I started thinking of the importance of place cards. While I knew my client and his wife quite well, I knew absolutely no one at this dinner party. Luckily, Mrs. Client was the quintessential hostess- she carefully considered the seating arrangement and I found myself sitting next to 2 actual rocket scientists and much of the evening was spent talking about supernovas and funding for NASA.

The evening got me thinking about seating arrangements- in theory I would prefer to pick my own seat but I can understand how that might not necessarily be the best way to arrange a dinner party or wedding reception. High school lunch drama came to mind: people milling around looking for their clique, food getting cold, couples being separated by chance. Worse yet imagine ending up next to your idea of a jerk? I know I was glad not to be sitting next to the Super Conservative Republican Nutjob and I am sure he must have felt the same way. Thank God for the seating arrangement.

It turns out that wedding guests prefer assigned seating too

Eli Zabar’s Shortbread Place Cards

If you are too busy to make your own shortbread cookies, you can order them from elizabar.com
The order form seems a little confusing- some weird instructions about treating “each one as a separate transaction, proceed to checkout, and give each recipient’s address”- and this option seem a little pricey at 6/$24 but I think we could consider buying un-frosted cookies from the best bakery in your town and personalizing them yourself.

Dinner Icebreaker: Nickname Placecards By Finestationery

Finestationary suggests that guests be invited to write down a nickname or pet-name for their significant other which will be collected while they mingle over cocktails.

Pewter Chair Place Card Holders By Beau Coup

I think these pewter period chairs from Beaucoup.com are intricately detailed (and they should be priced at $2.50 each) and make exquisite party favors

Engraved glass gem in organza- by sjengraving

Each glass gem, hand-engraved with the individual guest name , comes with a high quality white organza bag. I think these would make just place cards. Set of 50 are priced at $250

Grow your own placecards by Revision

These lovely porcelain eggs growing wheatgrass can be used as a table decoration or place card holder. The actual placecard is embedded into the dirt with toothpicks.

Love Bird Place cards By Timeless Paper

As a cheaper alternative, TimelessPaper.etsy.com offers a wide variety of interesting paper placecards. Whether you choose the peacocks or lovebirds, at $1 per placecard, these are affordable and incredibly elegant. Can you imagine how impressive your table will be with these sweet love birds perched on the lip of the champagne or water glass at every place setting?

Visit TimelessPaper’s website Check out he wonderful post about Paper Garlands

Bubbly Heart Place Cards by CuddleCreature

If you prefer scalloped hearts, you might choice these offered by CuddleCreature is comparable in price and just as sweet.

Genuine Beachstone and Seaglass PLACE SETS – PHOTO HOLDER – CARD HOLDER by Stepping Stones

Probably too expensive for individual placecard, but certainly affordable for table cards, these lovely holders are made of beach glass, with an long furrow cut to fit a photo or card.

Custom Bud Vases Great Wedding or Party Favor by LamaWorks

These cheerful bud vases can have double duty- seat assignments and party favor At a $1/per vase, these cheerful vases would add a great touch to any spring table design. Have the names and table assignments printed on these lovely Bud vases place cards for an additional 15¢.

I don’t know why I am focused on weddings right now; well, really on wedding / party invitations. Probably because of the lead time involved in sending out invitations.

Wedding invitations can be tough because normally you have to include the “whole package”: instructions directions to the church and reception + and RSVP card + the actual invitation.

Modern Chic Wedding Invitations

lilribbers has designed this set of the Modern Chic (and all-inclusive) Wedding Invitations

It includes:

• one 9.5″x3.75″ invitation card printed on textured paper (soft-white or bright white).
• a combined informational insert and RSVP self-mailing postcard which is perforated down the center (guests can tear off and mail back the rsvp section).
• wrapped in a paper sleeve (pattern of your choice) and tied together with two wrap-around bands and twine
• coordinating #10 open ended envelope included in matching color.

The designer has been good enough to consider the cost of mailing for you ( .44/each as is-  .61/each if you add additonal inserts).

Don’t Skip visiting the shop. The Punch Cards series is just great.

The Punch Card Wedding Invitations

This Punch Card Wedding Invitations includes:

• 3.75″ x 9.5″ card with your wedding day colors and information ( simply “punch out” your exact wedding date)
• Guests can tear off the RSVP from the invite card.
• Matching mailing envelope, wrap-around mailing label and RSVP return envelope.

Visit » lilribbers.etsy.com

Visit » the online portfolio for more ideas

These are good choices as well…

• Chairs For Charity: Day 3
• Chairs For Charity: Day 2
• Show Your heART: Chairs for Charity
• Tell Your Friends, Make Some Money.
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Now, it’s so easy to find great alternative to run-of-the mill invitations for parties and weddings and birthdays.

Calendar Cards

Wouldn’t these make great “save the date” cards or  spring wedding invitations? . They are blank inside; perfect for details. Just  circling the  specific date on the front. These sweet and cheerful cards are made of white cardstock and they come with 12 white A2 envelopes.

Calendar Cards set of 12 by craftedbylindy on Etsy

The designer-artist, craftedbylindy, has wonderful paper crafts in her shop and is kind enough to personalize this card with a mix-n-match  offer in the product description of these calendar cards.

Visit The Etsy shop» craftedbylindy on Etsy

Awkward name- yes.

But oh so unique!!

This husband-and-wife team – Joanne andamp; Tony Cheng – custom engrave a white  3-inch pebble with the name of the bride and groom and their wedding date.

More often than not, buying a wedding gift on a budget relegates you to the cheap kitchen appliances or , worse yet, some variation on a vase. andlt;andlt;Yawnandgt;andgt; As if you don’t run the risk of duplicating someone else’s gift….

Definitely not my style.

I would proudly present this engraved stone, wrapped in silk, as a  symbol of the couple’s relationship. “A rock in a sea of chaos”.

And, wow!, wouldn’t this make an uncommon and witty invitation for a small wedding or elopement, wrapped in a piece of paper with directions? Tied with a raffia bow! Too Cute… Too bad its just a little too expensive for a party favor….Maybe for a centerpiece?

Visit Their Etsy Store» sjengraving.etsy.com

Don’t miss out on the nested stone birth announcement available in their store.

Well, Pretty pear. I love the idea- the tactile experience of holding one of your cards must be delicious. Pretty Pear’s line of “touch and feel” stationary are made of soft cotton fabric bonded on fabric. They are cheerful and fresh.

Elegant Fabric Blue andamp; Ivory Damask Bridal Shower Invitation

Check out this lovely wedding invitation.

The design manages to combine all the traditional elegance of a Crane invitation and the opportunity to match the invitation to the wedding reception theme.

Included:

• 5 1/2″x6″ flat cardmade by layering textured heavyweight cardstock on beautiful ornate cotton fabric with four white photo tabs and topped a simple, but elegant white doubleface satin ribbon
• comes with an ivory matching envelope.

Visit her blog» prettypeardesigns.typepad.com

Visit the Etsy store» prettypeardesigns.etsy.com

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