Seating Chart vs Escort Cards: Pros, Cons, & Inspiration
Can't decide if you should use a seating chart or escort cards for your wedding? We’ve made a list of pros and cons of each, and compiled photos from past weddings to give you a spark of inspiration!
Photographer: Ben Lau | Florist: BadBossBride
What's the Difference?
A seating chart lists all of your guests' names in either alphabetical order or in table number order (we suggest alphabetical order so it's easier for your guests to find their names), typically displayed on a board, wall, mirror, frame, or windowpane. When your guests arrive to the reception, they will look for their last name to check which table number they are at.
Escort cards have your guest's name and table number written on a piece of paper or an item that relates to your wedding theme or style that your guest takes to the table with them.
Pros + Cons
Seating Charts
Pros:
There are some simple DIY options.
Seating charts can be more environmentally friendly than escort cards.
There are rentable options meaning you don’t have to worry about the post-wedding clutter!
They don't require much work or set up (just lean it against a wall or on an easel)
The seating chart can be used as a statement piece (think of the fun, interactive walls you’ve seen on IG and TikTok)!
Cons:
The writing can be hard to read
It can take awhile for guests to find their names
People tend to crowd around the chart which backs things up
Guests forget which table they're at and have to go back to look at the chart again
If you're not saving the chart as a keepsake, it is wasteful
Escort Cards
Pros:
Easy for guests to remember their table number since it is written on the cards
Lots of opportunities to tie your escort cards into your wedding theme or style (seashells for a beach wedding, wood slices for a rustic wedding, etc)
Escort cards can double as décor for your table (tie a card to a bud vase with flowers and when guests bring it to their seat, it’ll add more decor)!
Escort cards can also be used as a wedding favor. We’ve seen people use olive oil, bottle openers, mugs, etc.
Cons:
Escort cards can be wasteful if they are not multi-purpose.
They can be a lot of work; they need to be placed on the escort card table in either alphabetical or table number order.
If you choose to use escort cards, Jessica of The Jess Press suggests choosing a card that guests can take with them to help prevent waste. Choosing something that matches the theme of your wedding and/or wedding venue like wood or agate slices, sand dollars or oysters, or flowers are great options that can double as keepsakes.
Inspiration
Seating Charts
Escort Cards
Whichever you decide to use for your wedding-- a seating chart or escort cards, keep your theme, functionality, and your wedding venue in mind. We love to see couples get creative and tie their style into the seating assignments!