Pew cards are used to invite special guests, family and friends to sit in reserved pews at the front of the church. These cards may be mailed with the invitations or they may be sent after each special guest has returned their response cards.

At the ceremony, guests should hand their pew cards to the usher before they are seated. This way, the usher will be sure to seat the guest in the proper spot. Inform your ushers of the people to be seated in the reserved rows just in case your guests forget to bring their cards to the ceremony.

Wording
Wording of the pew cards can be as simple as writing "Within the Ribbon." This will indicate that the guest can sit anywhere within a designated area marked by a ribbon. If you plan to assign your guests to specific pews, then your pew cards should read as follows:

Mr. & Mrs. Alan Smith
United Methodist Church
Bride's Section
Pew Number __________

OR

Alan and Tammy
United Methodist Church
Groom's Section
Pew Number __________

Necessary or Not?
Pew cards are completely optional. They are most commonly used by those having very large weddings. By using pew cards you can be sure that the people who are most dear to you are seated closest during your ceremony.

If you are on a tight budget, printing formal pew cards may be an expense you can do without. Instead of using pew cards simply place a ribbon on the first few pews or mark them with a "RESERVED" sign. You should then notify the people that you want to sit in these rows individually or by word of mouth. Again, let your ushers know who is supposed to sit in the reserved pews so that there is no confusion.