Wedding Escort Cards: Design, Etiquette, and Weather-Proof Tips for Your Big Day

When you think of wedding escort cards, small cards that tell guests where to sit at the reception. Also known as seating cards, they’re not just pretty decorations—they’re the quiet backbone of a smooth reception. Skip them, and your guests are wandering, confused, or worse—sitting with strangers. Get them right, and they make your event feel intentional, polished, and thoughtful.

These cards connect directly to your seating chart, the master plan that groups guests by relationships, tables, or themes. If your seating chart is messy, your escort cards will be too. That’s why matching fonts, spacing, and layout matters. A mismatched card feels sloppy. A clean, aligned one says you cared. And if you’re having an outdoor wedding, a celebration under open skies where wind, rain, and humidity can ruin paper.—you need more than nice calligraphy. You need weather-proof materials, sturdy holders, and smart placement. No one wants their guest’s name blowing into the bushes.

Then there’s escort card etiquette, the unspoken rules about how to write names, handle plus-ones, and include kids without causing awkwardness. Do you write "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" or list both names? Should the child’s name go on the same card or a separate one? Get this wrong, and someone feels excluded—or worse, seated alone. These tiny details shape how people feel the moment they walk in.

And it’s not just about looks or rules. Timing matters too. Ordering too late means stress. Ordering too early means they sit in a box for months. You need the right window—usually 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding—to lock in printing, proofing, and delivery. Printing methods like foil, letterpress, or digital each bring their own look and cost. Foil shines for luxury weddings. Letterpress feels handcrafted. Digital is fast and flexible. Pick what fits your vibe, not just your budget.

Behind every good escort card is a plan. A plan for who’s coming, where they belong, how the cards will survive the elements, and how they’ll be presented. That’s why the posts below cover everything from how to align your cards with your seating chart, to what to do when the wind picks up, to how to handle tricky names and plus-ones without making anyone feel like an afterthought. Whether you’re planning a backyard wedding or a grand ballroom, these guides give you real, tested ways to make your escort cards work—without the drama.