Escort cards or place cards are an easy way to personalise your wedding - without too much effort! So if you're looking for an simple wedding DIY with a big impact, then these nature-inspired place cards are just the thing. From shells for a beach bash, to leaves for an autumn wedding, whether your big day will be refined or rustic, we’ve selected some place card ideas with an organic touch to spark some inspiration.

All you need for these DIY escort cards is a little time, decent handwriting - and maybe some foraging skills! (And you can always hire a calligrapher!) Oh and FYI, many of these ideas double up as great little wedding favours too!

Calligraphy by Meagan Tidwell Design | Image by Ali Harper Photography

First things first, what's the difference between Place Cards and Escort Cards?

You can find our full blog post here but here's our quick guide:

• Place cards list your guest names only. They're placed at each seat to let guests know where they will sit.
• Escort cards list your guest names and table number. They're typically placed at a table of escort cards that guests will use to determine where they will sit.

Leaf place card by Papercasestudio

Monstera leaf place card by Hawaii Calligraphy

1. Leaves for Escort Cards

Leaves bring a pop of nature to your tables, and greenery can be easily incorporated into any wedding style. Chose from an array of options such as fresh green leaves, tonal autumnal leaves or interesting shapes such as ferns or monstera leaves.

Rock place card by Golden Hour Paper

Stone place card by Sarah Ann Design

2. Rocks and Stones for Escort Cards

Rocks or slate make great place cards alternatives! Collect rocks from your garden or local beach and pretty it up with some paint (use masking tape to get a really clean line!) - look for stones with flat sides to make your DIY script easier to do!

Wood slice place settings from I Do Wedding Stationery

Engraved wooden slice by SprinkleMoreJoy

3. Wood Slices for Place Cards

Wooden place cards add the perfect rustic touch to your table, perfect if you're having an outdoor or woodland-themed wedding. You can order custom coasters and give them to your guests as favours too.

Herb escort card by Studio Blush | Image by Jessica Haley

Image by onelove photography

4. Place Cards with Herbs

A bundle of herbs dresses up even the most simple place card! Potted or individual stems, adding herbs make a wonderful escort or place card idea with a fresh, fragrant and aromatic twist.

Dried flower bud escort cards by Lumaca Paper

Dried flower place cards by Wish Upon A Calligraphy

5. Floral Place Cards

Welcome each guest to their place at the table with a flower. Whether it's freshly picked blooms or little bundles of dried flowers (top tip: use dried flowers so you can prepare ahead of time), florals make the most darling escort card or place card idea.

Pinecone place card by Side Street Designs

Pinecone escort cards by The Happy Hour Hostess | Image by Emily Gibby Photography

6. Pinecone Place Cards

Whether displayed in their natural state or decorated with faux snow and glitter, pinecones make effortless festive DIY place cards for a winter wedding.

Sea glass escort cards with calligraphy by Nob Hill Jane

Sea Glass place cards by LoveAlwaysCards

7. Sea Glass Name Cards

Such an elegant take on natural wedding decor, sea glass is a gorgeous place card alternative. There are lots of great shops on Etsy who can work their magic with calligraphy to make these into beautiful take-home trinkets.

Calligraphy by Kristen Henderson | Photo by Leila Brewster

Driftwood escort cards by All Who Wander Events via I Do Y'all

8. Driftwood Escort Cards

If you can’t go to the ocean, bring the ocean to you. Beachy meets boho, driftwood place cards sets the tone for a laid-back sea-inspired soiree.

Shell calligraphy by Krisanna Elizabeth Co.

Capiz shell calligraphy place cards by truly.madly.ink

9. Shell Place Cards

Want to evoke a sense of the sea at your beachy wedding? Then shell place cards are just the ticket. Choose from a variety such as pearly oyster shells, blue-hued mussel shells, or chic transparent Capiz shells. A Fabulous Fete has a great DIY to make your own here, alternatively, there are lots of great Etsy stores who specialise in beautiful calligraphy shells.

Image by PMA Photography

Cactus escort card design by Floriography | Image by Rachel Havel 

10. Succulents and Cacti for Name Cards

Cacti and succulents add a cool, contemporary touch to your wedding decor. Seat your guests with the cutest little pots they can take home after or get creative with a cactus paddle. This tutorial will help you out!

Pumpkin place cards by truly.madly.ink

11. Fruit & Veg Escort Cards

Fruit and even veg makes a brilliant budget-friendly and innovative place card holder. Try gold-dipped pears, pumpkins or apples as a luxurious place card or what about zesty lemons, limes or oranges for a summer bash? Dried citrus fruit slices are also a great DIY option.

Wedding place card seed packet by Wonder Floral

12. Seed Packs and Plantable Place Cards

Please be seeded! For those of you planning a garden or nature-inspired wedding, these seed packets may just be the perfect inspiration for your escort or place cards. They make sustainable favours too as guests can take their place cards home and plant them.

Boho feather place cards via Coco and Confetti

Photo by Babooche Calligraphy

13. Feather Place Cards

Gold-dipped or au naturel, feathers are a boho wedding staple, so it’s only fitting that you use them as escort cards for your eclectic celebration.

Tips for Making DIY Escort Cards from Nature

• Make sure to get them from a sustainable source - collect stones over time from several sources, don't steal 200 from one spot, you never know what you might be disturbing!
• Add little custom printed tags or pretty calligraphy to have them looking picture perfect
• Gold sharpie or white chalk markers are ideal for writing on many of these items. You can find them in your local craft shop
• Try out a few versions ahead of your wedding, so you'll know what works best, some leaves are better dried, others need to be fresh, so make sure you've done a test run!

Check out more of our favourite wedding décor ideas and trend posts...