How to address guests on escort cards

Shouldn't they each be getting their own escort card?

We did escort cards for individuals since our servers required the escort cards indicate meal choice for each guest. We used first and last name for each guest.

If you mixed formats and did some couples as individuals and some couples together on one card, one thing to think about is that this might make things confusing for your guests while trying to locate their escort cards. They might walk up to the table and see another couple has a joint card and think they only have to look for one card, too, but get confused when they find a card with only one of their names on it.

The opposite could be a concern, too. A couple walks up to the escort card table and asks how it's organized and the other couple who just found their individual cards answers that there's one for each guest. The first couple is then confused when they find only one joint card.

I must have not worded my post correctly. I do not intend to separate couples onto different cards, just including both names with out Mr./Mrs. (for example instead of Mr. & Mrs. David Smith it would read David & Katherine Smith). I had read that escort cards are 1 for each couple or family, which is different from place cards where each person gets their own. Only individuals will be getting their own cards. These cards are meant to direct them to the assigned table, there will not be designated seats. Dinner is served family style so this would not be an issue.

Essentially what I want to know is - do I have to address everyone as Mr., Mrs., Miss, etc or only married couples who would prefer this? I've seen examples where it's a little less formal, which I prefer for the tone of our wedding, but I do not want to disrespect anyone.

I'd choose a format and stick to it.

Miranda and BlueHen are suggesting you do one card per person which would alleviate your issue of how to address each person and to RealLindsey's point it would also keep the format consistent across the board.

Mrs. Jane Doe (Married)

Ms. Jane Doe (Unmarried)

Mr. John Doe

ETA: Escort cards tell you the table you are sitting at. Place cards tell you the exact seat at the table. A place card is usually coupled with a seating chart (which tells you the table). Escort cards can be one per person and do not have to be per family.

I would choose one either with just 1st and last names or include a title, not what you think will be individual preference. Personally, I don't address anyone as Mr. & Mrs. Husband's Name or Miss if they are over 18. Etiquette or not. If you have a clear organizing principle like alphabetical by last name, people will find the card.

Our escort cards were one per couple. The venue also made us fill out a chart for them with each guest's name and their meal choice. We went with mr. and mrs husbands first name last name

Thanks for all of your responses! They have been helpful. My personal preference is to have one card per couple/family as I feel it would be excessive for everyone to have their own especially as we are having family style dinner and children are coming. My other preference would be to forego the Mr. and Mrs. completely - I know you can’t please everyone and some may not like this but would this be considered rude?

I don’t think it’s bad to do different formats to cater to difference preferences. No one should really be concerned with the escort cards.

I did one escort card per a coule and skipped the whole Mrs & Mr thing. Instead I wrote

John and Jane

Smith

Singles would be

James

Smith