The card could say something like, “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith Table 2.”

Once the guests have found their table, place cards then indicate which seat they’ll be occupying. The cards can be placed either on the plate, or above the plate, or on a napkin. The card can say “John Smith” or just “John.”

I find that these two cards are so useful to keep your guests from awkwardly wondering where they’ll be sitting, and will save you and your wedding party a lot of time from having to answer questions as to where they’re supposed to sit.