How to word sign at placecard table

[modernsparkler]

So... we are doing assigned tables but not seats. FI has calligraphied everyone''s names and their table numbers will be on the placecard. They will be arranged like the photo below. They will be displayed in the foyer which guests will have access to before the ceremony since it will be adjacent to the guestbook table, but someone will be standing there advising them to pick them up after cocktail hour. Our venue is kind of strangely laid out as guests will have access to the foyer, and therefore placecard table, to use the restrooms during cocktail hour but the ballroom will be closed until cocktail hour is over. The thing is, we want to be sure guests know when to proceed into the ballroom we need to make sure guests take their placecards to their tables because there will be a stamp indicating each guests'' entree choice. I guest my fear is that they will pick up their cards early, lose them, and then the entree service will be more challenging for the staff and people won''t know when to go from the cocktail hour to the ballroom.

My question is, FI is going to calligraphy a sign to put at the table that says such, but these seem to bossy to me!

We were thinking something like..

Please take your placecard with you and find your seat at your assigned table at 7:15 pm.

What do you think?

 

[katamari]

I am not sure why you don''t want to just assign seats then, to avoid all the hassle. Even though your current wording is simple, it does seem a little like micro management, but my biggest concern would be too much room for error. I think even with the direction, people still might forget to pick up their escort card, put it in their pockets and forget to set it out, have it lying/facing in a direction where the server couldn''t see the stamp, etc. You could try to have your servers do the work, like tell them which tables get how many of what entrees (they would still have to announce them to find who they belong to, though). I guess I don''t see any option as desirable as just placing guests at seats, personally. I don''t see any difference between being assigned a seat or a table unless you are using incredibly long banquet tables.

 

[mayachel]

I was at a wedding recently where they did a similar system and issue with layout of rooms. Is it possible to move the table just in front of the dining area? They had color coded the cards so that the servers would know who had ordered what. Now, if there hadn''t been people like me, who knew...no one at our table would have put their cards out. Guests just don''t remember what they''ve asked for either. Maybe if the sign said something to the affect,

"Please be sure to bring your place card to the table"

 

[lovesparklies]

Your current wording does sound a little bossy to me. I feel like people are likely to respond better if they know *why* they need to take their escort cards with them to the table. How about something like,

"Please place your escort card in front of you when you are seated to indicate your entree choice."

OK, maybe you can think of better wording than that but something to that effect. I know this would reveal your sneaky system of indicating entree choices but is that worse than messing up your catering?

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 4/22/2009 12:49:41 PM
Author: lovesparklies
Your current wording does sound a little bossy to me. I feel like people are likely to respond better if they know *why* they need to take their escort cards with them to the table. How about something like,


''Please place your escort card in front of you when you are seated to indicate your entree choice.''


OK, maybe you can think of better wording than that but something to that effect. I know this would reveal your sneaky system of indicating entree choices but is that worse than messing up your catering?

I think this sounds like a better option. I especially don''t like specifying the time - weddings often don''t run on time anyway, so it seems unnecessary. But if you specify, as ilovesparkles has suggested, telling guests why they need to do this, I think you''re more likely to get people doing it.