I have the perfect solution to wedding seating chart awkwardness, and the best part?  It’s a DIY project that will cost you next to nothing!  These Topic Table Conversation Place Cards will get your guests laughing and chatting in no time:

What You’ll Need:

Computer Printable Place Cards (enough so each guest gets one!)

Your own creative mind

A computer and a printer

Instructions:

The idea is simple.  Simply buy your printable place cards and follow the instructions for running them through your home printer.  The creative part comes in with what’s actually on the cards!  Instead of just printing your guests name and table number, why not add challenging or thought provoking questions to get your guests chatting?  Some examples:

• If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?  Why?
• If you had to choose one meal to eat over and over for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• If you could re-do your wedding, what would you change?  What would you keep the same?

What guests will be talking up a storm in no time!

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From L to R:  Two Birds Wedding Invitation; Enchanting Forest Wedding Invitation; Little Bird Wedding Invitation; Splendid Swirls Wedding Invitation; Delicate Humming Bird Wedding Invitation; Divine Doves Save the Date Card; Wedding Trellis Save the Date Card

From L to R: Spring Birds Shower Invitations; Perching Bird Gift Tag; Birds in Flight Place Card; Love Doves Save the Date Cards;  Hummingbird Garden Gift Tag

To view more bird themed wedding inivtations and stationery designs, click here.

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Instead of recreating the wheel, I’m going to share a great set of instructions with accompanying photos that can be found here. Although there are a number of steps involved, the process is really quite easy.  And then…voila!  You have a beautiful origami crane.

What’s really special about these cranes is the number of uses for them!  DIY Wedding Projects had a great idea for using the cranes as place cards.  Eco-Chic Weddings suggest stringining the cranes all in a row and hanging them from the celiing–the look is both elegant and modern.  New York Magazine featured a wedding that used the cranes as favors.  Twiggs Bakery and Coffeehouse has a cake on their website that uses the crane as a cake topper! And finally, if you want to really put in some effort, Trek Earth features a paper crane lantern.  (See all images below.)

I’m sure there are countless other options for utilizing the origami crane at your wedding.  Feel free to chime in!

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I especially like this idea for a smaller, more intimate wedding, mostly because it could run on the more expensive side.

To start, purchase a small pocket journal, preferably one with an elastic page marker attached, like so:

This particular journal comes in a variety of beautiful colors, so you’ll be sure to find one to match your wedding.  They can be purchased here for $9.00 each if you order a quantity of 18 or more.

Next, use the wrapping that came on the journal to measure out a “place card” on your own special paper, whether it be plain or printed.  You can also design a nice layout on your computer and print it out, and then cut it to size.  Be sure to include your guests names and any additional information, such as wedding date or the couple’s names.

Simply replace the current wrapping with your new design and voila–you have a placecard/wedding favor that is sure to stand out!

Alternatively, you could open the book and stand it up like a tent, and slip a small square or rectangular place card of your own design in to the elastic band.  This way, the place card is propped up and more easily visible on the table.

If you are really feeling crafty, you can write a personal note on the first page of the journal to each guest.  It’s a lot of work but a beautiful detail and an amazing way of saying thank you to your guests.  Whichever you choose, good luck and happy designing!

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Visit our homepage and scroll down to Enter to win a Stationery Shopping Spree!

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Under the Oak Ecru Wedding Invitation

Real Weddings by Better Homes and Gardens and Hurricane centerpieces from the Knot.

The Knot mums ring bearer pillow, Almond Honey favors from Martha Stewart and Carmen Marco Valvo dress from Nordstrom. Below: Rustic elegance decor by Brides and Under the Oak Place Cards.

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One thing I’ve discovered about planning my own wedding is that it can bring out and help you discover talents previously uncovered. For me, I learned that I can do calligraphy, not professionally done but done well enough. If you don’t have the resources to afford a professional calligrapher and still want the personal look calligraphy brings you can buy a how-to book on calligraphy or do what I did. Go to the office or school supply section at your nearest store and look for a calligraphy kit. I actually found the task relaxing and fun and I think it added something personal to our invitations and place cards.

I found this fragrant French milled soap wrapped in luxurious paper and tied with a black cord on Anthropologie.com and fell in love. I just added a leaf tag to personalize this glamorous favor.

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One thing that seems to be “in” right now is having guests write their wishes for the newly married couple on matching wedding stationery. Pens were left on the sign-in table with blank cards and a beautiful glass vase to put them in. The potential photo of a gorgeous glass vase filled with loving wishes is reason enough to do this at your wedding. But the wish cards can also be later saved and placed in an album with the rest of your wedding keepsakes.

This place card would work great as a wish card. It’s simple, pretty and you can choose one to match your wedding colors. It can also be created with or without any wording.

Edged Monogram: Surf

This wedding used stationery throughout the reception which really helped to pull a consistent modern look together. The couple used escort cards with place names, and menu cards to let guests know what to expect.

All in all, I thought they were both successful events. The bride and groom looked elated and I got a lot of great ideas that I may even use for my own wedding. Look for an upcoming blog on the second event! I got some really pretty photos and more unique ideas.

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A place card is used to tell guests specifically where they will be sitting. Usually in the style of a tented or folded card and done by a calligrapher, these cards are put at the table setting of each guest. Some have colored stickers on them to help waiters identify what type of entrée you requested whether poultry, fish, or vegetarian, for example. Escort cards help guests learn what table they will be sitting on. Creative couples sometimes assign places they traveled to instead of numbers to each table. I have seen escort cards lined up on a table filled with orchids, strung on a line with laundry pins, pinned to fresh fruit and my favorite hung from the bare branches of a tree.

Here’s a beautiful example of a place card from a wedding I attended last year. With candles and a vibrant pink floral centerpiece, this was definitely one of my favorite designs I’ve seen at a wedding.

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