Sunday, April 20, 2008

Poll: Cards or Chart

There comes a time in every brides planning (I assume) where she realizes she's being a LITTLE overly obsessive. I have reached that point. The realization came when I spent more than five minutes debating whether to have escort cards or a seating chart inform our guests of where they will be seated at the reception.


Originally I was set on escort cards, like the ones above. But then I got to thinking about the time it would take for me to design the cards, put the correct information on each individual card, and print the escort cards and I almost had a minor anxiety attack.

So in exploring other, perhaps less time consuming, escort card ideas I have grown attached to the thought of having a display like the one above.

My vision: During the cocktail hour, guests can make their way over to a seating chart display board. A white card (with our monogram acting as a basis for the design) for each of our 15-ish tables will be displayed, with a raspberry cardstock backing, on a board covered in plum fabric. The card would inform our guests which table we are requesting them to be seated at.

My only qualm with the board is something that my Mommy brought up. Would all of the guests actually see the board during the cocktail hour? Should we place the board near the gift table? The cocktail hour will be occurring in an area outside of the ballroom so perhaps the board should be placed near the entrance to the ballroom. Do we have 2 boards? We were only going to have assigned tables (not assigned seats) so should we place the names of the guests seated at each table on the actual table number sign?

Overly obsessive when it comes to the details of the wedding? Yes, that would be me.

What are your thoughts? Escort cards or the seating board? Discuss. And vote on the poll at the right of the blog. Thank you for your thoughts on this important decision.

{Update: 39 total votes. Escort cards: 16, Seating chart or board: 19, another more inventive idea: 4}

12 comments:

Jessica said...

We're doing escort cards in envelopes on boards of ribbon much like the martha stewart ribbon boards. We'll also have place cards if people get lost. :)

rebekah said...

I like the board idea. I would put it at the entrance. Even if they don't stop coming in, once they see table numbers, they'll go back and check.

Tara Vorhes said...

i think i like the escort cards a little bit more... but the board could be lovely

H to the S said...

We are going with a board. After obsessing over how the cards will be presented and lining them all up perfectly so they will look beautiful, I realized that after half the guest have rummaged through them to find their name...the presentation will not look so cute for the rest of the guest still looking for their name. With the board, no one will be running their hands through name cards, knocking them over and the presentation will be beautiful for each and every guest..and one last thing to have an anxiety
attack over :)

Anonymous said...

We're doing cards. While I really like the idea of a board, I agree that some people may not see it/understand. Especially older people who will be looking for a card.

i do monograms said...

Just found your blog and LOVE it! :) I also have to say I really love the board idea... i think it's different and interesting

Erica said...

I like the board idea, but you should definately have 2. People will crowd around them as they enter the ballroom and it'll be easier for all to see where they need to go if you have 2...and place it near the entrance to the ballroom, and have your MC announce that there's a board when the call to move to dinner occurs... Just my 2 cents!

Jenni said...

I really like the board/chart idea. I think it sounds much easier than printing out all of the individual guest cards...and if you're just doing table assignments and not seat assignments, I think it would work out well.

ZenadiaDesign said...

I think I would do a board. Less to worry about as far as printing/design. Plus not a lot of little cards floating around that can get lost! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

J-Fro,

How about something original, I see the point of having people sit near people they know or are familar with but I think the most fun at weddings are when people mingle. Thus why not have a wheel when people come in and they spin it to see where they sit, or a big grab bag with table numbers in it and when you walk in you get to draw out a number and that is where you sit. So you are sitting at a table with a bunch of people you don't know but are forced to and if you don't want to talk to the people at their table they can get up and dance. I know this sounds crazy but the point is make it something that represents you and Chris. P.S. I know that you like the lake, so why not have a small pool/fountain with rubber ducks in it and table number on the bottom and you get to draw out the duck and keep it!!!

Jessica said...

I did a combination of both at my own wedding---we had a board outside of the ballroom with all of the table seatings listed, and then I had place cards for each person set out at the tables. The cards worked out really well, because as we sat them at the tables it was a great opportunity to make sure each table was set for the correct amount of people! The banquet hall had actually set a few for the wrong number, so it was a chance to catch the mistake and get the table layouts perfect!

Zane Wooder said...

I would go with whatever your gut tells you.

zane