Dried Citrus Place Cards for Weddings: The Guide

A dried citrus place card is a slice of orange, lemon, or grapefruit, dehydrated by hand, printed with each guest's name. Set on the plate or the glass, it marks the seat at the table, scents the room, and stays afterward as a little botanical keepsake. It is a decorating idea that is graphic, natural, and delicious all at once, born from the light of the orchards of Provence and the Mediterranean.

Over the past few months, more and more couples have been looking for an alternative to cardboard place cards. The dried citrus slice ticks every box: it is beautiful, sincere, plastic-free, and it tells a story. Let's look at how it is personalized and why it wins so many hearts.

What is a dried citrus place card?

A dried citrus place card is a real slice of fruit, Menton orange, lemon, or pink grapefruit from Corsica, slowly dried to reveal its sunburst structure and its amber hue. Onto this natural surface goes a name, a table number, or a short note. Every piece is unique, just like the fruit it comes from.

The magic lies in the contrast: the graphic beauty of the cut slice meets the warmth of a handwritten name. Placed on a white plate or tucked into a napkin fold, it instantly draws the eye. Nothing artificial, nothing superfluous, just a fruit of the South turned into a piece of table decor.

Unlike cardboard, dried citrus offers a double use. It decorates first, then follows the guest home as a gift. You can hang it, set it beside a candle, or even taste it. That second life is what sets it apart from the usual disposable place cards.

Why choose dried orange or lemon as a place card?

You choose dried orange or lemon because it brings together three rare qualities in a single object: decoration, fragrance, and keepsake. The slice dresses the table with its warm tones, releases a delicate citrus note, and stays with you after the party. A cardboard place card does none of these three things.

A natural decoration that is 100% biodegradable

Each slice is dried by hand, with no additives and no plastic. When the meal is over, nothing ends up in the bin: the fruit can be composted, gifted, or eaten. For an eco-conscious wedding, it is a consistent detail, from the menu right through to the seating plan. Nature stays at the heart of the celebration.

A keepsake the guest takes home

The place card becomes a favour: everyone leaves with their own slice personalized with their name. Many couples tell us their guests keep them for a long time, set on a shelf or pressed in a notebook. A small piece of the day that keeps living long after dessert.

Varieties from the South: orange, lemon, grapefruit

We work with Menton orange, lemon, and pink grapefruit from Corsica. Orange brings warm, sunny tones, lemon a bright tang, and grapefruit a soft pink that is perfect for a romantic palette. We often mix them to create rhythm and colour along the full length of the tables.

How do you personalize a dried citrus place card?

Personalization happens in two ways: through professional printing in high-quality pigment ink, included with our place cards, or by hand for couples who love the gesture. The surface of the slice takes a calligraphy pen just as well as a gold marker. It is up to you to choose between the consistency of print and the charm of the handmade.

Professional printing, crisp and lasting

Each slice receives the guest's name in pigment ink, precise and hard-wearing. You send us your list, and we print it in an elegant font matched to your theme. Ideal when the list is long and you want a uniform result, legible from every seat, without spending your evenings writing.

Handmade calligraphy

Fancy adding your own touch? The dried surface lends itself well to writing. A calligraphy pen or a gold marker is all you need to letter names and table numbers. It makes for a friendly workshop to share with loved ones the night before the wedding, a moment of preparation as sweet as the result on the table.

Name, table number, or a short message

Each slice welcomes a name, a table number, or a short message. Some couples add the date, a thank-you, or a feeling. You can also mix and match: names on the plates, numbers on the buffet. Discover our dried lemon name tags and citrus labels to vary the formats and uses.

How many place cards should you plan for, and for what uses?

Plan for one slice per guest, plus a little margin for touch-ups and photos. Our place cards are ordered in lots of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 150, starting from €18. This flexibility suits an intimate wedding just as well as a large reception, or a corporate event.

Beyond the seating plan

Dried citrus is not only for marking seats. You can slip it onto a buffet, set it beside the cocktails, or work it into a wider table decoration. For inspiration, read our guide on dehydrated citrus slices in wedding and cocktail decoration.

Practical and stable all evening long

Once dried, the slices are stable on the table and easy to handle. They do not wilt like a fresh flower and are not troubled by the heat of a lively room. You can prepare them in advance, transport them without stress, and lay them out calmly on the morning itself.

Frequently asked questions

Are dried citrus place cards really edible?

Yes, they are real dehydrated citrus slices, so they are edible. Many guests taste them at the end of the meal or steep them in a hot drink at home. They remain above all decorative and meant to be kept as a keepsake, but there is nothing to stop you from eating them.

What is the difference between dried orange and dried lemon for a place card?

Dried orange offers warm, amber, very sunny tones, perfect for an autumnal or bohemian mood. Lemon brings a bright, tangy clarity, ideal in summer. Pink grapefruit adds a soft, romantic nuance. Many couples mix them to bring rhythm and colour to the table.

Can you write the names on the dried citrus yourself?

Yes, the dried surface takes handwriting well. A calligraphy pen or a gold marker gives an elegant result. Our place cards also include professional printing in pigment ink if you prefer a uniform, crisp finish, especially when the guest list is long.

Are dried citrus place cards eco-friendly?

Yes, they are 100% natural and biodegradable, dried by hand with no plastic and no additives. When the party is over, each slice can be composted, gifted, or eaten, with no needless waste. It is a sincere alternative to the cardboard place card, in keeping with an eco-conscious wedding, from the seating plan through to the guest favours.

How long does it take to receive personalized place cards?

Every order is prepared by hand from your list of names, so you need to allow time for drying, printing, and shipping. We recommend ordering several weeks before the wedding. Get in touch ahead of time so we can set the timeline together and confirm your personalization with peace of mind.

The essentials

The dried citrus place card brings together everything a wedding is looking for: natural beauty, real personalization, and a keepsake you get to keep. Menton orange, lemon, or pink grapefruit from Corsica, each slice carries a name and tells the story of your day. Discover our personalized Dried Citrus Place Cards, add a personalized confetti sachet as a guest favour, and explore the whole Bespoke — Weddings & Events collection. For more decorating ideas, browse our guide on table decoration with dried citrus and chocolate.