diff --git a/docs/docs/components/card.md b/docs/docs/components/card.md
index 222e5b8d5..54b8ba6e3 100644
--- a/docs/docs/components/card.md
+++ b/docs/docs/components/card.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ icon: card
 ---
 
 ```html {.example}
-<wa-card with-image with-footer class="card-overview">
+<wa-card class="card-overview">
   <img
     slot="image"
     src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1559209172-0ff8f6d49ff7?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=500&q=80"
@@ -61,10 +61,10 @@ Basic cards aren't very exciting, but they can display any content you want them
 ### Card with Header
 
 Headers can be used to display titles and more.
-If using SSR, you need to also use the `with-header` attribute to add a header to the card (if not, it is added automatically).
+If using SSR, you need to also use the `ssr-slots` attribute to add a header to the card (if not, it is added automatically).
 
 ```html {.example}
-<wa-card with-header class="card-header">
+<wa-card ssr-slots="header" class="card-header">
   <div slot="header">
     Header Title
     <wa-icon-button name="gear" variant="solid" label="Settings"></wa-icon-button>
@@ -97,10 +97,10 @@ If using SSR, you need to also use the `with-header` attribute to add a header t
 ### Card with Footer
 
 Footers can be used to display actions, summaries, or other relevant content.
-If using SSR, you need to also use the `with-footer` attribute to add a footer to the card (if not, it is added automatically).
+If using SSR, you need to also use the `ssr-slots` attribute to add a footer to the card (if not, it is added automatically).
 
 ```html {.example}
-<wa-card with-footer class="card-footer">
+<wa-card ssr-slots="footer" class="card-footer">
   This card has a footer. You can put all sorts of things in it!
 
   <div slot="footer">
@@ -125,10 +125,10 @@ If using SSR, you need to also use the `with-footer` attribute to add a footer t
 ### Images
 
 Card images are displayed atop the card and will stretch to fit.
-If using SSR, you need to also use the `with-image` attribute to add an image to the card (if not, it is added automatically).
+If using SSR, you need to also use the `ssr-slots` attribute to add an image to the card (if not, it is added automatically).
 
 ```html {.example}
-<wa-card with-image class="card-image">
+<wa-card ssr-slots="image" class="card-image">
   <img
     slot="image"
     src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1547191783-94d5f8f6d8b1?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=400&q=80"
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ Use the `size` attribute to change a card's size.
 
 ```html {.example}
 <div class="wa-stack">
-<wa-card with-footer size="small">
+<wa-card ssr-slots=footer size="small">
   This is a small card.
 
   <footer slot="footer" class="wa-flank">
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ Use the `size` attribute to change a card's size.
   </footer>
 </wa-card>
 
-<wa-card with-footer size="medium">
+<wa-card ssr-slots=footer size="medium">
   This is a medium card (default).
 
   <footer slot="footer" class="wa-flank">
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ Use the `size` attribute to change a card's size.
   </footer>
 </wa-card>
 
-<wa-card with-footer size="large">
+<wa-card ssr-slots=footer size="large">
   This is a large card.
 
   <footer slot="footer" class="wa-flank">
diff --git a/docs/docs/experimental/ssr.md b/docs/docs/experimental/ssr.md
index c9aa68d67..75f116d1d 100644
--- a/docs/docs/experimental/ssr.md
+++ b/docs/docs/experimental/ssr.md
@@ -65,6 +65,35 @@ All Web Awesome components that get rendered for SSR will receive the `did-ssr`
 
 This can help if you need some styling prior to the element connecting.
 
+### The `ssr-slots` Attribute
+
+When using certain slots in a component rendered through SSR, you may need to use the `ssr-slots` attribute
+to declare which slots have content.
+
+E.g. when using a `<wa-card>` component without SSR, you can do this:
+
+```html
+<wa-card>
+  <img src="cat.jpg" slot="image">
+  <header slot=header>Card Header</header>
+  Card body
+  <footer slot=footer>Card Footer</footer>
+</wa-card>
+```
+
+However, when server-side rendering the very same card, you need to duplicate the information about what is in the slots in the `ssr-slots` attribute:
+
+```html
+<wa-card ssr-slots="image header footer">
+  <img src="cat.jpg" slot="image">
+  <header slot=header>Card Header</header>
+  Card body
+  <footer slot=footer>Card Footer</footer>
+</wa-card>
+```
+
+We are hoping to eventually be able to remove this requirement.
+
 ### Timing Issues
 
 Before setting any properties on your frontend, it is important to first wait for the element to be defined and then wait for its first update to complete.
@@ -116,4 +145,4 @@ Here are some known issues and things we're still working on.
 - `@shoelace-style/localize` (our localization library) has no way to set a language currently so it always falls back to `en`.
 - `<wa-icon>` has no fallback if there's no JS besides a blank `<svg>`. There's perhaps some backend mechanisms we can use to fetch. But requires altering APIs. Should also have a way to set height / widths, but we don't want to increase pain for SSR users.
 - `<wa-qr-code>` QR Code will not error on the backend and will render a blank canvas at the appropriate size, but will not render the canvas until the client component connects.
-- `setBasePath` and `kit codes` may need reconfiguring to work with SSR.
\ No newline at end of file
+- `setBasePath` and `kit codes` may need reconfiguring to work with SSR.
diff --git a/src/components/card/card.css b/src/components/card/card.css
index 6943729ad..a2b081f3c 100644
--- a/src/components/card/card.css
+++ b/src/components/card/card.css
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 }
 
 .image,
-:host(:not([with-image])) .header {
+:host(:not([ssr-slots~='image'])) .header {
   border-start-start-radius: var(--inner-border-radius);
   border-start-end-radius: var(--inner-border-radius);
 }
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@
   padding: var(--spacing);
 }
 
-:host(:not([with-header])) .header,
-:host(:not([with-footer])) .footer,
-:host(:not([with-image])) .image {
+:host(:not([ssr-slots~='header'])) .header,
+:host(:not([ssr-slots~='footer'])) .footer,
+:host(:not([ssr-slots~='image'])) .image {
   display: none;
 }
diff --git a/src/components/card/card.ts b/src/components/card/card.ts
index 1b8655c8a..c71d848ef 100644
--- a/src/components/card/card.ts
+++ b/src/components/card/card.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { html } from 'lit';
 import { customElement, property } from 'lit/decorators.js';
+import { classMap } from 'lit/directives/class-map.js';
 import WebAwesomeElement from '../../internal/webawesome-element.js';
 import sizeStyles from '../../styles/utilities/size.css';
 import styles from './card.css';
@@ -31,21 +32,29 @@ export default class WaCard extends WebAwesomeElement {
   /** The component's size. Will be inherited by any descendants with a `size` attribute. */
   @property({ reflect: true, initial: 'medium' }) size: 'small' | 'medium' | 'large' | 'inherit' = 'inherit';
 
-  /** Renders the card with a header. Only needed for SSR, otherwise is automatically added. */
-  @property({ attribute: 'with-header', type: Boolean }) withHeader = false;
-
-  /** Renders the card with an image. Only needed for SSR, otherwise is automatically added. */
-  @property({ attribute: 'with-image', type: Boolean }) withImage = false;
-
-  /** Renders the card with a footer. Only needed for SSR, otherwise is automatically added. */
-  @property({ attribute: 'with-footer', type: Boolean }) withFooter = false;
+  static SSR_SLOTS = ['image', 'header', 'footer'];
 
   render() {
     return html`
-      <slot name="image" part="image" class="image"></slot>
-      <slot name="header" part="header" class="header"></slot>
+      <slot
+        name="image"
+        part="image"
+        class="${classMap({ image: true, 'has-slotted': this.hasSlotted.has('image') })}"
+        @slotchange=${this.slotUpdate}
+      ></slot>
+      <slot
+        name="header"
+        part="header"
+        class="${classMap({ header: true, 'has-slotted': this.hasSlotted.has('header') })}"
+        @slotchange=${this.slotUpdate}
+      ></slot>
       <slot part="body" class="body"></slot>
-      <slot name="footer" part="footer" class="footer"></slot>
+      <slot
+        name="footer"
+        part="footer"
+        class="${classMap({ footer: true, 'has-slotted': this.hasSlotted.has('footer') })}"
+        @slotchange=${this.slotUpdate}
+      ></slot>
     `;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/internal/converters.ts b/src/internal/converters.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..68e3410a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/internal/converters.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import type { ComplexAttributeConverter } from 'lit';
+
+export const setConverter: ComplexAttributeConverter<Set<string> | null, Set<string> | null> = {
+  fromAttribute(value): Set<string> | null {
+    if (value === null) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    return new Set(value.split(/\s+/));
+  },
+  toAttribute: value => {
+    if (value === null) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    return [...(value as Set<string>)].join(' ');
+  },
+};
diff --git a/src/internal/webawesome-element.ts b/src/internal/webawesome-element.ts
index 12ebb0e24..850356e42 100644
--- a/src/internal/webawesome-element.ts
+++ b/src/internal/webawesome-element.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { CSSResult, CSSResultGroup, PropertyDeclaration, PropertyValues } f
 import { LitElement, defaultConverter, isServer, unsafeCSS } from 'lit';
 import { property } from 'lit/decorators.js';
 import componentStyles from '../styles/shadow/component.css';
+import { setConverter } from './converters.js';
 
 // Augment Lit's module
 declare module 'lit' {
@@ -40,6 +41,20 @@ export default class WebAwesomeElement extends LitElement {
   @property() dir: string;
   @property() lang: string;
 
+  @property({
+    reflect: true,
+    attribute: 'ssr-slots',
+    converter: setConverter,
+  })
+  ssrSlots: Set<string> | null = null;
+
+  /**
+   * All slots whose slotted status we need to know on the root for SSR.
+   * Subclasses are expected to override this with their own list of slots.
+   */
+  static SSR_SLOTS: string[] = [];
+  protected hasSlotted = new Set();
+
   /**
    * One or more styles for the element’s own shadow DOM.
    * Shared component styles will automatically be added.
@@ -72,6 +87,13 @@ export default class WebAwesomeElement extends LitElement {
 
   internals: ElementInternals;
 
+  connectedCallback(): void {
+    super.connectedCallback();
+
+    let Self = this.constructor as typeof WebAwesomeElement;
+    this.ssrSlots = new Set(Self.SSR_SLOTS.filter(name => this.slotUpdate(name)));
+  }
+
   attributeChangedCallback(name: string, oldValue: string | null, newValue: string | null) {
     if (!this.#hasRecordedInitialProperties) {
       (this.constructor as typeof WebAwesomeElement).elementProperties.forEach(
@@ -169,6 +191,44 @@ export default class WebAwesomeElement extends LitElement {
     return this.hasStatesSupport() ? this.internals.states.has(state) : false;
   }
 
+  protected async slotUpdate(target: Event | HTMLSlotElement | string) {
+    await this.updateComplete;
+
+    let slot = target;
+
+    if (target instanceof Event) {
+      slot = target.target as HTMLSlotElement;
+    } else if (typeof target === 'string') {
+      slot = this.shadowRoot!.querySelector(`slot[name="${target}"]`) as HTMLSlotElement;
+    } else {
+      slot = slot as HTMLSlotElement;
+    }
+
+    if (!slot) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const slotName = slot.name;
+    const hasSlotted = slot.assignedNodes().length > 0;
+
+    let previousHasSlotted = this.hasSlotted.has(slotName);
+
+    if (previousHasSlotted === hasSlotted) {
+      let ssrSlots = new Set(this.ssrSlots);
+
+      if (hasSlotted) {
+        ssrSlots.add(slotName);
+      } else {
+        ssrSlots.delete(slotName);
+      }
+
+      this.ssrSlots = ssrSlots;
+    }
+
+    slot.classList.toggle('has-slotted', hasSlotted);
+    return hasSlotted;
+  }
+
   getComputed(prop: PropertyKey) {
     let value = this[prop as keyof this];
     if (value !== 'inherit') {