Wedding place cards and escort cards are a practical necessity but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Liz Taylor of the award-winning wedding planners, the Taylor Lynn Corporation, has creative ideas to suit weddings of all shapes and sizes that will show guests to their seats with style.
‘This is one of the little details that can become very memorable when you think outside the box’ says Liz. “Rubber ducks, hair-brushes, wrapped bay trees, iced-cupcakes, jars of handmade sweeties, vintage liqueur bottles, boxed gifts …. I’ve made escort cards out of everything and anything. It’s a unique opportunity to extend the theme of your wedding with a little touch of added drama, and if you double them up as wedding favours, you could even save some money in the process.”
Sustainable Place Cards for an Eco Wedding
As people become more aware of how their actions affect the environment, they’re increasingly looking for plastic-free and sustainable choices on their wedding day. One of the ways they can do this is by replacing paper place cards (or worse plastic ones) with multipurpose cards that will bring joy for many years to come. A potted plant or a brown paper packet of seeds to cultivate in their gardens will remind them of your special day every year they flower. We have also used wood plaques etched with names as place markers, autumn leaves with names printed on and embossed vintage tin cups filled with fresh flowers for a rustic-inspired touch.
Practical Place Cards for a Frugal wedding
Multifunctional place cards that double as favours will help to stretch your budget. Key rings are an affordable and thoughtful solution when personalised for each guest. Get three wedding functions for the price of one by hanging them all on a decorative board to double up as your table plan and your favours. We’ve had gorgeous wrapped gifts, luxury luggage tags and bottles of fragrance as place markers and wedding favour – doing double duty.
Edible Place Cards for a Foody Wedding
Macaroons, chocolates, cupcakes, doughnuts or iced miniature shaped biscuits, these tasty treats are a great way to show guests the way to their seats and give them something to nibble on while they wait for the wedding breakfast to start. Golden chocolate bars aka Willy Wonka add a theatrical touch. No sweet tooth? Try miniature cheeses and chutney for a savoury treat. And for the summer, we have used fresh apples at each place, adorned with a name tag. They added to the pure white décor with a splash of green, and echoed the table centre laden with greenery, fresh fruits and summer flowers.
Drinkable Place Cards for a Boozy Wedding
What’s better than tasty to eat? Something to wash it down with of course! I often utilise miniature bottles of champagne printed with the guest’s name and table number at events. It never fails to impress. Take it up a notch with an engraved hip flask for guests that you could even fill with a wee dram to keep them warm on a winter wedding. Brilliant for a wedding or a quirky take on the boozy place card, vintage medicine bottles filled with liqueur are visually stunning when nestled among dramatic room décor. Label them up as ‘love potion’ or ‘drink me’ as a nod to Alice in Wonderland.
Beautiful Place Cards that double up as decor
For me, all place cards should be part of the wedding décor. A pretty pressed flower, a delicate trinket box or a luxury candle can add to a table décor as well as being a gorgeous keepsake for guests to treasure. My top tip is to hire a calligrapher to ensure the penmanship lives up to the occasion. Keeping your place card in the same theme as the reception is a real key to making them stand out. For a Penny Dreadful inspired big day, we opted for skull liqueur bottles filled with vodka. Ok, not everyone’s idea of a wedding design – but it worked! Or go very simple. Miniature chalk boards with names written on added to one schoolteacher’s big day. White pebbles and shell place cards added a touch of the ocean to a beachside wedding. And small rustic lanterns complete with name tag and tea light candle added warmth to one winter occasion.
About the Author:
With over 30 years of experience in the industry, an enviable client list and an exceptional eye for detail, Liz Taylor is Managing Director of one of the UK’s most prestigious events management companies. Find out more at www.tlc-ltd.co.uk.
