Posted by Patti Wellington on Thu, May 27, 2010 @ 03:07 PM
An escort card shows the name/number of the table a guest is seated at a wedding. Whether you prefer a seating chart or escort cards is a matter of personal preference. Escort cards have the advantage that they can be changed up to the last minute, whereas a seating chart may need to be printed days or weeks in advance.
The wording that you would use on each escort card is the guests' name and then table number (or the table to which they have been assigned). The way that you would address the cards would be
John Doe - the full name of your single guest
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Smith - for a married couple
Amanda Jones & Guest - if an invitee has brought with them a guest whose name you do not know
The most common way that escort cards are displayed is as tent cards on a table outside of the banquet room in which the wedding reception will be held. You would also use place card holders or frames to display the cards on a table. Try to display the names in alphabetical order so that the cards are easy for your guests to find.
Another idea is to have a tree and hang the cards from the branches. You could also get frosted votive candleholders and use clear labels on which to print the names and table assignments. Your guests would then take the lighted candles to the table adding to the table decor.
These ideas can be used or built upon to come up with a new idea. Just remember that the key to making your escort cards unique is to make the display as creative as possible.