Seating Chart vs Place Cards

Individual place cards all the way. Find your name, grab and go. Much easier to adjust any last minute changes.

A seating chart is often hard to read (tint print with illegible fonts) , creates traffic jams, people always forget their assignments when they get sidetracked with conversations on the way. If you make any changes, you have start over the project from scratch.

I would definitely recommend having at least a table chart, particularly in a COVID world. You will want to make sure guests are seated by household/family, or social circle at the very least. Some guests might want to know ahead of time who they will be seated with to make their decision on attendance (this is obviously if cases are still high). Place cards are really only required if you are serving a plated meal, so that your servers can easily identify who should be served what dish. We are using a large mirror to help guests find their table!

View Quoted Comment I agree with Michelle completely. Placecards all the way

I had way too many people to do place cards so i went with a seating chart

View Quoted Comment This is the main reason why I’m leaning more towards place cards!

View Quoted Comment This is beautiful!

Assigned to tables is necessary regardless of plated dinner vs buffet/stations. A placecard lets guests have a home base for purse, jacket etc, even without a plated meal to eliminate the chaos of open seating. It also makes it clear that guests reach the correct tables since a seating chart doesn't do that.

View Quoted Comment How many guests did you have?

Sign with their table and place number and place cards at the table since it’s a plated dinner.

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I had 250 guests

Place cards! Much cheaper (if you don't have a large guest count) and it's easier to make last minute changes, if needed. I'm ordering mine from Etsy and including their name, table number, and a sticker denoting their meal choice (fish, chicken, etc.).

View Quoted Comment I’ve been searching on Etsy for seating charts and got overwhelmed which is why I’m leaning towards place cards! How many guests are you anticipating?

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Around 65 guests! The seating charts definitely overwhelmed me too, and I would have nothing to do with it after expect store it in my basement haha

I'm planning on getting these since they're the cheapest ones I found where you have font choices. https://www.etsy.com/listing/807572552/custom-tented-or-flat-place-cards-or?ref=cart

We’re doing a chart! We don’t have a spot to put a table with place cards. Everyone will have an assigned table but not assigned seat. We are also listing the names in alphabetical order instead of listing them by table number so it’s easier/faster for guests to find their names.

I’m going a seating chart like the above picture. I already have the mirror and I hired a calligrapher.

View Quoted Comment These are too cute! And the price is so reasonable! Thank you

This is a sample of my seating chart . I bought a frame a a thrift store, painted it purple and put flowers from Lings on it. It came out better than this picture..

I’m doing both.

View Quoted Comment This is so pretty

We are doing place cards. I’ve always liked how they look set up and i think it jams people up less. Plus I’m the type of person who forgets things easily, so when I’ve been to weddings I’ve enjoyed having a card in my hand with my table number on it so I didn’t forget.