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Stationery Thursday: Please Be Seated

While invitations are undoubtedly the most important element of a wedding stationery suite, it’s equally as important to not forget about other wedding paper ephemera – like seating cards!  Whether place cards or escort cards*, seating cards can help carry design elements from your invitation suite or wedding theme through to the reception and create a cohesive wedding style.  Here are a few of my favorite seating card options:

I love the contrast between the handwriting and yellow zig-zag print on these place cards, which were made by folding flat notes by Linda & Harriett:

lindaharriett
{photograph by Jennifer Kloss via Linda & Harriett}

For an alternative escort card display, try using repurposed items, such as old doors or windows, as well as materials such as twine and mini-clothespins:

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{photographs by Beaux Arts Photographie via The Bride’s Cafe}

Place cards and escort cards don’t have to be made using paper – most calligraphers are able to write guests’ names on alternative materials, such as ginko leaves, seashells, and even fruit:

laurahooper
{image via Laura Hooper Calligraphy}

shell
{photograph by Rachel Whiting Photography via It’s Mary Ruffle}

lemon
{image from Country Living via ritzy bee}

For another fun twist, try using playing cards or “movie tickets” that act as escort cards:

liesljeremy
{photography by La Vie Photography via Oh So Beautiful Paper}

movietickets
{photograph by Greg Piche Photography via snippet & ink}

These two escort card ideas, both from Martha Stewart Weddings, are among my all-time favorites.  The constellation escort cards would make a fun DIY project using rubber stamps, and the small bundles of lavender could also be DIY’d while also giving your guests a fragrant wedding keepsake:

msweddings
{image via MS Weddings}

These keepsake escort card booklets from Rebecca Thuss are a fabulous alternative to traditional escort cards and could include favorite quotes, or even your marriage and ring vows from the wedding ceremony (if not included in your programs), in addition to seating and table information:

rebeccathuss
{image via Rebecca Thuss}

I also love the contrast between the bold stripes, bright green from the wheat grass, and casual calligraphy in these escort cards via Brooklyn Bride:

wheatgrass
{photograph by Jenny Jiminez via Brooklyn Bride}

Well, those are a few of my favorites, but the options definitely don’t stop there.  Have you started thinking about what kind of seating cards you’d like for your wedding?  If so, let me know in the comments!

*Escort cards are cards with guests’ names and table number that are displayed in a central area (like on a table or hung from a line) and organized by last name, which guests use to find their table assignment.  Placecards sit at each individual place setting, and the guests locate their tables either by walking around until they find their card (for a small wedding) or using the escort cards that they found earlier (best if you’re having a larger wedding).  So, escort cards assign each guest to a specific table, while placecards assign each guest a specific seat at that table.