Rather than simply showing guests where to sit, the table itself is an opportunity to wow them
as soon as they walk into the reception.

“It’s the first thing your guests will see that is an invitation of what’s to come,” says wedding planner Jenny Orsini of Pampered Bride Weddings in Springfield (973-912-8099; pamperedbrideweddings.com).

Most reception facilities will provide complimentary cards, but try to avoid using these. As three New Jersey wedding planners shared, there are several ways to punch up the place-card presentation without breaking the bank.

Keep it simple. This doesn’t mean the table can’t be interesting and elegant. Definitely invest in a good cardstock that incorporates the wedding theme or featured colors. For a classic tabletop decoration, “flowers, rose petals, and votives never go out of style,” says Orsini.

Personalize. All it takes is a little brainstorming, says Orsini. One of her brides, a wine enthusiast, collected wine corks, made a slit lengthwise, and slid the card into the cork. Joan Glenn of Six Degrees of Celebration in Westfield (908-928-9093; 6degreesofcelebration.com) included the lyrics of a couples’ song around the edge of their place cards.

Utilize your surroundings. For an outdoor wedding, couples are taking advantage of the environment around them. “We’ve been doing a lot of weddings that are off-premises or outside,” says Kristin Rockhill of Details of I Do in Princeton (609-799-7168; detailsofido.com). “If there’s a really pretty tree, we can tack the cards to the tree trunk.” The idea is fresh and original, and there’s no need for an extra table.

Make it multi-purpose. Another trend is to double the place card as a wedding favor. Boxed chocolates or votive candles with nametags attached are good picks, but make sure the guests are able to put their favor down before cocktail hour, says Glenn. The table can be reused at the reception, too. Rockhill suggests putting a riser under the table and using it to put the cake in the center. This way, there are two uses for one gorgeous presentation.

Do it yourself. Take a trip to the fabric store for fun DIY ideas. Orsini says finding trays and filling them with gems to put the cards in is a great way to create color and texture. Guest boards are popular, too, and easy to make. Rockhill suggests taking a large corkboard, covering it in fabric, framing it, and hanging the place cards with pearl pins. Boards also can be done as one large, framed place card by a calligrapher, but last-minute changes to names or table assignments are difficult to make, says Glenn.