Escort cards vs place cards: do you need both?

The difference between escort cards, place cards and a seating chart, which one your wedding needs, and when you can skip cards entirely.

The short answer

Escort cards tell guests which table to go to, and sit at the entrance. Place cards mark each guest's exact seat, and sit on the table. You only need place cards if you assign individual seats, usually because meals are served to specific chairs. Most weddings need one or the other, not both, and a seating chart display or QR lookup can replace escort cards entirely.

The three ways to tell guests where to sit

Escort cards, place cards and seating charts compared: Tells guests, Their table, Their exact seat, Their table; Where it goes, Entrance to the reception, On the table, at each setting, Entrance, as a sign or display; One per, Guest or couple, Seat, Whole wedding; Needed when, You assign tables, You assign seats, You assign tables; Changes late, Reprint one card, Reprint one card, Reprint the display, unless it's digital.

Which one do you need?

Assigning tables only? Use escort cards or a seating chart. Guests choose their own chair at the table. See assigned vs open seating for why most weddings choose this. Assigning exact seats? Use a seating chart or escort cards to get guests to the table, and place cards to put them in the right chair. Open seating? You don't need any cards. A welcome sign is enough.

When place cards are worth it

Plated meals with choices. Servers can see who ordered what, especially if you mark the card with a small symbol for each meal. A head table or a formal dinner where the order matters. Separating two people at the same table who shouldn't sit side by side.

Escort cards or a seating chart?

Escort cards double as favours and look lovely, but they're a lot of cards: 150 guests is up to 150 cards to write, sort and lay out alphabetically. A seating chart is one display, listed alphabetically or by table. A QR lookup, where guests type their name on their phone, replaces both and needs no reprinting when plans change (do QR seating charts work?).

Making them from your seating plan

Whichever you use, print from your final seating plan rather than typing names by hand. Hand-typed cards are where misspelled names and the guest seated at two tables come from. Print as late as possible, two or three days before, so last-minute changes are included.

What is the difference between escort cards and place cards?

Escort cards tell guests which table they're at and are displayed at the entrance. Place cards mark each guest's specific seat and sit at the table setting.

Do you need place cards if you have a seating chart?

Only if you assign exact seats. If you assign tables, the seating chart is enough, and guests choose their own chair.

Do you need a seating chart if you have escort cards?

No. Escort cards do the same job as a seating chart. Use one or the other to get guests to their table.