Dinner Party Place Cards and Menu Cards You Can Print Tonight

A dinner table with place cards feels different. The guests know where to sit, the host looks organized, and a plain table becomes a tablescape with almost no extra cost.

The trouble is that place cards sold in stores come twelve to a pack with one design, and menu cards cost more than the dessert. So I designed a set that prints at home in three color variants.

What is inside

• Tent place cards, 6 per page, 3.5 by 3 inches flat
• Fill-in menu cards, 2 per page, 4 by 9 inches, with lines for appetizer, soup or salad, main course, sides and dessert
• 3 color variants: Berry and Gold, Evergreen and Gold for holidays, and Navy and Blush for elegant dinners
• Dashed cut lines, dotted fold lines and a how-to-print sheet
• 8 pages in total

Three table ideas

• Thanksgiving: print the Evergreen and Gold place cards on cream cardstock and tuck a sprig of rosemary beside each name.
• Birthday dinner: Berry and Gold place cards with a handwritten menu that lists the birthday person's favorite dishes.
• Winter supper: Navy and Blush cards with a short, formal menu stood in a small frame in the middle of the table.

How to print and fold

Print at 100 percent on white cardstock. Cut on the dashed outline, fold on the dotted line, and the card stands by itself. Both halves have a name line, one rotated, so guests across the table can read the name too. Write names with a fine marker or a gel pen.

Menu cards

The menu card has two lines per course, enough for a dish and a note like gluten free or contains nuts. Cut the page down the center and trim around each card. Lean one against a glass jar, a napkin or a candle holder. Put one near the buffet and one at the head of the table.

For hosts who plan ahead

Print a full sheet of blank place cards and keep a stack in a drawer. When someone invites themselves to dinner, you are ready in minutes.

A few seating tips

Seat people who have not met next to someone who loves to talk, and split couples across the table. Print an extra place card or two for surprise guests. If you have allergies at the table, write them on the menu line, such as contains nuts, so guests can see it without asking. For large gatherings, set the menu card at the buffet instead of every seat, and keep place cards for the main table.