At the basic level, place cards are straightforward and functional, at the extreme they are another design element of your well-coordinated wedding. Whichever way works for you, you can do them for cheap. Here are some tips for actually creating your place cards on a budget, then see some quick thoughts on cheap and stylin’ ways to incorporate your place cards into your overall décor below.

1. Go for simple—Print your names and table assignments on standard cream or white place cards purchased with your coupons or rewards points from Michael’s, A.C. Moore, Jo-Ann, Hobby Lobby, Office Depot or Staples. While your actual place cards will be very simple, you can make them unique and complementary of your wedding style by the way you display them!
2. Browse the oh-so-cute designer place cards in the craft store wedding aisle. These adorable place cards are a little more interesting because they have designs on each card, but they are also smaller, which may cause more headaches with your printer. Score these very stylish cards for cheap by using your 40% off coupons at each of the main craft store chains, or use the rewards you’ve earned through the A.C. Moore, Office Depot or Staples rewards programs. Love these!!
3. Skip the traditional table tent version and instead print or write your name on the cardstock of your choice and cut into several rectangles of the same size. This is a great way to save on the cost of place card kits if you are going to display the seating cards in a unique way that doesn’t involve them standing on a table.
4. Incorporate the seating assignments into your favors—this could reduce the cost of place cards to something as simple as a label with a name and table number stuck to your favor or a small tag printed with each guest’s name and table number that is tied with a ribbon to your favor.
5. Don’t have place cards at all—instead go with a seating map at the front of the room with table assignments. You can do this in a diagram or simply by listing guests' names in alphabetical order with their table number next to it. This alternative saves you on the cost and headache of place cards altogether, and the large seating map or table listing can be created very cost effectively—have it printed on large foam board (something that will stand on an easel) by a local printer OR fashion something together using your artsy DIY skills—table listings, for example, could be printed on cardstock, attached to pretty paper, and artfully arranged on a large board.
6. Switch it up by using dark or color paper instead of white or cream. Using a chocolate brown with silver writing or a bright pink with black print makes the cards unique and interesting without being cost prohibitive. We’ve found the easiest way to do this is to buy your perfect paper either as cardstock at Staples or Office Depot or scrapbooking paper at a craft store using your coupons.  Then use that friend or relative with some serious handwriting skills (start playing nice with that great aunt of yours!) to write out the table assignments on each card. If you are using light ink on a dark background, the cards can be handwritten with a gel pen or you can print dark ink on a lighter background using your home printer and then just cut the paper in even rectangles to create elegant, flat place cards. (If being hand-addressed by a friend, it’s easier to cut them first!) Using this method, you could even select two shades of cardstock to show meal preferences. Although this could be slightly more labor intensive, in the end, you have interesting and original place cards for a few bucks!

Remember—no matter how you do this, you are most likely going to need supplies, so plan your vision ahead of time, and then use your craft store coupons, discount codes, or office supply rewards to get good deals on each necessary material. With a few strategically used coupons, you could absolutely design some fantastic place cards for less than $10-15!

Then, of course, the flip side to the actual creation of the place cards is how to display them. Sometimes the most frugal way to go is have a simple and classic flat or folded place card and find a stunning way to arrange and present them to guests. Remember when you are creating that perfect look and display for your place cards that they do need to be functional! Place cards show guests where they are seated and tell servers which entrée your guests have pre-selected, if applicable. So above all make sure your cards are legible and easy for guests to find (arrange in alpha order) so they can grab their card, admire the fabulous display you have arranged, and then get to their seats for the festivities ahead!

1. Position place cards in a row or circle around a flower arrangement. Just have your florist make a pretty arrangement or two with your colors (you can ask for these to be smaller than your centerpieces or with cheaper flowers, since really, guests will only see them for a minute or two) or make this the arrangement that you or a family member does yourself using some of our money-saving tips here. Simple. Easy. Beautiful.
2. Arrange your cards on a pillow of carnations or a bed of rose petals. The simplicity of this display is absolutely stunning, and it is surprisingly affordable—ask your florist for quotes on each or go to your local supermarket and buy a bouquet or two of roses that a wedding helper can gently break into petals.
3. Display place cards on trays filled with an element of your wedding theme or style- like sand for beach wedding or pebbles for an outdoor earthy wedding or incorporate your colors with natural touches like coffee beans or split peas. This is such a cool look and so budget-friendly! Buy simple wooden, metal or glass rectangular trays at places like Target, Hobby Lobby or Amazon (remember- they don’t need to be fancy since you’ll just be covering them) and then hit up the grocery store with coupons or swing by Lowe’s and Home Depot for some patio sand and pebbles (they often have coupons available too).You could always add a strategically placed flower or candle to the arrangement as a finishing touch to the overall look. Tip: Can’t find the perfect tray for a good price? Look at picture frames instead! You can definitely get frames on sale for some awesome prices, so look for some with deep edges that you can lay flat and use as a tray. Since you are covering it anyway, no one will know the difference!  
4. Make a clothesline. Hang a long pretty ribbon, twine, or string and then clip each place card to the string with a clothespin (available in bags for $2 or $3 at craft stores). This is such a fun detail for a casual outdoor wedding. Love it!
5. Get pretty with ribbons. Ribbons are so easy (and cheap)  but have such a huge impact! Some very simple and inexpensive ways to incorporate ribbon into your place card display: Buy a few yards of the ribbon of your choice at a craft store (and hey- why not use your coupons? This will make your final cost only a few dollars!) and then be creative! You could simply cut the ribbon into strips the width of your table and lay or pin your flat place cards on the strips of ribbon, or attach the ribbon horizontally to the wall and hang folded place cards over the ribbon.  Beautiful!

When it comes right down do it, place cards are pretty straightforward…names on paper with a table assignment, but combine that with some frugal, creative, and just plain fabulous display techniques and the possibilities are endless!!