There is a time and a place for every effort under the sun.  At times, place cards will be appropriate on your tea table.   With place cards you can:

1. Relieve your guests from the guess-work of where to sit.
2. Give your event a friendly but dressy and prepared-for feel.
3. Show your thoughtfulness as a hostess, choosing the best for your guests based on previous relationships, personalities, and the possibility of new friendships.

Your place cards can be simply made with your printer or own beautiful handwriting and some pretty paper, as illustrated in the picture above. Yet creative, theme-based place card holders can add a whimsical touch to your event. They can also double as the party favors. Here are some examples of my favorites:

• Want teapot placecards?  These cuties will have your guests talking for hours to come!
• For an Asian-themed tea, use these coin purses in contemporary colors as place card holders AND your party favor.
• Silver Teapot Place Card Holders (set of 6): simple, elegant, and can be used over and over again.
• Bring flowers, place cards and favors all in one with this bud vase and place card holder.
• Tie your guest’s name to a cookie cutter in your theme with an organza or grosgrain ribbon.
• Give a favor and a place card in one!  These plantable seed cards are perfect for a garden tea party.

Intimate is never more than eight, so try to keep your sit-down event to 4-8 seated guests per table.

A Little Place Card History

Have you ever seen a place tile?   These free standing ceramic tiles arrive in a set of 6 tiles in a beautiful blue box. These elegant tiles can be used as name plates for seating around your holiday table…or to identify items on your buffet…or wines at your wine tasting.  Children love to use the dry erase marker to write the names and then erase and change the names.   These beautiful and unique place cards last for generations to come!  http://www.tournesolgifts.com/category/tabletop-place-tiles-40

Here is a bit of interesting info on the place card (place tile) history:

Virginia Robinson, a 1920’s socialite was often called “The First Lady of Beverly Hills”.  She hired a Tiffany’s craftsman to create for her a personalized porcelain place card.  Although common in Europe, this was the first of its kind in America.  This place card was delicately marked by a single hand painted rose along with Virginia Robinson’s signature in raised gold.

According to source, Virginia used it every night for dinner at home and at every gala, event or dinner party she attended.  To accept any of her many invitations, Virginia’s butler would hand deliver her place card as proof of her acceptance and to secure her place at the dining table.

This  place card graces the pages of our history books and can still be viewed at the Robinson home on the National Historic Register tour in Beverly Hills.

Source:  Modern Antiques for the Table:  A Guide to Tabletop Accessories of 1890-1940   by Sheila Chefetz, Risa Palazzo