Name Cards vs. Seating Board??

For that many people, I would do name cards. People can find theirs, grab it and keep it moving.

I'm not a huge fan of the boards because I feel like it causes a bottle neck issue and takes longer to find your name. Even so - if you're having that many people I think tented cards would be the way too go.

We're inviting 230 and will be doing place cards. I think a seating chart will be to hard to read for that many guest and I think people will be crowding the board trying to find their name.

We are doing place cards. We have about 200 guests and if any mistakes or last minute changes need to be made it will be easier. I love the look of the name board but I think it's going to give me extra stress. This photo is a version of the one I loved, broken up by tables.

I wanted to do a pretty acrylic seating board or a big mirror but our guest list is 150 people, and I just can't fit that many names on any kind of board and it be legible.

We are doing escort cards. I got a sign that says "your seat awaits" so people walk towards it to find their table number. Our venue has this grand piano that we can use, so we plan to set it up on top of the piano. Its also easier for last minute changes to tables, and its less stress on you.

I'm leaning towards a board, but with names listed alphabetically instead of by table.

I did an alphabetical seating chart by last name! It was so much easier and faster to make than place cards and everyone found their names super fast. Check out Etsy for hundreds of designs!

Personally am doing name cards. Ww have to do them because we have plated meals and each name card will be a certain color based on what meal choice they chose. But I would also do them if we were having buffet style because it just seems easier in finding your seat.

View Quoted Comment We are doing name cards as well & it too is bc of our plated service

I'm doing a seating chart because our reception is outside and I don't want to worry about wind blowing away escort cards. I'm listing the names alphabetically though so people can find them quickly. I'm also doing it with six separate pieces of paper attached to this wood thing I found at TJMaxx so I can just go to the FedEx, Staples, etc. and have them printed out on card stock right before the wedding. Easy.

I'm probably doing a seating board, my venue said most brides put it out in the house where cocktail hour is and people can walk by and look at it any time during cocktails. We may not do each individuals name and instead do family names if we need to save space.

Thank you all for your helpful insight!! Feel free to keep sharing, I appreciate it

Here’s my advice......comes from working many weddings. If you have a choice of meal then have the staff of your venue put them out on their table. Then have a big sign of some sort with names and table numbers in the cocktail area. I say this because there have been so many times when we go to serve entrees and the guests either have misplaced their card, left it somewhere. It really slows up meal service. Or they can’t recall what they are having. So much easier for us if the cards are already at the place setting.

That makes sense. Other than potentially a few allergies/food restrictions, everything will be buffet style, not plated so servers will not have to worry about that except for maybe one or two folks. The reception will be inside.

I have 185 guests and am doing escort cards - just seems easier for the guests to find (and I need them for meal selection).

We are doing both. Our escort "cards" are handmade ornaments (by me) and the design on them will indicate the table (each table has a literary/fantasy place theme) but to make sure that people find the right one we are also doing a map seating chart with the names of the tables on the map for each location. This way the people that arent certain that the rose means the Little Prince table will see it on the map and people can use it as a trivia game of sorts - can I identify that symbol? Lets check the map to see if I'm right.

Boards are pretty but make it more difficult to find your name. If you go with cards, make sure the venue sets them up alphabetically - my daughter had 205 guests on Saturday and the cards were in no particular order when we came in after the ceremony, smh.

I'm doing name cards for 100-150 people because I think asthetically it just looks better for what I want. You have to go for what you feel/want for the day

Hi Kelli! Welcome to the WeddingWire Community! Both options are effective in directing your guests to their seats; i feel like it comes down to your preference! I think the following articles might be able to provide you with additional guidance:

- 13 Creative Wedding Place Card Ideas

- Which Reception Style Seating is Best for You

I think with your guest list place cards would work better. It might take a while for guests to find their names and it can create a bit of a bottleneck situation.