We believe even the smallest elements—like meal indicators on place cards—play a big role in your guests' overall experience. These subtle design choices not only add thoughtful functionality to your wedding day but also contribute to a polished, well-organized event.

Whether you're planning a seated dinner with plated entrées or accommodating guests with dietary restrictions, incorporating meal indicators into your wedding place cards (or escort cards) helps ensure flawless service and happy guests.

Let’s walk through what they are, when to use them, and how to include them seamlessly in your wedding day stationery.

Escort Cards vs. Place Cards: Which to Use—and When

These two cards serve different (but equally important) roles at your reception, and understanding the distinction can help you plan your seating arrangements with ease.

Escort cards are displayed near the entrance of your reception and list each guest’s name along with their assigned table number. Guests find their card, then head to their designated table.

Place cards are set at each individual seat and include the guest’s name to indicate exactly where they should sit at the table. These are especially useful when you're assigning specific seats within each table or including meal indicators for plated dinners.

Place cards are typically paired with either escort cards or a seating chart, which helps guests find their table before they locate their individual seat. This layered approach to helping guests find their reception seats keeps the flow smooth and ensures everyone ends up exactly where they’re meant to be—no confusion, no crowding.

Designer Tip: On our site, escort cards and place cards are part of the same product listing. The difference comes down to how they’re printed and styled for your day. If you’re planning to use both, escort cards are typically tented so they can stand on their own near the entrance, while place cards are flat and usually placed in holders at each seat. That said, you're welcome to reverse those formats if it suits your style—or use either format for place cards if you're planning to display a seating chart instead of using escort cards.

Do You Need Meal Indicators on Your Place Cards?

If you’re offering multiple entrée choices for your seated reception and guests have made their selections in advance, adding meal choices to your place cards is essential. They serve as a discreet but effective way to communicate each guest’s entrée selection to your catering team.

Without clear meal indicators, servers are left guessing or interrupting guests to confirm their selection, which can slow down service and lead to mistakes. Including them ensures a smoother dining experience and helps your catering team deliver the right meal to the right guest—without mid-meal interruptions or confusion.

Designer Tip: Always confirm meal counts with your caterer and planner before printing your place cards. Accuracy here keeps everything on track.

Stylish Ways to Add Meal Indicators to Your Place Cards

We offer several elegant and customizable meal indicator styles so you can choose the one that aligns best with your wedding aesthetic. All of these are typically placed in the lower right-hand corner of each place card.

1. Icons

Charming and refined, icons are a guest favorite. Think:

• A small cow for beef
• A fish for seafood
• A carrot for vegetarian

These timeless symbols keep things clear for servers while adding a bit of personality.

2. Shapes

Prefer a more subtle approach? We can use simple shapes like triangles, circles, or squares to distinguish meal types. These are especially ideal for modern or minimalist place card designs.

3. Color Indicators

We can print a small colored circle using any of our ink shades to represent each meal type. This option allows you to coordinate seamlessly with your wedding palette while still serving a clear and practical purpose. Whether you're drawn to soft neutrals or bold accent colors, it's a beautiful way to tie your place cards into the overall design of your day.

4. Text

Sometimes simple is best. We can include a small text label—like “Chicken” or “Vegetarian”—in a clean, easy-to-read font that complements the rest of your stationery. It’s a straightforward, no-guesswork approach that’s both practical and polished.

How to Show Dietary Restrictions on Wedding Place Cards

For guests with specific food needs, including dietary restrictions on your wedding place cards is a thoughtful detail that ensures any special requirements are accommodated. Whether it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, or a more specific request, we’ll make sure your guests feel seen—and served safely.

Be sure to work closely with your venue or caterer to decide how you'd like these dietary restrictions indicated on the cards (e.g., with symbols or words), and we’ll handle the design.

Why One Place Card Per Guest Matters with Meal Indicators

If you're including meal indicators, we always recommend having one place card per guest—even for couples or families seated together. It may feel like a small detail, but when it comes to showing meal choices clearly on wedding place cards, it makes a big difference for your catering team.

When each guest has their own card, servers can identify meal selections at a glance—no need to interrupt guests mid-conversation to ask what they ordered. It helps ensure every guest receives the correct meal, and keeps the flow of your reception running effortlessly.

Plus, individual cards give your tablescape a more polished, thoughtful feel—something our couples consistently love about their finished Shine suite.

Meal Indicator & Place Card FAQs: What Couples Ask Most

Do I need meal indicators for a buffet or family-style dinner?

No—meal indicators are only needed when guests have pre-selected an entrée for a plated meal. For buffet or family-style dinners, they wouldn’t typically be required. That said, you might consider including printed menus at each setting or buffet signage to give guests a preview of what’s being served. It’s a thoughtful touch that adds clarity and ties beautifully into your overall stationery suite.

Can you print both first and last names on place cards?

Absolutely! You can choose full names or first names only, depending on the formality of your event.

What if I don’t know all my guests’ meal choices yet?

We recommend waiting to finalize your place cards until you’ve received all RSVPs and confirmed meal selections. Our designers aren’t able to lay out your place cards until the guest list is complete—but once we have everything we need, we’ll get your proofs to you quickly so you can begin reviewing. If you're on a tighter timeline, we also offer rush printing and shipping options to help meet your needs.

Can meal indicators be used on escort cards instead of place cards?

They can. While meal indicators are most commonly included on place cards—since those are positioned at each individual seat—they can absolutely be added to escort cards if you're not assigning specific seats. If guests are simply being directed to a table (rather than a particular seat), adding the meal choice to the escort card is a great option.

Elevate Your Reception with Meal Indicator Place Cards

Adding meal indicators to your place cards is a simple yet impactful way to streamline dinner service, respect dietary needs, and ensure a polished presentation.

Explore our curated collection of place cards and escort cards to find a style that fits your day. As always, our designers are here to guide you every step of the way—because your details deserve to be as timeless and beautiful as your love story.

Photo Credit
Escort Card Display: Virginie Carolina | Wedding Place Setting with Place Card: Laura and Rachel Photography