Escort Cards vs. Place Cards: What's the Difference?
Escort cards and place cards are two of the most commonly confused wedding stationery terms — and mixing them up can actually cause real logistical headaches on your wedding day. Here's the clear breakdown.
The Short Answer
Escort Card
- Displayed at the reception entrance
- Tells a guest which table they're at
- Guests pick it up and carry it to their table
- Arranged alphabetically by last name
- Most weddings use these
Place Card
- Already sitting at the table
- Tells a guest which seat at the table
- Guests find their table, then look for their name
- Requires assigning specific seats
- More formal or structured events
Most weddings use escort cards only. Place cards are most common at very formal receptions, plated-meal services where the caterer needs to know who gets which entrée, or small intimate weddings where the couple wants full control over exactly who sits where.
How Escort Cards Work in Practice
At most receptions, there's a table or display near the entrance with escort cards arranged alphabetically. Each card has the guest's name and their table assignment (either a number or a name). Guests pick up their card, find their table, and then sit wherever they like at that table.
The display itself is often a creative design moment — escort cards arranged on a mirror, hanging from a string display, tucked into flower stems, or laid out on a vintage frame. But functionally, what matters is that they're alphabetical and easy to find quickly. Nothing kills cocktail hour momentum like a 10-minute bottleneck at the escort card table.
Tip: Print escort cards in a slightly larger font than you think you need. Guests are often reading them in dim reception lighting after a glass or two of champagne.
When You Need Place Cards Too
If you're serving a plated dinner with multiple entrée options, you may need place cards — or at minimum, a color-coded system — so servers know who ordered what. In this case, many couples use both: escort cards at the entrance (table assignment) and place cards at the table (seat assignment with a meal indicator).
Some venues handle this with a different color card border or a small sticker indicating the meal choice. Work with your caterer — they'll have a system they prefer.
What Goes on an Escort Card
The minimum is the guest's name and their table. But a well-designed escort card typically includes:
- Guest name (full name or "The Smith Family" for parties)
- Table name or number
- Event name, date, and venue (optional — makes a nice keepsake)
- Meal choice indicator (if applicable)
Naming Tables vs. Numbering Them
This is a style choice, but it has practical implications. Table numbers are simple and clear. Table names — cities you've visited, songs that matter to you, books you love — add personality and serve as a conversation starter at each table.
One consideration: if you use names instead of numbers, make sure your venue map or seating display also uses the same names, and that the tables themselves are clearly labeled. Guests should be able to find Table "Paris" without wandering the whole room.
Tip: TableMap lets you name each table anything you want — numbers, names, or a mix — and generates escort cards automatically. Every card includes the guest name, table name, and your event date and venue if you've added them.
How to Print Escort Cards
You have a few options depending on your budget and how formal the wedding is:
DIY at home
Print on cardstock, cut to size. Works best with a paper cutter (scissors lead to uneven edges). A standard Avery tent card template in Word or Google Docs is the easiest starting point, or use a tool like TableMap that generates ready-to-print cards.
Print shop
Upload a PDF to FedEx Office, Canva Print, or a local print shop. Better paper quality and consistency. Usually $0.10–$0.30 per card.
Professional stationer
Letterpress, foil, or engraved escort cards. Beautiful but expensive — budget $2–$5+ per card. Typically ordered 6–8 weeks in advance.
Generate escort cards automatically
TableMap builds escort cards from your guest list. Add guests, assign tables, and print — no design work needed.
Try TableMap free →Common Questions
Do I need escort cards if I have a seating chart display?
No — a seating chart board (a large display listing all guest names organized by table) is a direct replacement for escort cards. Instead of picking up a card, guests scan the board for their name. Many couples prefer this because it's a single striking display rather than hundreds of individual cards to manage.
What if a guest loses their escort card?
Print a small backup list and give it to your venue coordinator. It's also worth keeping the digital seating chart on your phone through the end of cocktail hour.
Are escort cards required?
No. If you're not assigning tables at all (open seating), you don't need them. But for weddings over 40–50 guests, assigned seating almost always runs smoother — it prevents the awkward scramble for seats and ensures family dynamics are handled intentionally.
What's the difference between escort cards and seating cards?
They're the same thing — "seating card" is just another term some venues and stationers use for escort card.