Pick one theme, take as many names as you have tables, and print one card per table. This page gives you five themes with ten names each, no repeats, in an order that works for any table count from 4 to 14. For 80 guests at 8 seats you need 10 tables and 12 cards, so 3 pages of 4-up cards.
Table names do one small job. They help guests find their seat and give the room a little personality. A good set is short, readable and different from each other. A bad set is clever on paper and confusing at a table.
Name list for ten tables in five themes
Each list is already ordered so the strongest, most distinct names come first. For 6 tables, take the first six. For 10, take all ten. For up to 14 tables, the extra four names sit below the table.
Table: Ten table names for each of five themes, sorted A to Z for a chart that reads in order (our estimate for card fit, assumptions below)
| Theme | Names for 10 tables, A to Z | Longest name | Largest font that fits one line on a 4 in card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Aster, Bluebell, Cosmos, Dahlia, Foxglove, Larkspur, Marigold, Peony, Poppy, Zinnia | Bluebell, 8 characters | 63 pt |
| Cities | Austin, Kyoto, Lisbon, Marrakech, Montreal, Nashville, Paris, Santorini, Savannah, Vienna | Nashville, 9 characters | 56 pt |
| Herbs | Basil, Cardamom, Clove, Fennel, Juniper, Mint, Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Thyme | Rosemary, 8 characters | 63 pt |
| Stars | Andromeda, Aquila, Cassiopeia, Draco, Lyra, Orion, Pegasus, Polaris, Sirius, Vega | Cassiopeia, 10 characters | 50 pt |
| Story | Concert Night, First Apartment, First Date, First Hello, Holiday Table, Moving Day, Our Dog, Road Trip, The Proposal, Today | First Apartment, 15 characters | 33 pt |
Checks run on all 70 names on this page: no name appears twice, even across themes. Font fit assumes a 4 in wide card with 0.25 in of margin on each side, so 3.5 in of line, and an average letter width of half the font size. Real fonts differ, so test one card before you print them all.
Copy a list as plain text and paste it into your own card file or a message to your partner.
Extra names for 11 to 14 tables
Bigger rooms need a few more names. These continue each theme without repeating anything above, and they keep the same rule: short and easy to say.
| Theme | Names 11 to 14 |
|---|---|
| Flowers | Camellia, Freesia, Lupine, Iris |
| Cities | Florence, Seattle, Oslo, Havana |
| Herbs | Dill, Tarragon, Chive, Lavender |
| Stars | Rigel, Altair, Cygnus, Perseus |
| Story | Late Night Diner, Rainy Walk, Sunday Pancakes, The Porch |
The longest name here is Late Night Diner at 16 characters, which fits one line at 31 pt on a 4 in card, by the same assumption as above.
Which theme fits you
Choose by what your guests will do with the name. These are our own rules, not etiquette.
- Flowers suit a garden, a spring date or a floral centerpiece. Pair them with a color palette so the card and the arrangement match.
- Cities work when you have traveled together or guests come from far away. Seat each group at a place they know.
- Herbs fit a farm table, a dinner-led reception or an outdoor setup with potted plants on each table.
- Stars suit evening receptions with candles and dim light. The names are short and easy to read.
- Story is the most personal theme. Each name is a moment from your relationship, and guests start conversations about them. Swap in your own. If you have no dog, change Our Dog to something real.
If you cannot decide, send two lists to your partner and ask for a pick. The share box on this page has ready-made wording for that.
How many cards to print
First find your table count. Divide guests by seats per table and round up, then add two spare cards. Spares cover a typo, a smudge and a table you add the week before.
Table: Guests, tables and cards to print at 8 and 10 seats per table (our estimate, assumptions below)
| Confirmed guests | Tables at 8 seats | Tables at 10 seats | Cards to print at 8 seats (with 2 spares) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| 80 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| 112 | 14 | 12 | 16 |
| 150 | 19 | 15 | 21 |
Assumptions: one card per table, two spares, and no head table. Add one card for a head, sweetheart or kids table.
Use your confirmed RSVP number, not the number you invited. If you are still drafting that count, the guest list template keeps it in one place.
Card layout to print
Table cards come in a few sizes. The right one is the size that gives you the fewest pages and still reads from across a table. Here is how many of each fit on a US Letter sheet.
Table: Cards per Letter page and pages needed for 12 cards (our estimate, assumptions below)
| Flat card size | Cards per Letter page | Pages for 12 cards (10 tables and 2 spares) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 x 5 in | 4 | 3 |
| 4 x 4 in | 4 | 3 |
| 4 x 6 in | 2 | 6 |
| 5 x 7 in | 2 | 6 |
Assumptions: Letter paper is 8.5 x 11 in, and we leave 0.25 in unprintable on every edge, so the usable area is 8 x 10.5 in. We count the better of portrait and landscape for each size and ignore cut gaps. A4 paper changes the counts slightly, so test one page.
A 3 x 5 card folded in half makes a tent that stands about 2.5 in tall. A 4 x 6 card makes a tent about 3 in tall. For a standing card, print the name on the top half upside down so it reads correctly from the front.
Steps
- Count your tables: confirmed guests divided by seats per table, rounded up.
- Choose a theme and copy its list from the table above.
- Check the longest name against the font fit column, then pick a font size.
- Print one test card at actual size and tape it to a wall to read from across the room.
- Print the full set, plus two spares, then cut and fold.
- Add the same names to your seating chart, then place one card on every table.
Ways to display table names
Pick one style and use it everywhere. Mixed styles look accidental.
| Display style | Best when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Folded tent card | You want the cheapest, simplest set | Cards tip over near tall centerpieces |
| Framed card | You print on thicker paper and want a finished look | You need as many frames as tables |
| Card in a stand or stick | Centerpieces are low and the table is crowded | Stakes can drop on a windy patio |
| Name on a mirror or sign | One feature wall lists every table | Guests still need a name at each table |
Height matters more than style. A card that sits below the plates disappears. Put it on a stand or against a centerpiece so it is above plate level. If you are also printing place cards, keep the table name card larger so the two do not blend. See the place cards page for sizing there.
Three mistakes, each with a fix
Names that look alike. Pegasus and Perseus, or Savannah and Santorini, sit side by side and confuse people. Fix: put names with the same first letter at opposite ends of the room. Alphabetical order often does this for you.
Too long for the card. A long name forces a tiny font, and a tiny font is useless from three steps away. Fix: check the longest name in the font fit column before you commit, and cut the name if it needs two lines.
Names the chart does not list. Guests look at the chart, then wander. Fix: print the same names on the seating chart. An alphabetical seating chart pairs well with a name list that is also alphabetical, and the seating chart tool gives you a sheet to print.
Make it match the rest of the day
Table names can carry your theme, but they work best as a quiet detail. If you want a short hashtag or a monogram on the back of each card, the hashtag generator gives you options that fit on one line.
Printing costs little, but cards add up with frames and stands. Put the table names in your budget under decor. The wedding budget planner shows where a small line like this sits among the big ones, and the printables hub lists the other sheets you can print for the reception.
Send the list to your partner
Choose two themes, copy their lists, and send something like this:
I picked two table name themes for our reception. Look at both, choose one, and I will print the cards this week.
Save for later
Pin it now and find it when you are ready to plan.
Questions people ask
How do you choose wedding table names?
Pick one theme that means something to both of you, then take the first names on that list. Choose names that are short, easy to read from a few steps away and different from each other. Avoid two names that start with the same letter on neighboring tables, so guests never mix them up.
How do you display wedding table names?
Use a tent card, a framed card or a small sign on a stand, and put it at eye level on the table. Pick one style for every table. Guests find their seat from the chart, then look for the name, so the card should be readable from the aisle without leaning in.
How do you print wedding table names?
Set your printer to Letter or A4 at actual size, with fit-to-page turned off. Print one test card first and check the cut size. For ten tables, 4-up cards on 3x5 stock need 3 pages, including 2 spares, so you have room to reprint a smudged card.
Can wedding table names replace table numbers?
Yes, as long as the seating chart lists the same names and guests can tell which table is which. Many couples keep small numbers on the back of each card for the caterer and staff. Names are warmer, but numbers are faster for servers, so give the venue a list that has both.
How many table names do I need?
One per table, plus two spares. Divide your confirmed guest count by seats per table and round up. For 80 guests at 8 seats that is 10 tables, so you print 12 cards. A head table, a kids table or a sweetheart table each count as one more name.
Should the head table have a name too?
It can, and a distinct name helps guests find it. Many couples use a word outside the theme, such as the couple's names or a short label like Home. Whatever you choose, keep the card the same size as the others so the room looks planned rather than patched.
Updated by bigdaydesk editorial
Keep planning
-
Bridal shower outfit for bride: what to wear by theme
Outfit guidance by theme, season and venue for the bride and for guests, with rules to follow instead of products.
-
Outfit guidance by theme and night plan
Outfit guidance by theme and night plan for the bride and the group, with rules to follow instead of products.
-
Read hashtag generator
Builds hashtags from the two names in six patterns and flags ones that read oddly when the words run together.
-
Curious about 10k wedding budget?
Mid-small total: how a $10,000 budget moves when guests go from 70 to 50, and where the cushion sits.
