A guide to creating place name cards
Personalised place name cards help guests find their seats while adding a coordinated finishing touch to the table. They are ideal for weddings, formal dinners, awards ceremonies, conferences and business events.
A clear guest list, an easy-to-read design and careful proof checking will help ensure every card displays the correct name.
Our folded place-card size
Size before folding
Each card is professionally creased through the centre and folds to approximately 90mm wide by 45mm high. It stands freely on the table without a separate card holder.
This size provides enough room for a guest’s name while remaining neat and unobtrusive on the table.
Silk or uncoated card?
350gsm coated silk
Silk card has a smooth surface with a slight sheen. It works particularly well for photographs, floral artwork, coloured backgrounds and modern event designs.
350gsm uncoated card
Uncoated card has a natural matt paper finish. It suits simple typography, rustic themes, understated colours and watercolour-style designs.
What should appear on the card?
The guest’s name should normally be the clearest and most prominent part of the design.
Guest’s name
Use the guest’s full name, first name only or preferred title and surname.
Table details
A table number or name can be included where it helps guests locate their seats.
Company or role
For business events, a company name or delegate role can be added beneath the name.
Avoid overcrowding the card. Names should remain large enough to read easily across the table.
Simple place-card design tips
Use a clear, readable font
Use strong contrast between the name and background
Leave comfortable space around the wording
Test the design using the longest guest name
Match the colours and fonts to your menus or invitations
Keep borders and important details away from the edge
How to supply personalised place cards
You can supply a guest list for us to merge into the design or create every personalised card yourself.
Supply an Excel guest list
Send an Excel spreadsheet containing one guest on each row, together with your design or an example of the style required.
We will merge the names into the design and send a personalised PDF proof.
Supply a completed PDF
Create each personalised card and combine them into one PDF with one completed card on each page.
For 100 different guests, supply one 100-page PDF.
Preparing the Excel guest list
Enter one person on each row and place each type of information in its own clearly labelled column.
Example guest list
| First name | Surname | Optional extra |
|---|---|---|
| Amira | Khan | Table 4 |
| Daniel | Lewis | Table 7 |
Use clear column headings and enter one guest on each row.
Keep first names, surnames and table details in separate columns.
Avoid merged cells, blank rows and private notes that should not be printed.
Preparing the artwork
The finished card size before folding is 90 × 90mm.
Artwork with bleed should measure 96 × 96mm.
Keep names and important details at least 4mm inside the finished edge.
Do not add a printed centre line or folding guide.
Check the personalised PDF proof
Before approving the cards, check:
Every guest is included
Names and titles are spelled correctly
There are no duplicate cards
Long names remain easy to read
Table information is correct
The total number of pages is correct
Printing begins after the proof has been approved, so ask another person to compare it with the final guest or seating list.
Allow for late changes
Include a place card for every guest, host, speaker or organiser who has an allocated seat.
A few blank cards are also useful for late additions, spelling corrections or replacements needed while setting up the tables.
Create a coordinated table setting
The same colours, fonts and artwork can be used across menus, table plans, invitations, programmes and other event stationery.
Print personalised place name cards
Supply a completed PDF or send an Excel guest list with your design. We will check the order and email a personalised PDF proof before printing.