If you’re having assigned seating at your reception, you’ll need wedding place cards so everyone can find their carefully selected seats. Simple paper cards work perfectly well and can be made to match the rest of your wedding stationery. But they can be so much more than that!
Your table settings offer an extra opportunity to impress your guests and build on your wedding color scheme, theme, or the season. From shells to origami to mini bottle of bubbly, there are countless ways to get creative. Little trinkets are often inexpensive and can even double up as favors too. So if you’re a dab hand with a calligraphy pen, you’ll love these unique wedding place card ideas!
Leaves
Leaves bring a pop of nature to your tables and suit a range of wedding themes and seasons. Choose from fresh green leaves, richly-colored fall leaves, or unusual shapes like monstera leaves. You can add names with gold paint to turn them into beautiful table name cards.
Rocks & Stones
Rocks look unique and can be practical too by weighing down other items like napkins. Pick up pebbles from the beach, pieces of slate, or more unusual rocks and minerals like quartz or agate for an ethereal feel. If you pick smoother, flatter stones, they will be easier to write on.
Eggs
Are you getting married around Easter? Eggs make a fun and unexpected place setting! For a rustic affair, keep eggs au naturel, or you can jazz them up with dye, metallic paint, or glitter. Add names and pop them in egg cups.
Shells
If you’re getting married by the ocean, go beachcombing for shells to use as place settings. Or there are plenty of sellers online who make calligraphed seashells to order. Options include pearly oyster shells, blue-hued mussel shells, or chic transparent Capiz shells.
Mini Bottles
Get your guests ready to toast your marriage with mini bottles of sparkling wine or liquor! Create custom bottle labels with details of your wedding day and then handwrite a name on each one. For a non alcoholic alternative, you could offer artisanal juice or lemonade.
Origami
Brush up on your origami skills to make quirky but chic wedding name cards. Origami cranes symbolize good fortune, but other shapes include little boats, hearts, or flowers. It will be tricky to write on your origami, so balance or pin regular place cards on to your creations.
Tiles or Coasters
Calligraphy tiles make an elegant addition to any wedding table. These pretty pink coasters can be personalized with a name and are available in marble, sandstone, limestone, or travertine. Your guests will love to use them on the day and on their own tables at home.
Herbs & Florals
Greenery instantly elevates any table and adds a fresh fragrance too. Tie rosemary, lavender, or thyme into little bundles and attach a name with a tag. Or you could glue individual sprigs to handwritten cards. Fresh flowers look stunning but prepare them last-minute so they don’t wilt.
Feathers
Feathers are a boho wedding staple and can be easily made into place cards. Keep them natural or dip them in gold or glitter for a special touch. You can add a name directly to the feather, but it’s probably easier to attach a tag to the stem.
Sweet Treats
Entice your guests to their seats with dessert! Attach name cards to cocktail sticks and use them to top treats like truffles, macaroons, or cupcakes. Alternatively, you could fill favor bags with fudge or cookies and calligraph a name on each one.
Seasonal Settings
Take some inspiration from the season. For fall weddings, pin or rest name cards on mini pumpkins for an incredibly cute table setting. Whereas pine cones are made for a magical winter celebration. You can even spray them with gold paint, glitter, or fake snow!
Ornaments
If you’re getting married during the holidays, why not gift each guest a personalized tree decoration. A personalized ornament can be made with any name and the year of your big day. It’s a more expensive option but decorations double up as really thoughtful favors too.
Cacti & Succulents
Cacti or succulents will give your tables a cool and contemporary edge. Present them in pots, terrariums, or as single paddles on plates. These prickly plants are incredibly heat tolerant, so unlike flowers, you don’t have to worry about them drooping throughout the day!
Wine Glass Tags
If you prefer to stick to paper but still want something a bit different, try personalized wine glass tags. They’re available in a white matte or Kraft finish and in two shapes. Not only will they help your guests to find their seats, but they’ll keep their wine safe too!
Driftwood or Sea Glass
Looking for another nautical idea? Natural beach debris makes beautiful table details. Pick up pieces of driftwood and add names in white paint for a rustic look. You can find sea glass at the beach too, but it’s often easier to order it online to ensure equally-sized shapes.
Fruit
Pieces of seasonal fruit make a budget and innovative place card alternative. Gold-dipped pears or pomegranates will look stunning at a winter wedding, whereas zesty lemons and limes suit a summer celebration. Pin places cards on top or rest them against each piece of fruit.
Scrabble Tiles
Literally spell out where your guests should sit with scrabble tiles! This idea suits any quirky or bookish couple looking for something a bit different. You won’t want to lose any tiles from your own precious scrabble set, so raid thrift or charity stores for old boxes.
Jams & Chutneys
If you’re famous for your (or your mom’s) homemade jam, whip up a batch and fill mini jars. Decorate each pot with a personalized sticker, twine, and a name tag. This idea also works for little pots of honey or chutney. Your guests can take them home to enjoy later.
We hope you find something to show your guests to their seats. Those little wedding place cards can leave a big impression. But overall, we say just have fun with it!
Matilda is Marketing Manager in the International Team, bringing Zazzle to customers everywhere from Sydney to Stockholm.
