Seating Chart vs. Seating Cards

Sorry, can you clarify on what you mean by “swapping people”? Ideally you and future spouse should have the tables all decided before getting anything printed up - no matter if it’s escort cards or a chart with the whole list. We didn't print ours until about 2-3 weeks before the day. That was when we had the final guest count.

I always prefer escort cards. Personally, I think they give a more elegant presentation. Other issues are I find it much harder to find my place on a seating chart, especially when they are done by table rather than alphabetically. That invariably leads to a bunch of people crowded around the chart trying to see where they are supposed to sit. On top of that, people, and not always just older guests may get distracted talking etc. and have to go back.

IMO it's also more practical in terms of making last minute changes, which can happen due to cancellations due to an emergency or illness in a family. Rather than leave a table half empty, you can just move people around.

I agree with CM. I would also add that you can then use the escort card to claim your seat when you get into the reception room. That way you can drop that and then go to the bathroom/the bar.

View Quoted Comment People usually drop out or last minute changes it's easier to make shift 1-3 place cards (print at home vista print w.e) vs redoing an entire acrylic board.

View Quoted Comment Starting to agree with this too. People always forget. I have ADHD and it's hereditary I would assume my fam would have this issue too 😆

View Quoted Comment Right with escort cards that would be easier, which is what we did. I will add that people having drop last minute for illness or emergencies is more likely than needing to swap people at tables. I would advise to not be too afraid of a table having less than the maximum chairs leading you guys to want to swap someone and having to reprint their card. We had some tables that didn’t have the full 8 or 10 but it didn’t look bad.

View Quoted Comment Agreed I have a few with some space. My tables can max out at 12. I have some with 8-10 for this reason. Also just incase someone decides to say they're coming.

I agree with the others who said escort (seating) cards. It is much easier to find a card because they are sorted by last night rather than having to look through a seating chart which is organized by table.

We did a chart but we only had 48 people and where we had our cocktail hour had the door open to our reception area so people could wander in and out and leisurely find their seats. I think whether you do cards or a chart you’ll have people crowded around either the sign or the table looking for their name. To me it’s just preference and the size of your wedding

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Agreed! Escort cards all the way. Plus, mine are color coded - pink for beef, yellow for chicken, blue for fish, and white for special dietary meal. There will be a sign at the table where these are displayed that says "Please keep this card at your seat so our Waitstaff knows what you chose to eat:"

We’ve seen both and hate the charts/posters so much. They are very expensive to begin with and don’t even think about fixing mistakes or needing to move someone because that has to be done from scratch for full cost. They are usually a small frilly font that is impossible to read, people have to get up close to make them out, which causes traffic jams, and then they forget the assignment on the way to the table when they meet up with other guests. Escort cards are inexpensive, easy to read and organize, don’t cause traffic, easy and inexpensive to add someone last minute or move them around, and guests don’t forget where they are going. They simply find their name, grab and go.


Escort cards are easier for waitstaff too. If you go on Etsy and get solid colored cardstock, that is easier for waitstaff than tiny stickers or ribbon that they can’t see. But they can see that table 5 has 4 red cards, 2 pink and 2 green from several feet away so they don’t have to ask which guest gets steak, chicken or vegan.