Place Card Ideas + Why They Are Important

When I set out to write this post I thought it would be super simple. Then I typed out “Place cards are __________” and so many different words and feelings came to mind that I just stared at the screen for a solid 10 minutes. 

Some of the words that came to mind were: simple, thoughtful, fun, creative, unique, important and intentional. But then some other not so inspiring words also came to mind: boring, time-consuming, ugly, not worth it, outdated, overwhelming and intimidating.

True. Place cards can be all of those things. Especially when fancy calligraphy or wedding place cards (which are both great in their own way) are what we usually picture when we think of place cards. But for the typical dinner party (especially the more casual ones) those options can feel out of place, so people usually just omit the idea of place cards all together.

But here’s why I think place cards are always a good idea: it helps guests feel seen, before they even sit down. Someone had to take the time to think about that guest, think about where they are sitting at the table and craft their name on a place card. Whether that whole process takes 10 seconds or 10 minutes, someone still spent time thinking about them. And nothing feels more intentional than being thought of.

Place cards can also help structure the flow of the gathering without making it feel too structured. If you have a handful of talkers at your gathering, you can space them so one end of the table doesn’t take over the conversation for the entire evening. If some of your guests know each other and some don’t, you can spread them out so it doesn’t automatically become cliquey. If you don’t know any of your guests but everyone is bringing food you can seat the people who brought appetizers together so they can have built in conversation topic. Having a seating arrangement helps guests know where to go and what to do without them having to ask the host. This helps guests feel like they understand the gathering, even if they have never been there before. Which leads to a more comfortable and relaxed environment for your guests.

Place cards are also a good way to give your guests something to take home with them and remember the event by. They can be simple or elaborate, something they’ll use in the future or just something pretty they can put on their dresser. It’s a chance to get creative and set your tablescape apart from your previous ones, especially when they are unique to the theme of your gathering!

Below are some examples I really like (and some I’ve even done myself). There’s a mix of simple and creative so there’s something for every person, budget and skill type. 

Remember, there is no wrong way to make a place card! And no matter how you make them, I’m here to tell you they will always make an impact to your gathering and guests.