Place cards are used almost exclusively for wedding receptions. But what are they, and why do some brides and grooms choose to use them? Basically, place cards are used for wedding receptions in which the bride and groom have come up with a prearranged seating chart; they serve to
direct and guide the guests to find out where the newlyweds would like for them to sit.
When to Use Place Cards
Weddings that use place cards tend to lean more toward the formal side, but sometimes even more casual weddings will have place cards if the bride and groom are the type of people who prefer to plan out where everyone will be seated during the reception.
If you're planning your wedding and know you would like to determine where everyone is sitting—whether you want to keep certain families, relatives, couples, and groups of friends, co-workers, colleagues, or neighbors together, or keep certain people apart, or even if you
just like to be organized—then place cards are a must.
Helping Guests Get More Comfortable
Place cards are convenient in that they allow guests to know exactly where they'll be sitting, which prevents a lot of unnecessary confusion and hassle. While they are meant to serve an organizational function, place cards can also add a nice touch
of class to your reception. Another benefit to including place cards at your wedding is that guests are able to see the names of other guests sitting at their table beforehand, to prevent embarrassment and save face later.
Purchasing Place Cards
Where can you find place cards? Place cards are most likely available at specialty wedding shops and boutiques as well as larger stationary stores, but you'll probably find much more variety in both selection and price if you shop online for place cards. There are many wedding
websites as well as invitation websites that offer place cards either on their own or as part of a package deal (for example, included with wedding invitations, menu cards, or direction cards). The place cards you'll find online come in a wide variety of styles, themes, and
designs.
If you're looking for place cards online, you will find many available options to choose from, whether you're looking for something classy, elegant, and formal, or something a little more contemporary and fun. Online stores even offer place
card holders to match your place cards and the overall tone and theme of your wedding.
