Wedding Escort Cards: Design, Placement, and Planning Tips

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 additions—they’re a quiet tool that cuts down chaos, reduces awkward standing, and makes your wedding feel more thoughtful. Too many couples treat them as an afterthought, but the truth is, how you handle these cards affects how your guests experience the whole event.

They’re part of wedding stationery, the printed materials that set the tone for your wedding, from invites to menus. But unlike your invite, which guests see weeks before, escort cards are the first thing they interact with on the day. A messy pile? A confusing layout? That creates stress. A clean, well-organized display? That makes people feel welcomed. Whether you go for DIY wedding cards, handmade cards created by the couple or a friend to save money and add personal touch or hire a pro, the key is consistency. Print style, paper weight, and even the font should match your overall theme—rustic, modern, vintage, whatever it is. And don’t forget placement. Cards need to be easy to find, easy to read, and easy to grab without causing a crowd.

Then there’s the seating chart strategy, how you organize guests using escort cards to improve flow and reduce awkwardness. Alphabetizing by last name is the simplest way to avoid confusion. Grouping families or friends together? That’s smart too. But if you’re doing that, make sure the system is obvious. No one should have to hunt for their name or guess which section is theirs. And if you’re using a mix of print styles—foiled, letterpressed, digital—make sure the differences don’t create visual noise. The goal isn’t to show off your printing technique. It’s to make the whole process feel smooth.

And if you’re on a budget, you don’t need to spend hundreds. You can make beautiful escort card design, the visual arrangement of text, layout, and materials on the card for under $50 with the right paper, a good printer, and a little time. Templates help. So does testing a few samples before printing the whole batch. Avoid flimsy cardstock. Skip the glitter. Don’t overcomplicate the font. Real weddings aren’t about perfection—they’re about people feeling comfortable. That’s what these little cards are really for.

Below, you’ll find real advice from couples and planners who’ve been there. From how to handle last-minute changes on install day, to choosing between calligraphy and clean sans-serif fonts, to making sure your cards survive humidity and wind outdoors. You’ll see what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the mistakes most people make. No fluff. Just what you need to make your escort cards do their job—quietly, beautifully, and without a hitch.