The Power of Placecards

No matter the number of guests or the size of the table, I like to include placecards. I believe it is the easiest way to make your guests feel comfortable at your table. 

First and foremost, it removes the awkwardness of milling around a table, waiting for someone to take the first seat. It eliminates all possibilities of someone feeling left out because they aren’t invited to sit next to someone. 

Second, as the host, you have taken the time to think about their tablemates and hopefully, you have arranged your table in a way that fosters good conversation. 

Third, while you can deliberately put people together, you can also separate certain people. If you invite a pair of best friends to a party, I highly recommend separating them to ensure they don’t spend the whole evening chatting with each other. 

Images by Kirsten Valentini

As a hostess, arranging your guests around your table may seem intimidating. I always sketch out my table on a piece of paper to make my table arrangements. Seeing it all written out can really help. First, I place myself, usually closest to the kitchen for ease of access. Next, I identify the person who has the most amount of connections with the guest list and place them farthest from me. After, I identify the person who has the least amount of connections and place them next to me - it’s a guarantee they know me and I can help them if they feel shy or out of place throughout dinner. From there, I think about common interests, careers or hobbies and do my best to ensure each pair has at least one topic of conversation. I generally separate couples unless I think it will make one or both of them uncomfortable. For example, if a friend is bringing a new significant other who I have never met, I will likely seat the new significant other next to me and followed by my friend. 

A guide to seating and service

Beyond the practicality of placecards, I also like how they look on a table, It’s just another accessory to add to your tablescape! The options are endless. My favorites include the classic tented placecards, hang tags tied to cellophane bags of candy or a sweet placecard holder. 

Placecards are often sold in packs of 8, 10 or 12, which might not always coincide with the exact number of guests you have. I always save my spare, blank placecards to use at future cocktail parties to label food. 

Placecards as seen on my Instagram