Place Cards Question

So there's a difference between escort cards and place cards. Escort cards are placed at the entrance to help guests find their table. Place cards dictate the individual seat reserved for each guest at that table. If you have guests with allergies, indicate the allergy on the escort card so that the server sees it. We opted not to do place cards, just escort cards, and our guests' meal choice will be on the escort card for the server to see.

Can you mark the place card to note that they need a special meal? Such as, some people use a little chicken or cow stamp/sticker to let the wait staff know which meal was ordered.

For the people with allergies, the coordinator just asked that we give her a list of the persons name, allergy, and the table they will be sitting at. I'd ask your venue what they prefer.

Speak to your maitre'd, give them a list of your guests with food allergies and what table they are sitting at. This way nobody has to feel singled out. As a back up, mark the corner of the card with a sticker alerting that said person has a food allergy.

@RATR Thank you for that distinction. So the escort card gets placed on the table by the guest and the server reads the card, is that correct?

We will also give the table assignment plan and allergies to the wedding coordinator beforehand...I'm just more so curious how the servers will know who is who so I want some type of place card/escort card to distinguish them.

I had printed out everybody sitting at each table and highlighted allergies because we served shrimp, kids meals and any vegetarians. The wait staff would know the table, how many people. They can ask who has the restricted diet.

I think with the minimal number of guests with allergies, just let the venue manager know which table had allergies and provide the names so the servers can ask when it comes time for dinner.

Thanks everyone! So I think what we will do is either a seating chart or escort cards at the welcome table for the assigned tables and let the wedding coordinator know beforehand.

At our venue, it's easiest if they are marked clearly. Personally, we like the color coded escort cards better than symbols since they are easier for the servers to see, but both work!

If doing color coded, just make those 3 a different color and let your venue know prior to the day of! Example - Pink=Beef, Blue = Chicken, White = Allergy/Special Dietary Needs.

We have a few dietary restrictions/allergies; my venue asked us to let them know ahead of time which table(s) these guests are sitting, but they don't need to know the exact seats. They asked the same thing for under-aged guests so they don't get served champagne for the toast (there will be only four, all at the same table, as will my SIL (BM) who is expecting twins).

As someone with food allergies, I'd have no compunction in mentioning it to the server when they confirm my meal, especially if I've notified the hosts ahead of time and they assured me accommodations had been made.