At virtually every wedding there is a need for some form of escort card system to help direct guests to their dinner tables. The standard white tent cards will certainly get the job done, but they are not particularly creative. These are some great ideas for escort cards for winter weddings that will be sure to make a fantastic first impression on your guests.

Snowflakes are one of the best winter motifs. They can be the basis for your crystal bridal jewelry, an accent on your wedding invitations, and they also make terrific escort cards. Buy wooden snowflakes which are painted white (or plain ones and paint them yourself); they are readily available at craft shops. Write the name and table number for each guest on one of the snowflakes with a metallic paint marker. The final step is to hang them on a small tree at the entrance to your reception location. If you are having a holiday wedding, the snowflakes would be wonderful on a small Christmas tree. For a Winter Wonderland themed affair, create a tree from branches which are decorated with strands of clear glass beads, crystal teardrops, and other glittery accents.

Votive candles can be used to create unique and inviting escort cards for a winter wedding. Choose pretty glass votive holders and either write directly on them with a paint marker or tie a cute little tag to each one with the name and table information for each guest. A small tea light inside will make the candle display safer, as it will keep the flames well contained within the holder. Ask someone to be in charge of lighting them at the last minute right before the guests enter. The candles can be arranged in a long row or in several rows with lots of space around them to make them easy for the guests to pick up without touching the other candles. Talk about a glowing entrance!

If you like the idea of the traditional tent style escort cards, they can still be dressed up with a wintry twist. Tie a small tartan bow to the top of each card for a bit of holiday cheer. It is super easy to do yourself with basic tent cards; simply punch two holes in the front of the card near the top edge, and put a short piece of ribbon through the front of the holes, cross it in the back, then bring the tails back out of the hole to create a little bow. For a New Year’s wedding with plenty of sparkling crystal jewelry and a silver embroidered bridal gown, substitute a shimmering silver ribbon for the tartan.

A really fun idea is to greet your guests with escort cards made from a favorite winter time treat, such as gingerbread men. Line the little guys up and tie a small banner around the neck of each one with the guest’s name and table. For even more fun, decorate the gingerbread men to look like brides and grooms. Your guests will be certain to enjoy this tasty twist on the traditional Shush Escorts!

There are numerous additional winter motifs which lend themselves to wedding escort cards. A die cut pair of mittens, one labeled with the name and the other with the table, can be tied together with a piece of red yarn and laid flat or pinned to a clothesline. Berries, birds, and snowmen are other fun motifs to experiment with. There are so many creative ideas for winter wedding escort cards that it would almost be a shame to stick with the plain white ones!