Escorts cards vs. place cards

We only did escort cards and didn't have assigned seats at the table. We used photos for our escort cards. There were 2 copies of a photo of us with our guest and one had their table # on the back (which they kept) and the other, they signed and put in our guestbook.

I will have a seating chart and might look at the the place card idea. I like the idea of the place card since it's more easier for guests to see where they are sitting along with the seating chart.

I have a seating chart that will have the table numbers and everyones name under them that is sitting at that particular table. I have an example of the design but it will be as I described it and not with the alphabet and have people's names under the letter of the last name and then their table number beside it. Mine is more simple as I don't want to confuse anyone! I have already found someone to make this for me also for a really good price!

We havn't decided yet if we are having table cards as well. I would like to have them to have them all in a specific spot for the same reason as Valerie, if they have dietary restrictions then it will be easier on the kitchen staff to know where they are seated.

I'm doing both, mainly because many of my guests have dietary restrictions. So I want them to stay in an assigned seat to make things easier on the kitchen/caterer