Place Cards: Clever Ideas for Entertaining

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! And now that we’re joyfully gathering once again, we’d like to share some clever place card ideas for all those who love entertaining. Being a Southern Living Inspired Community, we’re all about creating warm environments that foster friendly gatherings, interactions, and celebrations. So whether you’re having people over for the holidays or any other special event, try some of these fun place card ideas to make your tabletop terrific.

Scrabble tiles

Do you have an old Scrabble board game lying around? Here’s a fun way to use it for more than your impressive vocabulary words. Use the tiles and the racks to spell out your guest’s name at each place setting.

Pretty as a picture

Take a look at your guest’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Find an attractive photo of them, or better yet, one of you and that person together. Print it out and neatly write their name underneath. Place a folded napkin on the plate, with the photo arranged neatly on top of that. Or, if you have the table space, put the picture in a small frame.

Fun foods

Write your guest’s name on a small, triangular-shaped piece of construction paper and tape it to the top of a toothpick, much like a flag. Then, place the other end of the toothpick in fun food, like a brightly colored macaron, an iced donut with sprinkles, or a soft cookie. Put it on a small plate at the top of the place setting — and don’t be surprised if that fun food disappears before the entree is served. 

Mini houseplants

Small potted succulents and cacti work best for this, but air plants in geometric containers are another great option. Tuck a little card with your guest’s name in the plant and place it near the top of the plate. 

Fruit and veggies

For a fresh look, use a lemon, artichoke, pear, or apple for each place setting. Cut a thin slice in the top of the fruit or vegetable with a knife, and slide in a handwritten place card with the guest’s name. 

Go natural

For a nature-themed table, use colorful maple or another sturdy, dried leaf (evergreen ones from a Magnolia tree also work well.) Another option is to use small round flat stones that are dark in color. Neatly write your guest’s name on the leaves or stones with a permanent gold or silver marker. Yet another appealing option is a pine cone with a tucked-in card showing the guest’s name.

Seashells

Not sure what to do with all those shells you’ve collected over the years? Repurpose them as place cards for an easy-breezy or mildly nautical theme. Neatly write your guest’s name or initials outside or inside the shell using a dark permanent marker or glitter pen. 

Origami 

Anything goes with this one, but a popular option is the beautiful, quintessential crane. You don’t have to be an origami expert to fold paper into a masterpiece. There are plenty of online videos to show you how it’s done, and it’s easier than you think. 

In our next blog article, we’ll be highlighting some deliciously fun cocktails to enjoy this holiday season…so stay tuned. But in the meantime, and in true Harbor Club-style, we wish you a joyful and memorable time with friends and family. 

PS – If you’re in town for the holidays (or any time of the year), be sure to stop by. We’d love to meet you and give you a tour of our beautiful golf community on Lake Oconee. We look forward to meeting you soon.