Looking for some creative help - Wedding décor edition

My daughter is getting married in 6 weeks. The reception is a humble affair, nothing fancy, but not a barn reception. 
We are thinking about table numbers. I could do something simple, but my daughter and I want something unique. Currently I have two ideas, maybe 2 and a half.  

Idea number one: 
Guests enter and see a board or something on a stand that tells them that they are at table Nurburgring or Road America. When they get to the table there is a topo print of said racetrack.

Of course the issue is very few of the guests would even be able to name a famous racetrack so I'd put the name of the race track on the print. 
Meh

Idea 1.5 would be similar, but instead of race tracks there would be famous geographic features. "I'm at the Grand Canyon table, look like you're sitting on Mt. Everest". I'd still have to add the name of the feature on the print.  

Idea 2:
The guest enters the reception room and sees a board on a stand telling everyone what table they are in. The tables wouldn't be numbered, but it would be a leaf. "I'm at Aspen, you're at Live Oak". When they get to the tables there would be something like this below, but instead of the number there would be a leaf from said tree or bush, laminated in a printed stand.

I like this idea the most because there would be a leaf on the board that they see when they enter, and they can simply google "aspen leaf" to see what one looks like. I see it as a conversation starter and engaging time killer while guests wait for the wedding party to get there.   

I'm looking for feedback on my ideas, especially the leaf idea, and any creative ideas that you have.  

I think you are making it too complicated, but what do i know?

Is there any kind of theme, or special color, or flower already decided upon?  How many tables are you working with?

First of all, I wish to extend my congratulations to your daughter.

Having worked *many* weddings, the guests will have no issues starting conversations with one another since they presumably are there because they (at minimum) know your daughter to some degree.

Is there a theme to the wedding that could be incorporated into the numbering / labeling of tables?

Could do something cute like where your daughter and her partner met, first date, proposal location names, or basic info like first jobs etc, gives little background to them and the relationship. Still would probably need to also have the answer like with the race tracks, but its cute details about the couple.

Weddings here are a bit different and typically a buffet style for food serving so there tends to be a 'game' to decide what table is going to eat first, so this little tidbits could also be useful for that (no idea if this happens anywhere else or just here in small town Saskatchewan), but could probably incorporated into any kind of trivia during speeches or even just for the MC to help kill time if something happens and the wedding party is late.

If I can impart one piece of advice to the soon to be newly weds from a couple that was celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary "Never stop dancing"

I'll lean toward, "this is too complicated."  Since seating will be assigned, going against the common urge to sit wherever, then I would make the seating assignment simple otherwise the common urge will win out as you give the guest the easy excuse of, "how was I to know?"  

If you want, sure, have a scavenger hunt.  Maybe people find things and bring the back to their seat.  But, I wouldn't make the seat itself the "hunt".  

This is not the thread title I expected on this forum and I am charmed to read it!!

I'd go for a simplified version of 1.5 or 2, where you have a mainstream geological feature or plant leaf or Eiffel Tower/Washington Monument/Seattle Space Needle photo - but it's clearly labeled.

Best of all is if you can tie it to things that are important to the newlyweds, like labeled photos of where they met, honeymoon destination, shared hobbies, etc. That also makes it easy to group the various guests.

Sounds like a fun reception!

For idea 2, have an outline graphic of the leaf on the seating chart and put a big cut out of the leaf on the table center piece so the guests can easily match them.

My sister did a similar thing with Beatles albums at her wedding. At the entrance was a table with guests' names on a card with an album cover and thank you note on the back, and the tables had a matching bigger album cover card in the center.

Thanks all, that's why I posted this hear. I know that I tend to go down a rabbit hole and never stop.  
I'll run it by my daughter and see what she thinks. I like the idea of making it having something to do with their history.  

There will be about 17-20 tables, no theme really. There are colors that I will work into the table identifiers, whatever they are.  

I don't recall ever going to a wedding where tables were assigned at the reception.  Outside of the main table at the front of the room where the wedding party sat, everyone else just sat where they wanted, whether it was with friends or family members or whatever.  If there's 20 tables or less it's not like some people will be trapped in a far corner where they need binoculars.

Tagging on to what j_tso said, if you're gonna use images put them on the seating chart. Then folks can take a picture if they need to for reference.

Wife and I got reception'd at a pretty small place and it was pretty close to full.  We assigned tables.  Worked out fine.  

As my old boss would say, don't over berkeley the monkey.  Not everyone is a racetrack fan or a tree fan.  

KISS isnt just for the bride and groom.

The reason for assigned tables is because it's a smaller venue, and will be full. If a family comes not earlt, they might be split up

The reason for assigned tables is because it's a smaller venue, and will be full. If a family comes not earlt, they might be split up

Congratulations to your family!

My suggestion would be to keep the tables easy to identify with numbers, and place the numbers in some logical order. 

The centerpieces and other decor can be unique to each table and related to their history, or other areas of interest to add a personal touch without making it a challenge for people to locate their seat. 

The day is already going to be a blur, so don't over complicate what can be kept simple. Very few people will remember the place cards, unless they can't find their seat.