20 Interesting Ways to Display Seating Charts & Escort Cards

Skip the traditional table and discover unique alternatives for presenting seating assignments.

While most wedding-planning decisions focus on ceremony and reception décor, couples should also consider how they'll show guests to their seats.

real wedding photo thorn floral studio the sterling venue private home wedding reception seating chart lucite flower boxes
Photo: We The Romantics

While most wedding planning decisions focus on ceremony and reception décor, couples should also consider how they'll show guests to their seats. Typically, names of attendees and table numbers are written on escort cards and placed on a table covered with an elegant linen and topped with a tall flower arrangement; however, there are a number of ways to display seating assignments in a unique and memorable fashion.

Consider choosing a seating chart or escort card display that shows off your personality as a couple, or one that highlights your wedding theme. In lieu of a traditional escort card table, pin cards to a flower wall, attach seating assignments to trinkets displayed in a bookcase, or handwrite names on an oversized mirror. Though this area of wedding planning is often overlooked and left to the last minute, your guests will love the challenge of finding their names and table numbers on a well-thought-out display that truly becomes a part of the décor.

We've collected 20 unique seating charts and escort card displays from real weddings to inspire your own event! Take a look at the ideas below, and for more information about these events, click on the links below each image!

1. Beach Wedding Wall

Beach wedding escort card display ideas

Escort cards pinned to a freestanding white-washed wood wall beautifully fit a beach wedding theme. Offer flip-flops to guests by way of wicker baskets at the base.Photo by Yvette Roman Photography; Floral Design by The Hidden Garden; From Real Wedding: All-White Wedding at a Beach Club in Santa Monica, California

2. Wood Wall with Watercolor Cards

Freestanding wood wall with heart escort cards ideas

This outdoor wedding featured a tall freestanding wooden wall pinned with heart-shaped escort cards with multicolor watercolor designs. Photo by Elizabeth Messina; Planning & Design by Bob Gail Events; From Real Wedding: Farmers Market-Inspired Cocktail Hour & Shabby Chic Reception

3. Interactive Seating Chart with Champagne

interactive seating chart display modern with gloved hands passing out champagne wedding seating chart ideas

Wow your guests by pairing your seating chart with passed flutes of Champagne through segments of the display itself for a fun, interactive cocktail hour. Photo by Cristina G Photography; From Real Wedding: A Chic City Wedding with Black, White & Blue Décor in Chicago

4. Shabby Chic Shelving Unit

Bookshelf escort card display ideas tone it up katrina scott

When Tone It Up's Katrina Hodgson got married in Malibu, guests found their seating assignments attached to trinkets displayed on a rustic wood shelving unit. Photo by Jana Williams Photography; From Real Wedding: Tone It Up Trainer Katrina Hodgson's Shabby Chic Malibu Wedding

5. Golf Towel Structure

Linen escort cards at outdoor wedding ideas

As an ode to the couple's love of golf, guests found their seating assignments embroidered on golf towels, which were displayed on a tall wooden structure. Photo by Adrienne Page; From Real Wedding: Pink and White Destination Wedding in Charleston, South Carolina

6. Wine-Bottle Vase

Wine bottle seating chart and vase holding flowers escort card wedding ideas

Since this wedding took place at an estate in the countryside of Tuscany, loved ones found their table numbers on seating charts attached to wine bottles that were also used as vases for colorful flowers. Photo by Gabriele Fani; Planning & Design by Sara Judith Events; From Real Wedding: An Alfresco Destination Wedding Under the Tuscan Sun in Italy

7. Freestanding Green Hedge

Escort cards clothespin on hedge wedding ideas

As a cute touch, seating assignments were attached to a greenery hedge wall by way of clothespins adorned with miniature roses. Photo by Jay Lawrence Goldman Photography; From Real Wedding: Rustic + Vintage Outdoor Ceremony & Tent Reception in Palm Springs

8. A Bookworm's Dream

Bookshelf escort card display library wedding ideas

For this couple's outdoor garden ceremony, guests found escort cards on a rustic bookshelf embellished with greenery and florals in pale hues. Photo by Stephanie Fay Photography; From Real Wedding: Sophisticated Garden-Inspired Wedding in Phoenix, Arizona

9. Upholstered Key Wall

Antique key escort card display wedding ideas

Seating assignments were attached to antique-style brass keys and displayed on a freestanding white upholstered wall adorned with a garland of gilded magnolia leaves as well as roses and hydrangeas. Photo by Amy & Stuart Photography; From Real Wedding: Chic White, Blush & Gold Seaside Wedding at Montage Laguna Beach

10. Garden Trellis Escort-Card Display

greenery hedge with white trellis garden wedding escort card display wedding ideas

This whimsical garden wedding showcased a trellis-inspired escort card display to continue the garden theme from ceremony to reception. Photo by Emilia Jane Photography; From Real Wedding: Fairy-Tale Garden Wedding at a Luxurious Estate in Nashville

11. Rustic Window Panels

David Tutera wedding antique window seating chart ideas

For a true rustic feel, guests found their table assignments handwritten on large window panels displayed atop haystacks outside of a barn. Photo by Michael Segal Photography; From Real Wedding: Rustic-Elegant Wedding in Ojai Valley, California

12. Antique Door

Escort cards taped to antique window or door wedding ideas

Ideal for a rustic-elegant wedding, secure escort cards to the glass panels of a shabby chic door frame. Photo by Laurie Bailey Photography; Planning & Design by Linda Howard Events; From Real Wedding: Shabby Chic & Garden-Inspired Malibu, California Wedding

13. Postcard Wall

post card wall with escort card tags seating chart wedding ideas

Since this celebration was a destination wedding, the travel theme was highlighted with an escort-card display featuring guest names and table numbers attached to vintage-inspired postcards. Photo by John Cain Photography; From Real Wedding: Fall Destination Wedding on the Beach in Key West, Florida

14. Handkerchiefs on a Clothesline

Handkerchief escort card clothesline display

How cute are these handkerchiefs embellished with each guest's seating assignment? Hang linens from a clothesline for an extra-special touch. Photo by Elizabeth Messina; Planning & Design by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants; From Real Wedding: Ethereal Garden-Inspired Morning Ceremony + Alfresco Brunch

15. Suspended Hearts

Brittney Palmer and Aaron Zalewski wood heart escort cards wedding ideas

These heart-shaped wooden escort cards are adorable on their own, but when suspended from a tree for guests to discover, they become even more unique. Photo by Daniel Kincaid Photography; Planning & Design by Bluebell Events; From Real Wedding: UFC Octagon Girl Brittney Palmer's Sparkling Oceanfront Wedding

16. Framed Flower Wall

Flower wall escort card display wedding ideas

For a luxurious look, pin escort cards to a flower wall composed of peonies in shades of pink and vanilla and add an ornate golden frame. Photo by Chip Gillespie; From Real Wedding: Classic Jewish Wedding at a Synagogue in Houston, Texas

17. Mirror Seating Chart

flower wall and mirror design seating chart outdoor cocktail hour wedding reception ideas

Hire a calligrapher to write each guest's name on oversized mirrors (or have them etched) for a two-in-one décor element. Not only will guests love the ease of finding their names, but the mirror(s) will also emphasize the space! Photo by Sarah Kate, Photographer; From Real Wedding: Childhood Sweethearts Say "I Do" at Luxury Wedding in Dallas, Texas

18. Show Ribbon Wall

Horse show ribbon escort cards

Show off your equestrian background by awarding each guest with their own horse show ribbon emblazoned with their name, table number, and even an individual superlative (like this couple did for their attendees!). Photo by Chrisman Studios; From Real Wedding: A Facebook Executive's Rustic-Elegant Northern California Wedding

19. Swirling Hedge

Green hedge escort card display

If you love the look of a garden wedding but your nuptials are indoors, try displaying escort cards atop a hedge of greenery to bring the outdoors in. Photo by KingenSmith; From Real Wedding: Modern Black & White Chicago Wedding with Hints of Pink

20. Ribbon Dance

wedding escort cards attached to ribbon hanging from tree ceiling reception ideas

Hang escort cards from ribbons suspended from an indoor tree or the ceiling for a fun, whimsical décor element! Photo by The Day; From Real Wedding: Opulent Wedding with Whimsical, Luxurious Touches in New York City

Want more wedding ideas? Discover ceremony program ideas and browse our wedding photo galleries to see thousands of images from real weddings across the country!

Opening photo by We The Romantics; From Real Wedding: A Garden Wedding at the Couple's Historic Home in Texas