Place cards? Needed or Unnecessary for a small wedding of 35-40 people?

Our wedding is set for Jan 2022 so we haven't ran into any problems with covid as far as vendors go! Our guest list is at 193 and we are only doing a table chart, not individual seats.

I feel like since you're only going to have 35-40 guests, place cards aren't really necessary since it'll be easier for people to keep track of what table they are at, and who sat where. If you like the idea you have of people having their name by their drinks and such, then go for it!

It wouldn't hurt to have them, but personally I wouldn't just to save time and money!

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Thank you!

And when you have that many people a table chart would be super helpful. Believe it or not, I have only been to 1 wedding with a table chart, and the table my fiancé and I were assigned to did not have enough seats for us. Where I am from, weddings are normally 300+ people, so making a seating chart is just too difficult and time consuming.

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You're welcome!

We originally didn't want to do one, but after going to a wedding without one...we decided we needed to. There ended up not being enough tables or seats for everyone because groups of guests didn't fill every seat up at each table. So each table had one or two seats vacant. But if we moved the seats, we'd have no table to sit them at haha! My FH and I as well as all of our friend group stood the entire wedding...ceremony till the sparkler exit sooooo we're doing a seating chart to save us from that happening!

I think either way, you'll still be safe because your guest count is smaller! But it would be a cute touch to have name cards if you're wanting them!

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OMG! YES! This happened at a wedding we went to in CT. My parents and I were left without seats, until the Father of the Bride had us sit down at their family table. What an awkward feeling when you don't know anyone there.

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YIKES! Yeah that makes for a very awkward situation haha

Hmmmm. I don't see anything wrong with it.

I would do place cards if you can. I think they'd be extra helpful to have during Covid for the reason you already mentioned. My best friend had placecards at her microwedding (17 people total in attendance) and they didn't look out of place at all

I don't see anything wrong with place cards for a small guest list like yours

View Quoted Comment I think it would be a nice touch, make a garage reception a bit more elevated 😂 yay for covid!

We only had 50 people at our beach wedding. I made little placecards with photoshop and colored printer paper. I think it really helped.

Always needed and super appreciated by event staff ( speaking as a hospitality person)

I would think for a Covid wedding, you would want to sit the multiple people from one household together, then extra space to the next individual or group. You don't need exta space between members of a family living together. I have been to 3 covid set up weddings, and one was silly. They put 2 people whoever they were, at each 6 ft round table. And 30 people spread that way took 15 large tables. Meanwhile, people walking between tables going anywhere, and staff, were only 2.5 to 3 feet apart from strangers. The other 2 used small tables, 2 person rounds and 3 person square. And only people from one household sat at a table, close to each other as one is at a usual restaurant small table. A few, like mine in one, 5 people from 2 families who have been together daily. The same with 3 or 4 from a work group, already share space 40 hrs a week working. Then it was 10-14 feet to the next table. So those passing to talk, including the couple, and staff , could walk between tables. It made so much more sense. But takes planning, and a seating chart. ... Generally, I prefer to ay least be assigned to tables, so people are grouped with others they know, and it is not like finding a seat in a crowded theatre, a single here, a single there. But place cards still are useful. Tables are set up with a place card holder at every place. On entering and checking the seating or table chart, each person picks up their card, and brings it to their chosen or assigned seat. Most people code their meal choices for the caterer.
It can be as simple as a marker line or colored foil tape stripes along the top of a card. So a wait staff can see after you are seated, I need 3 chicken, 4 beef, , 1 lasagna, 2 Kosher at a table, from 6-8 ft in front or behind the diners, and provide faster less obtrusive service, without breaking into conversations to ask who gets this, who gets that. And it gives a name a stranger or wait staff can use to politely address guests, as well as helping other guests. I meet 40 people in 15 minutes through introductions, and forget half the names promptly. So do most people. Nice to go to a person you recognize and check the place card for the forgotten name. So as a hostess and guest, and one who has worked a lot of catering, a plea FOR placecards.

I've been wondering about this too! We are inviting only 75 people, but have been debating between a table chart and escort cards or both. Thanks for opening up this conversation, it's given great advice!

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Wow. This is so good! Thank you! Luckily for us, all our guests are parents and sibs and their children and a few very close friends. (I come from a large family). The catering and serving piece makes so much sense.

Name cards it is!

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My wedding was originally supposed to be 75 guests, but Covid has had other plans. There is something about a name card/place card - like the bride and groom really care about who are present and that they planned for you to come and wanted you there. Especially with covid around - feels nice to be wanted. Now to decide what to do for the place cards! haha

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Do you have any pictures?

I am doing a bit of a feathered theme, I was thinking I could incorporate some feathers or a feather with the name card... Not sure yet.

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I bought card stock at Walmart and I think I downloaded a template from Avery.com. It’s just colored printer paper. I did 6 on a page.

View Quoted Comment Those are so cute! Love how you did the different sea creatures for the table!

View Quoted Comment So cute!! 👍