Reception stationery comparison
Escort Cards vs Place Cards: What’s the Difference?
Escort cards guide guests to their table from an entrance display. Place cards mark an individual place setting at that table. Use both when guests need to find a table first and then a specific assigned seat.
The names sound interchangeable, but the cards solve different wayfinding problems. The right choice depends on whether your seating plan stops at table assignments or continues to individual seats.
STEP 01
Compare the two cards side by side
Start with location and job: an escort card moves with the guest, while a place card waits at the assigned setting.
| Question | Escort Cards | Place Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Where are they? | At the reception entrance or a central pickup display | At each individual place setting |
| What is the main job? | Tell a guest which table to find | Identify the guest’s assigned seat |
| Is a table number useful? | Yes; it is the main direction | Optional when the physical setting already makes the seat clear |
| Does the guest carry it? | Usually yes | Usually no |
| Can it show food information? | Yes, when configured | Yes, when configured for service at the table |
STEP 02
Decision rules
Choose based on the moment when the guest needs help, not on the visual style of the card.
- Use escort cards when guests need a portable table assignment at entry.
- Use place cards when individual seats are assigned or service staff need a guest marker.
- Use both when a guest first finds a table and then needs a specific assigned seat.
- Use neither as a substitute for making the seating assignments themselves.
STEP 03
Prepare the data each card needs
Both pieces start with a guest name. Escort cards require the final table assignment. Place cards can include table text, meal choice, dietary, or allergy indicators when those fields are configured.
- — Keep table labels consistent across every guest row.
- — Decide whether couples receive individual cards or separate guest rows before import.
- — Proof meal and allergy indicators with the people responsible for service.
STEP 04
Generate the chosen piece
In Select Design, choose the card format and artwork. Add the guest list in Add Data. In Preview & Export, inspect representative guests and the imposed print sheet before downloading a proof or unlocked print-ready PDF for the active piece.