From tablecloths to flower arrangements, down to the finer details like your escort cards and table numbers — each plays a special role in your big day. Escort cards, your escort card display, and table numbers are particularly fun to get creative with. There are endless design possibilities, so we’ve gathered some inspiration for you below.
But first, let’s ensure that we know exactly what escort cards and place cards are and why they’re so important to get right on your big day.
What are escort cards (and why do you need them)?
You’ve probably spent hours poring over the seating chart, making sure that everyone can sit near someone they know. So now you want to be certain that everyone will make it to the right table on the big day.
Escort cards do just that.
When your guests enter the room, there will be a beautiful display of cards with a list of names and numbers that correlate to the table where the guest will be seated. All your guests need to do is find their name on your display which will have their table number. Each guest then just needs to find their assigned table at the reception, take a seat, and enjoy their evening!
Escort cards are important to avoid any awkwardness or confusion when people are finding their seats. Assigning each guest to a table ensures each person has a seat, is seated with their friends or family, or with other guests that you decided chose as a good fit. You don’t want to have to worry about that on your special day.
Escort cards vs place cards: what’s the difference?
The clue is in the name when it comes to the difference between escort cards and place cards. You can remember which is which by thinking that while escort cards escort a guest to their table, a place card guides them to their table and helps them find their place (or seat).
If you’d like your guests to pick their seats at a table you’ve designated for them, then escort cards and table numbers are the way to go.
If you’d like to assign an individual seat to each guest, then you’ll need to use place cards as well. This can be beneficial if you’re serving a sit-down dinner and need to help wait staff identify guests with dietary needs. Similarly, you can make sure aunt Betty gets to sit next to her favorite cousin who lives across the country.
STYLISH WEDDING ESCORT CARD DISPLAYS AND TABLE NUMBER IDEAS
Just because your escort cards and table numbers serve a functional purpose, doesn’t mean that they have to be boring. Quite the opposite, in fact! As with the rest of your wedding decor, the escort cards and table numbers can be displayed in an elegant and beautiful way.
Stuck for inspiration? Here are a few display ideas that we love.
ESCORT CARD DISPLAYS
1. White & Green Escort Card Table
Having a minimal, natural wedding theme? Then you’ll love this simple, leafy display. The luscious green paired with crisp white flowers and pots brings a fresh, light feel to any room.
For a modern edge, we’d recommend using glossy white ceramic cube plant pots. Mix up the pot sizes to bring even more dynamism to the display, with tall pots for flowers and branches and low ceramic squares for succulents and other shorter plants.
2. An Abundance of Blooms
With roses being the symbolic flower of love, why not shower your wedding with them? We adore this escort card display, full of bold reds and softer pinks to really send home that message of true love. Adding a few candles to the display will take that feeling of romance to the next level.
If you’d like to recreate this stunning display, you’ll need some white ceramic cylinders to allow that red color to pop. Use different cylinder heights to create the rows of color. Keep the candles safe in some chic clear glass cylinder vases that tie in perfectly with your charming display.
3. a Hydrangea FLORAL backdrop
One way to put a chic twist on your escort card table is to have a floral display underneath the cards. It's a beautiful backdrop, unusual because it is on a table and not a wall. As your guests look down to find their cards, they’ll be greeted by this stunning tapestry of flowers.
Hydrangeas are the perfect flower to use here, as they’ll create a sea of colorful petals. You’ll want to make sure that you have them around a few days before the wedding, to avoid a panicked last minute rush. So, to avoid any discoloration or wilted flowers your best bet is to opt for silk hydrangeas. You could even mix and match the colors to suit the theme of your wedding.
4. Calligraphed Anthuriums
If you want to move away from the traditional escort ‘card’ for something unique, then this escort ‘flower’ display will be perfect for you. Rather than writing names and table numbers on a card, simply write them on these beautiful flowers.
Again, real flowers would be a tricky one to get right, so save yourself the hassle with these stunning red anthurium flowers. Tie in even more color with these gorgeous peach and green anthuriums. Complete your display with these hanging glass tube vases that your guests could even take home as wedding keepsakes.
5. A Place Among Herbs
Going for more of a rustic, earthy theme? Then you’ll feel inspired by this potted herb escort card display.
Not only does it look great, but you can imagine the stunning aromas that come out of these herbs. Use wooden trays to really nail this rustic-chic aesthetic.
TABLE NUMBERS
Now that your guests know which table they're sitting at, let’s mark the numbers with even more breathtaking designs.
6. A Glittery Number
Make your table numbers stand out with an eye-catching glittery look. Contrast them against a deep red rose bouquet.
To recreate this look, opt for an antique copper bowl to hold your roses and arrange them in a classic dome shape.
7. Floral Frogs
If traditional card table numbers are more your style then make sure it can be easily seen with some handy pin frogs.
You could slip in a few stemmed flowers alongside the card, if you’d like to dress up the display.
8. Under a Glass Cloche
Cloches are trending in home and interior design, so they’d make a perfect and contemporary table number display.
Place your card or number under the glass to bring a true beauty and the beast fairytale feel to your tables. You could even place more cloches filled with flowers or other decor around the table.
The home of wedding decor
Whether you’ve gone for a modern, minimalist wedding, a rustic fairytale or a bright, summer theme, you’ll find all of the decorative accessories you’ll need at Jamali Garden.
Shop for everything from pots and planters, to silk flowers, mercury glass candleholders, floral vases and flower compotes, all the way to birdcages and lights.