Place Cards

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If you need help in the future, think about the naming convention of each card — escort cards are meant to escort you to your table, while place cards are meant to show you your place at the table.

Now that we have cleared this point, let’s dive deeper. You only need wedding place cards when you are hosting a wedding reception with assigned seats. Therefore, you will want to decide the seating chart (who is sitting at which table), and then create place cards and escort cards to reflect this plan.

Although this may be one of the smaller items on your checklist, wedding name cards can serve as one of the most important items on your list. The information you write down on each guest’s card can be anything you’d like it to be, it is your wedding after all! At a bare minimum, be sure to include the guest’s full name and table number. Additional fun information could include their hometown, favorite movie, sports team they support, or fun fact. For you see, place cards can also serve a dual function of being a name tag for everyone at a table, allowing your guests to identify one another, if they are meeting for the first time on your special day.

PROPER ETIQUETTE

Like all things tied to weddings and traditions, there are a few best practices around place cards and what is considered proper etiquette:

• Have a place card for everyone Managing a guest list is stressful, especially if your wedding includes 100 or more guests. When you extend the option of a plus-one to your wedding guests, make sure you reach back out to them to confirm the spelling of the guest’s name, so you can have a place card for him or her. This is a nice touch when it comes to table presentation. Now every single guest, whether you met them or not, can feel included in the event.
  
  Minted makes it easy to upload the names of multiple guests in our customizer tool. Simply download our guest list template, copy and paste the names from your guest list, and upload the list back to our website. We’ll take care of the rest by generating beautiful customized cards with each guest name printed.


• Use your guest’s preferred name
  If you have a friend whose name is Kimberly, but she wants to be referred to as Kim, it’s best practice to stick to the name your guest prefers. Since wedding place cards can be used as identifiers for guests at the table, you can start conversations off on the right foot by making sure everyone is being identified as they would like to be. The title of Mr., Mrs., and Ms. is not entirely necessary. However, if you would like to add some formality to the event, it is encouraged. Just note that the etiquette of titles is as follows:
  • Master is used for boys until the age of 7
  • Mr. is used for men 18 years or older
  • Miss is used for unmarried girls under 18
  • Ms. is used for an unmarried woman who is 18 years or older
  • Mrs. is used for a married woman
  Please also note that certain careers like doctors, judges, and public officials may also warrant titles.


• Color coordinate your place cards, to help your caterers.
  If you have opted for a catered meal, versus a buffet-style menu, do your caterers a favor and use your wedding place setting to indicate what each guest has ordered. Most Minted stationery options are offered in multiple colorways. Select complementary colors across one design to indicate whether or not your guest ordered the beef, the salmon, or the vegetarian option. You could also place a small colored sticker on the card as well.


• Make sure names are legible.
  During the shuffle and chaos of guests walking to your reception, it can be easy to misread place cards, given their small stature. Make sure that the font size is large enough for your guests to make out their names, especially if your reception is in a dimly lit room. Minted offers over a dozen different font options you can choose from, to design your cards. You can even adjust the size of the font to ensure legibility from a far distance.


• Consider the setting of your wedding.
  As you plan your wedding, make sure to think about the details holistically. When selecting a place card, think about the context of where it will be on the table. Will there be florals, candles, table napkins as well? If so, you will want to ensure that the entire set complements one another.
  
  Minted’s wedding place cards have designs that match back to our invitation suites, including table numbers and custom menus. With Minted, every aspect of our exclusive designs are customizable to assure every detail, no matter how big or small, is just right. Want your card printed in a color that we don’t offer? Simply write a note to one of our design associates for guidance. If you have any additional special requests, our wedding perfection team is here to help. Please feel free to submit a special request while customizing your design or use our online chat tool for instant guidance.

UNIQUE IDEAS FOR PLACE CARDS

When thinking about styling your wedding end-to-end, don’t neglect to consider your guest’s experience when they are looking for their seating arrangement. To surprise and delight your guest after your ceremony, consider a few of these options:

• Trinket Boxes: Place your guest’s wedding name card on top of a trinket box or giveaway box and keep a surprise hidden along with the card. When the guest picks up their name card, they can then reveal the surprise box underneath. A few ideas for what to include in the box are:
  • Flowers: A miniature flower or flower petals could be a nice surprise appropriately themed for a botanical wedding.
  • Mints: Help them cleanse their palate after dinner with some well-placed mints or chocolates.
  • Polaroid Cameras: Place a polaroid camera at each wedding place setting so that guests can act as your photographers and snap candid and behind-the-scenes pictures of your special night.
• Greenery: If you are opting for a more tropical vibe for your wedding, pair your tropical-themed seating card with a monstera leaf or a banana leaf. It can be a fun way for guests to find their seat, while also decorating their table setting, naturally.


• Champagne: What better way to greet guests at their dinner table than with a mini bottle of champagne or a toast already poured out for them? Use one of our luxe Minted ribbons to help fasten your wedding place card to the neck of the champagne bottle or around your glass, for an extra elegant embellishment.


• Place Card Holders: If you have an outdoor wedding, consider the risk of having these petite cards blowing with the wind. Make sure you have a way to fasten the cards to the table so your guests know where to head back to after they’ve returned from the dance floor.
  
  Minted offers place card holders, available in multiple shapes and sizes, including holders in chic metals and in wood. Transform your tablescape with our modern, elegant cardholders. Once the party is over, keep your place card holders after your event to display personal photos or holiday cards.

ADDITIONAL ELEGANCE AFTER YOUR WEDDING DAY

Finalizing the beautiful details of your wedding is not only rewarding, but also a relief. Once you have had time to look back on the wonderful journey of your special day, don’t forget to show your gratitude to your wedding guests by sending a thank you card. Minted has a large selection of flat and folded thank you cards designed to match stationery that you used during your wedding.

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