How to Make DIY Clay Place Cards for Weddings: Step-by-Step Guide

In the weeks leading up to our wedding, I spent time creating these DIY clay place cards and they became one of my favourite handmade details from the day. Wedding place cards are such a small part of the table styling, but they can make a huge difference to how personal and considered everything feels.

I wanted handmade wedding place cards that felt unique and meaningful, while also doubling up as wedding favours guests could take home as a keepsake. Each clay name card was slightly different, which is part of what I loved most. No two were the same, making them a truly personal on-the-day wedding detail.

If you’re planning a wedding and searching for DIY wedding ideas, wedding crafts or handmade table décor, these clay place cards are an easy and rewarding project to try. They’re perfect for couples looking to add a personal, creative touch to their wedding tables without anything feeling over-styled or complicated.

Below, I'm sharing exactly how to make clay place cards, step by step.

What You’ll Need

Before you start, gather everything together. You don’t need much:

• Air-dry clay

• Rolling pin

• A craft knife

• Post-it note (or paper template)

• A small cylindrical object (rolling pin works perfectly)

• Cookie or letter stamping set

• Straw or circular tool

• Fine grit sandpaper

• Dried or fresh flowers

Step-by-Step: How to Make DIY Clay Place Cards

01. Roll Out the Clay

Start with a piece of air-dry clay and roll it out on a clean surface until it’s about 0.5cm thick.

This thickness is ideal: sturdy enough to stand up once dry, but still soft and easy to work with. Try not to overwork the clay.

02. Cut Out Your Shape

Using a craft knife, cut out a square from the clay. I used a post-it note as a guide, roughly 9.5 x 9.5cm, but you can adjust the size or shape.

Squares give a clean, modern look, but rectangles, or organic shapes work beautifully too. This is your chance to make them feel personal to your style or event.

03. Shape the Clay

Carefully lift the cut piece of clay and mould it over a rolling pin or another small cylindrical object.

This creates the soft curve that allows the place card to stand on the table. Make sure it feels balanced and even on both sides. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, little variations add charm.

04. Stamp the Names

Using a cookie or letter stamping set, stamp each guest’s name into the clay. Remember to order the letters in reverse so they read correctly once dry.

I really enjoyed this part of the process, as it allowed me a moment to think about each guest as I was making them.

05. Create the Flower Hole

At the top of the place card, create a hole around 1cm in diameter. A straw works perfectly, but a circular tool or even a craft knife will do. This hole is where you’ll later place your dried or fresh flowers.

06. Let the Clay Set

Leave the clay to set for at least 10 minutes before gently removing it from the mould.

Once removed, place the pieces somewhere safe and allow them to dry fully. This usually takes a couple of days, depending on the clay and room temperature.

07. Sand the Edges

When the place cards are completely dry, lightly sand down any rough edges or imperfections using fine grit sandpaper.

It’s best to do this outside and wear a mask, as clay dust can be fine.

08. Add Flowers

Finally, arrange your flowers.

I used a selection of dried flowers with a mix of different flowers and stems, which worked beautifully and meant I could prepare everything well in advance. Fresh flowers also look lovely if you’re assembling them closer to the day.

Making these in the weeks before the wedding became a lovely little ritual. It was nice to slow down and make something for all the people we care about. Seeing guests take their name card home at the end of the night made it all feel worthwhile.