Q & A - Escort or Placecard?

repost from www.stlwed.com

Q: What is the etiquette with escort/seating cards? Do you do one per couple? One for each half of the couple? Should I call to get the "& guest's" name to put on the card?

A: First a little background:

An escort card is customarily displayed on a table near the entrance. Guests pick up the card when arriving at your event. Escort cards inform guests as to which table they will be seated at. - to "escort" them to their table. Place cards are different from escort cards in that they are set at each placesetting. Place cards inform your guest as to which seat they should take at their table. Escort cards are what are commonly used at a wedding due to the large numbers. Place cards are used for a smaller affair when you want people to sit in specific seats to encourage conversation.

Do you have one per couple or one per person?

For buffet or for all the same meal it's up to you. UNLESS - you have asked them to pre-select their meal. Because the staff needs to know what each person has chosen for their meal. You can show this choice in different colored ribbon, stickers, cards, etc. I actually had one bride put little stickers of chickens and cows on the cards. Consider a sign or “designated person” to man the escort card table to instruct guests to please place the escort card at their seat to indicate to the staff of their meal choice. Also provide your catering staff with a list that indicates there are “6 Chicken and 2 Beef at Table 1” for each table.

How do you know who wants what meal when they mark 1 Chicken and 1 Beef?

You don't...you can generally assume the woman wants chicken and the man wants beef but if you are wrong, they’ll will just swap plates.

Should you call to get the "& Guest" name?

If there is a chance that you might know the guest, have met them since sending the invite or they have dated a while you should try to get the name. If it was just to allow them to bring someone with them then a place card with "Guest of John Doe" is perfectly fine.

Best Wishes & Happy Planning!!
Sabrina Torti - Proposing Dreams