Inspired by an entry on Style Me Pretty, I had to make coat check tags. I just had to. I’ve repeatedly referred to it as the most frivilous of all my DIY projects, but I am not ashamed. They’re sweet and lovely and simply must be.

I designed the template in InDesign using our invitation typefaces (Adobe Garamond and Burgues) and colors, and I printed them on Eames Furniture Weave 120#, the same paper I’m using for the escort cards and table numbers. I went ahead and printed them on my Canon PIXMA, as I have other things for the wedding. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well that little guy does. This coming from the girl who wanted to have every single little thing letterpressed… It’s a big step for me to use an inkjet for these things. I cut the 96 of them down to size with my Marvy rotary trimmer.

In the middle, I swapped out the cutting cartridge for the perforation blade so the ticket can be easily torn off the bottom. Then they were ready for the X-acto and metal ruler to trim the corners.

My mom let me borrow her Crop-a-dile for setting the eyelets. Between the X-acto and Crop-a-dile, my hand was a permanent claw by the time I finished these up at 3:30 a.m., but it was so worth it and way quicker than setting the eyelets by hand. If you use eyelets very often, I highly recommend shelling out the $30 for one of these. The 1/8″ eyelets I used came in a package of 100 for $3 at Michaels.

Then I just trimmed and knotted the embroidery floss. A couple of photos of a finished tag…

That same night, I also printed off some coordinating signs for reserved seats, the escort card board, and the card trunk.

If you’re interested in the InDesign CS3 template for the tags or the signs, leave a comment or send me an email and I’d be more than happy to send them along!

I love all of the creative ways people display their escort and seating cards. Like a ribbon board (how cute are all the buttons scattered at the bottom?), via Snippet & Ink.

I’ve seen several hanging from branches, but this one on Style Me Pretty has some really cool, unique little hangers.

These are actually favors, but I really wanted to do this for seating cards — until I realized how many of my guests would be traveling. Via MSW.

This would be perfect for a summer wedding. And that calligraphered mini-scroll? Love that. Via Snippet & Ink.

How fun to do some on black paper and others on white. From Kristina, with calligraphy by the wonderful Jenna Hein.

Another Snippet & Ink find. This would be fun with an ecclectic mix of playing cards from multiple decks too.

Something like this, with the names attached, would be a great way to combine sweet treats and escort cards. Via MSW.

The classic favor seating card never goes out of style. Also via MSW.

I really, really, really adore this. But of course I do, seeing as I have a deep affinity for cards. Found on Oh So Beautiful Paper, and designed by one of my most admired letterpress shops, the Lettered Olive.

One of my all-time favorite ideas: using fabric swatches. The best part about this is that the fabric swatch matched the napkins on that table. From Details Details.

I decided a couple of months ago that I wanted to do a magnet or pin board. A pin board I could make out of cork and cover with fabric (like the one above), or I could make a magnet board with magnetic paint. In either case, I could frame it — either by finding a cool frame or making one out of moulding from the hardware store. Something like the ones in Shabby Vintage Mom’s shop.

I could attach the escort cards with a variety of bird magnets, to tie into our “fly away with us” quasi-theme. Kikkerland makes two sets (I know this because I have some from each set); one is sold at Anthropologie, the other I can get through the Arbor in Salem. These would double as favors, or I could keep them and cover every square inch of my fridge after the wedding.

And then the board itself would go on display on a metal floor easel. I’m sure I could find a place for this in my house after the wedding, no?

We aren’t doing a served dinner, but I think there’s a certain amount of comfort in knowing where you’re going to sit. There’s none of that “cool kids table” awkwardness, and you can seat people together who have never met but would enjoy each other’s company. And I know that I, for one, would love to have a calligraphered escort or seating card for my memories box.

Another SMP real wedding. Insanely gorgeous photos and details.

More inspiration for the style of photography I want and the feelings it should evoke. Via Style Me Pretty.

From the Style Me Pretty Unique Weddings Week, Myra & Matt. How much do I love that cake topper? That’s right, a lot.

Also from SMP, this couple wins my award for Placecard Holders I Want to Steal.