Name cards

Name cards can be used as escort cards and as place cards.
Escort cards are cards with guest name and table assignment, that are placed at the entrance of the venue; the guest picks up the card with their name, and is “escorted” to their table. No actual “seat” at that table is assigned, they can sit wherever they please at that table.
Place cards by comparison, are cards containing the name of the guest, and sometime their meal of choice (if required). These cards are placed at each place setting. The guests will find their table assignment by consulting a seating chart, and will find their place assignment by looking for their place cards once they reach their assigned table.

Another common way to direct the guests to their table, or to mark their assigned seat, is to have the names printed on a gift tag attached to their favor, which is either displayed at the entrance of the venue (escort favor tags) or at their table (place favor tags)