Weddingbee Blog

I want our guests to be able to enjoy our reception to its fullest and relax. And part of that is, in my opinion, knowing where to sit right as they walk in. This organizational matter seems to broadly fall into two categories:

Escort cards, where each guest has a card with their name and table assignment on it. They are usually organized alphabetically.

Traditional interpretation:

Classic with button embellishment

{photo by Wayne Yuan via Style Me Pretty}

Pretty now, but after everyone has opened their envelope…?

{photo via Martha Stewart Weddings}

Modern interpretation—vertical :

I think these envelopes have a better chance of looking nice throughout the evening

{calligraphy by Gail Brill, envelopes by Jean Rouget via Martha Stewart Weddings}

Popular clothespin interpretation

{photo by Julie Afflerbaugh via Style Me Pretty}

A seating chart, where all the guests’ names are listed at once. They are usually organized alphabetically or by table.

Names by alphabet

{photo by Matt Blum via Style Me Pretty}

Names by table

{photo by Joshua Caine via Once Wed}

Repurposed vintage window frames (names by table)

{design by Atelier Joya , photo by Anna Kuperberg via Green Wedding Shoes}

Tags embellished with buttons (names alphabetically)

{photo by APictureLife via Elizabeth Anne Designs}

I love the look of neatly arranged escort cards, but we don’t have the space for a large group of people to mill around. The hallway leads directly to our reception room, and I would hate for a traffic jam to happen. Therefore, a seating chart it is.

Our seating chart will also definitely be alphabetical to avoid confusion. Despite having only about 100 guests, many are related and share the same last name. Some are related and have the same first name, while others are completely unrelated but share the same first name. (My cousin’s new husband’s name is the same as Mr. Bracelet’s cousin’s husband’s—and we’re not talking about top 50 popular baby names of the past.)

Although I’ve tried to “avoid” (read: make really sure I like it because it is my style, not like it because it is new or popular) wedding trends, there is one trend that I’m totally enchanted with: Chalkboards!

{photo by IDoux}

{photo by Ryan Flynn via Style Me Pretty}

This is actually a digitally created chart.

{image by Mrs. Bunting on Weddingbee, including how-to}

I think chalkboards for seating charts are a fabulous idea! And since I haven’t been able to shut up about this, Mr. Bracelet has offered to make one for us.

Did you use escort cards or a seating chart? Does anyone else love chalkboards?