Place Cards Add Class to Holidays, Dinner Parties and Other Events
Nothing says "class" like walking into a dinner party, holiday event or fund-raiser and seeing a place card with your name on it.
Place cards are a time-honored way of not only identifying who sits where at an event, but also of adding to the overall décor of the table.
They are also part of a deliberate, behind-the-scenes planning process in which event organizers determine the best seating arrangement for the festivities.
Thanks to the convenience and immediacy of the Internet, you no longer have to wait weeks for cards to arrive from a stationery shop.
It's possible to download and print place cards for free, and even customizable versions in which guests' names can be typed in before the cards are printed out, are often quite affordable.
When considering place cards to download and print, first find out if you will be able to print as many as you'd like for one price.
If you're printing them for a large wedding party, for example, the ability to print hundreds at one low price can really pay off.
As you consider who should sit where, keep in mind friendships, family relationships and especially people who might not get along.
(Imagine the faux pas of seating romantic "exes" next to one another, or forgetting that certain business rivals will never get along.
) Name cards even come in handy at children's parties, as little one's temperaments are taken into account.
It's also a way to help kids keep track of where their drinks, goodies and other belongings are.
At holiday parties, consider cards with a festive theme: hearts for Valentine's Day, eggs for Easter, booties for a baby shower and so on.
It's just one more way to tie your theme together.
Place cards can make people feel special and included while also making it easy to detect interlopers - the rare wedding crasher or other uninvited guest.
And by opting for printable place cards acquired via the Internet, you won't be in a pinch if guests RSVP late.
All you'll need to do is open a PDF or Word document to instantly have more cards on hand.
Typically, four standard-size place cards fit on one 8 1/2-by-11 sheet.
Some printables are sized to fit commercially available tent card cardstock, such as that manufactured by Avery.
If you're using plain cardstock, just use a paper trimmer to cut the cards apart.
Consider whether you prefer to write guest's names on the cards by hand, perhaps with a calligraphy pen, or whether you prefer the crisp look of a computer font.
Place cards are best printed on medium- to heavy-weight white or ivory cardstock.
To best prepare the cards for tent-style folding, score them using a paper trimmer's scoring blade or a bone folding tool.
(Be sure you score on the proper side.
) Or, you can just fold them in half.
You could also opt to use only one side of pre-formatted cards and insert them in an attractive place card holder, which is essentially a small, horizontal picture frame.
Or, clip a card into a decorative holder.
Both are great methods to use at an outdoor wedding, barbecue or other event where paper could be blown away by wind.
Place cards eliminate confusion, add a touch of class and also make a nice souvenir of a memorable event.
Consider them next time you're serving the role of host or hostess.
Copyright 2009 by Kevin Savetz
Place cards are a time-honored way of not only identifying who sits where at an event, but also of adding to the overall décor of the table.
They are also part of a deliberate, behind-the-scenes planning process in which event organizers determine the best seating arrangement for the festivities.
Thanks to the convenience and immediacy of the Internet, you no longer have to wait weeks for cards to arrive from a stationery shop.
It's possible to download and print place cards for free, and even customizable versions in which guests' names can be typed in before the cards are printed out, are often quite affordable.
When considering place cards to download and print, first find out if you will be able to print as many as you'd like for one price.
If you're printing them for a large wedding party, for example, the ability to print hundreds at one low price can really pay off.
As you consider who should sit where, keep in mind friendships, family relationships and especially people who might not get along.
(Imagine the faux pas of seating romantic "exes" next to one another, or forgetting that certain business rivals will never get along.
) Name cards even come in handy at children's parties, as little one's temperaments are taken into account.
It's also a way to help kids keep track of where their drinks, goodies and other belongings are.
At holiday parties, consider cards with a festive theme: hearts for Valentine's Day, eggs for Easter, booties for a baby shower and so on.
It's just one more way to tie your theme together.
Place cards can make people feel special and included while also making it easy to detect interlopers - the rare wedding crasher or other uninvited guest.
And by opting for printable place cards acquired via the Internet, you won't be in a pinch if guests RSVP late.
All you'll need to do is open a PDF or Word document to instantly have more cards on hand.
Typically, four standard-size place cards fit on one 8 1/2-by-11 sheet.
Some printables are sized to fit commercially available tent card cardstock, such as that manufactured by Avery.
If you're using plain cardstock, just use a paper trimmer to cut the cards apart.
Consider whether you prefer to write guest's names on the cards by hand, perhaps with a calligraphy pen, or whether you prefer the crisp look of a computer font.
Place cards are best printed on medium- to heavy-weight white or ivory cardstock.
To best prepare the cards for tent-style folding, score them using a paper trimmer's scoring blade or a bone folding tool.
(Be sure you score on the proper side.
) Or, you can just fold them in half.
You could also opt to use only one side of pre-formatted cards and insert them in an attractive place card holder, which is essentially a small, horizontal picture frame.
Or, clip a card into a decorative holder.
Both are great methods to use at an outdoor wedding, barbecue or other event where paper could be blown away by wind.
Place cards eliminate confusion, add a touch of class and also make a nice souvenir of a memorable event.
Consider them next time you're serving the role of host or hostess.
Copyright 2009 by Kevin Savetz