Classic Seating Cards and Displays

The square shape of these calligraphed seating cards gave them a fresh look.

Calligraphed envelopes held table assignments for a simple-yet-elegant look.

Guests' names and table numbers are propped up in stained-oak holders for a simple yet sophisticated look.

Simple black-and-white seating cards are aligned on retro-inspired ribbons.

The most classic fold used on seating cards is brought to new heights when seating assignments rest on top of a pillow of carnations.

Cut several standard bricks of floral foam in half horizontally, soak in water, and place in shallow plastic flower-box trays. Snip off the carnation heads, leaving a little bit of stem on each, and insert into the foam; each half-brick should hold about two dozen carnations and four seating cards.

Envelopes containing seating cards are arranged in neat rows.

It takes only three supplies -- vintage fabric flowers, map pins, and glue -- to bring your seating assignments into bloom. Just add a drop of glue to the back of a pinhead, pierce the center of each blossom, then spear the cards to a foam board covered in fabric.

Tinsel Trading Co. vintage lilacs. Latitudes Map & Travel Store map pins. Martha Stewart Modern Classic Kensington table cards, crane.com.

Capture your guests' attention with heavyweight patterned papers in coordinating designs and colors for escort cards. We combined flower and vine motifs.

Simple letterpress seating cards display the four patterns used throughout this real wedding.

Whimsical calligraphy brings life to a classic black-and-white escort card.

Leaning on an easel or hanging on a wall, a framed display of eyelet-inspired seating cards is charming.

An orderly arrangement of seating cards can get jumbled as guests find their names. Tuck flat cards into the creases of accordion folds, and they'll stay in tidy rows.

White and pink hydrangeas are placed among rows of seating cards displayed on glass etched with stars.

Place cards calligraphed in peach are fresh and crisp for a spring or summer wedding.

Silhouettes decorate these simple and elegant seating cards.

In Croatia, it is customary to give a branch of rosemary to each guest as they enter a wedding. This bride and groom carried on the tradition by placing a sprig at each plate with a calligraphed card.

Among rows of simple floral seating cards, pink, white, and plum-colored symbidium orchids in glass vases rest on a porcelain dish.

A wall of satin ribbons is an eye-catching backdrop for simple and more subdued escort cards.

Calligraphed seating cards are displayed on tables dressed in plain black for a clean and sophisticated look.

Tie classic place cards with twine around napkin at each setting and add a bit of greenery for a rustic reception.

An arrangement of white peonies, roses, and hydrangeas is the star of this formal outdoor escort card display.

Quirky icons add a unique touch to these escort cards, but calligraphy, netural colors, and a tent fold keep them classic.

A well-choreographed seating-card set features one motif on both the labeled envelope and seat assignment card inside. We opted for these summery customized letterpress designs by Milkfed Press, but you could get a similar look with rubber stamps and ink pads.

Create this slick display by affixing vinyl Helvetica number stickers to calligraphed ivory escort cards, adding a strip of metallic tape to the sides, top, or both.

Chartpak 1-inch vinyl numbers, duall.com. Crane & Co. escort cards, V841301A. Nasco Metallic Mylar craft tape pack. ArtEmboss copper foil tape, robertscrafts.com. Canford card stock in metallic silver, NY Central Art Supply, 800-950-6111.

Beautifully calligraphed escort cards hang from mini clothespins.

For a fun twist on the average clothespin, these are rubber-stamped with the bride's and groom's initials.

Envelopes tucked into blue ribbons stretched across mirrors give guests their seating assignments and add depth to the table.

For a snowy winter wedding, snowbanks of rock salt and frosty mountains fashioned from torn paper dusted with a sprinkling of glistening glitter turn an escort card table into a magical wonderland.

Enlist people whose penmanship you admire (the bigger the range of styles, the better) to join you to write the names of guests on blank cards.

Give a new shape to the standard escort card with a decorative paper punch.

These escort cards keep the classic rectangular shape, but manila coin envelopes, which were hand-lettered in white ink, are a fun alternative to card stock.

Adorn tented seating cards with a logo that matches the wedding theme or location. Here, an elk logo fit into the decor at a real wedding in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Vintage tags with black calligraphy serve as seating cards and are tied to chairs with twine.

The negative space on these clean cards creates an artistic effect.

Cover an art canvas with silk dupioni fabric, then glue as many vintage buttons as there are invitees onto the front. Print names and table numbers onto pieces of card stock, and tape (or glue) a loop of blue embroidery ribbon to the back of each one. Hang the cards from the buttons, and display the canvas on an easel during the cocktail hour.

Envelopes in various hues hang from white ball pins with mixed and matched ribbon. Inside are cards with calligraphed table numbers. Staggering colors create a dynamic display.

Florets burst from place cards, made by gluing card stock over veneer paper. Prop up the cards with a triangle of heavy paper glued underneath, perpendicular to the veneer.

Escort cards calligraphed by Renate Worthington are placed in a tray of white rocks.

Tags on each chair of this reception featured a silhouette of the bride or the groom, and the guests' seating assignments.

Offset gray-on-white or black-on-white seating cards with bright color envelopes. The ones shown here are adorned with whimsical line illustrations and pop against marigold.

Circle escort cards are pinned to a patterned fabric tucked into painted frames.

For a laid-back wedding, escort cards are handwritten on craft paper.

Paper tags with hand-typed names stand in as place cards.