diff --git a/docs/changes.rst b/docs/changes.rst
index 2a6438a3..bf0d29ea 100644
--- a/docs/changes.rst
+++ b/docs/changes.rst
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ v0.6
   `Benjamin Bossan`_.
 - Fix: skops persistence now also works with many functions from the
   :mod:`operator` module. :pr:`287` by `Benjamin Bossan`_.
+- ``add_*`` methods on :class:`.Card` now have default section names (but
+  ``None`` is no longer valid) and no longer add descriptions by default.
+  :pr:`321` by `Benjamin Bossan`_.
 
 v0.5
 ----
diff --git a/skops/card/_model_card.py b/skops/card/_model_card.py
index 42931031..5ab5b25f 100644
--- a/skops/card/_model_card.py
+++ b/skops/card/_model_card.py
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ def _add_single(self, key: str, val: str | Section) -> Section:
 
     def add_model_plot(
         self,
-        section: str | None = None,
+        section: str = "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot",
         description: str | None = None,
     ) -> Self:
         """Add a model plot
@@ -805,11 +805,10 @@ def add_model_plot(
 
         Parameters
         ----------
-        section : str or None, default=None
-            The section that the model plot should be added to. If you're using
-            the default skops template, you can leave this parameter as
-            ``None``, otherwise you have to indicate the section. If the section
-            does not exist, it will be created for you.
+        section : str (default="Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot")
+            The section that the model plot should be added to. By default, the
+            section is set to fit the skops model card template. If you're using
+            a different template, you may have to choose a different section name.
 
         description : str or None, default=None
             An optional description to be added before the model plot. If you're
@@ -821,18 +820,8 @@ def add_model_plot(
         -------
         self : object
             Card object.
-        """
-        if section is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                section = "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
-            else:
-                msg = NEED_SECTION_ERR_MSG.format(action="add a model plot")
-                raise ValueError(msg)
-
-        if description is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                description = "The model plot is below."
 
+        """
         self._add_model_plot(
             self.get_model(), section_name=section, description=description
         )
@@ -864,17 +853,19 @@ def _add_model_plot(
         self._add_single(section_name, section)
 
     def add_hyperparams(
-        self, section: str | None = None, description: str | None = None
+        self,
+        section: str = "Model description/Training Procedure/Hyperparameters",
+        description: str | None = None,
     ) -> Self:
         """Add the model's hyperparameters as a table
 
         Parameters
         ----------
-        section : str or None, default=None
-            The section that the hyperparamters should be added to. If you're
-            using the default skops template, you can leave this parameter as
-            ``None``, otherwise you have to indicate the section. If the section
-            does not exist, it will be created for you.
+        section : str (default="Model description/Training Procedure/Hyperparameters")
+            The section that the hyperparameters should be added to. By default,
+            the section is set to fit the skops model card template. If you're
+            using a different template, you may have to choose a different section
+            name.
 
         description : str or None, default=None
             An optional description to be added before the hyperparamters. If
@@ -888,17 +879,6 @@ def add_hyperparams(
             Card object.
 
         """
-        if section is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                section = "Model description/Training Procedure/Hyperparameters"
-            else:
-                msg = NEED_SECTION_ERR_MSG.format(action="add model hyperparameters")
-                raise ValueError(msg)
-
-        if description is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                description = "The model is trained with below hyperparameters."
-
         self._add_hyperparams(
             self.get_model(), section_name=section, description=description
         )
@@ -924,7 +904,7 @@ def _add_hyperparams(
 
     def add_get_started_code(
         self,
-        section: str | None = None,
+        section: str = "How to Get Started with the Model",
         description: str | None = None,
         file_name: str | None = None,
         model_format: Literal["pickle", "skops"] | None = None,
@@ -936,11 +916,11 @@ def add_get_started_code(
 
         Parameters
         ----------
-        section : str or None, default=None
-            The section that the code should be added to. If you're using the
-            default skops template, you can leave this parameter as ``None``,
-            otherwise you have to indicate the section. If the section does not
-            exist, it will be created for you.
+        section : str (default="How to Get Started with the Model")
+            The section that the code for loading the model should be added to.
+            By default, the section is set to fit the skops model card template.
+            If you're using a different template, you may have to choose a
+            different section name.
 
         description : str or None, default=None
             An optional description to be added before the code. If you're using
@@ -984,17 +964,6 @@ def add_get_started_code(
         if (not file_name) or (not model_format):
             return self
 
-        if section is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                section = "How to Get Started with the Model"
-            else:
-                msg = NEED_SECTION_ERR_MSG.format(action="add get started code")
-                raise ValueError(msg)
-
-        if description is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                description = "Use the code below to get started with the model."
-
         self._add_get_started_code(
             section,
             file_name=file_name,
@@ -1157,7 +1126,7 @@ def add_table(
 
     def add_metrics(
         self,
-        section: str | None = None,
+        section: str = "Model description/Evaluation Results",
         description: str | None = None,
         **kwargs: str | int | float,
     ) -> Self:
@@ -1167,11 +1136,10 @@ def add_metrics(
 
         Parameters
         ----------
-        section : str or None, default=None
-            The section that the metrics should be added to. If you're using the
-            default skops template, you can leave this parameter as ``None``,
-            otherwise you have to indicate the section. If the section does not
-            exist, it will be created for you.
+        section : str (default="Model description/Evaluation Results")
+            The section that metrics should be added to. By default, the section
+            is set to fit the skops model card template. If you're using a
+            different template, you may have to choose a different section name.
 
         description : str or None, default=None
             An optional description to be added before the metrics. If you're
@@ -1186,20 +1154,8 @@ def add_metrics(
         -------
         self : object
             Card object.
-        """
-        if section is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                section = "Model description/Evaluation Results"
-            else:
-                msg = NEED_SECTION_ERR_MSG.format(action="add metrics")
-                raise ValueError(msg)
 
-        if description is None:
-            if self.template == Templates.skops.value:
-                description = (
-                    "You can find the details about evaluation process and "
-                    "the evaluation results."
-                )
+        """
         self._metrics.update(kwargs)
         self._add_metrics(section, description=description, metrics=self._metrics)
         return self
diff --git a/skops/card/_templates.py b/skops/card/_templates.py
index d30a39a7..e343c427 100644
--- a/skops/card/_templates.py
+++ b/skops/card/_templates.py
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ class Templates(Enum):
 SKOPS_TEMPLATE = {
     "Model description": CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
     "Model description/Intended uses & limitations": CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
-    "Model description/Training Procedure": "",
+    "Model description/Training Procedure": CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
     "Model description/Training Procedure/Hyperparameters": CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
-    "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot": "The model plot is below.",
+    "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot": CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
     "Model description/Evaluation Results": CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
     "How to Get Started with the Model": CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
     "Model Card Authors": (
diff --git a/skops/card/tests/test_card.py b/skops/card/tests/test_card.py
index 82043bba..7a3dfb27 100644
--- a/skops/card/tests/test_card.py
+++ b/skops/card/tests/test_card.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 from skops import hub_utils
 from skops.card import Card, metadata_from_config
 from skops.card._model_card import (
+    CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER,
     SKOPS_TEMPLATE,
     PlotSection,
     Section,
@@ -153,9 +154,9 @@ class TestAddModelPlot:
     def test_default(self, model_card):
         result = model_card.select(
             "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
-        ).content
+        ).format()
         # don't compare whole text, as it's quite long and non-deterministic
-        assert result.startswith("The model plot is below.\n\n<style>#sk-")
+        assert result.startswith("<style>#sk-")
         assert "<style>" in result
         assert result.endswith(
             "<pre>LinearRegression()</pre></div></div></div></div></div>"
@@ -164,7 +165,7 @@ def test_default(self, model_card):
     def test_no_overflow(self, model_card):
         result = model_card.select(
             "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
-        ).content
+        ).format()
         # test if the model doesn't overflow the huggingface models page
         assert result.count("sk-top-container") == 1
         assert 'style="overflow: auto;' in result
@@ -174,8 +175,8 @@ def test_model_diagram_false(self):
         model_card = Card(model, model_diagram=False)
         result = model_card.select(
             "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
-        ).content
-        assert result == "The model plot is below."
+        ).format()
+        assert result == CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER
 
     def test_model_diagram_str(self):
         # if passing a str, use that as the section name
@@ -187,11 +188,11 @@ def test_model_diagram_str(self):
         result = model_card.select(
             "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
         ).format()
-        assert result == "The model plot is below."
+        assert result == CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER
 
         # now check that the actual model diagram is in the other section
         result = model_card.select(other_section_name).format()
-        assert result.startswith("The model plot is below.\n\n<style>#sk-")
+        assert result.startswith("<style>#sk-")
         assert "<style>" in result
         assert result.endswith(
             "<pre>LinearRegression()</pre></div></div></div></div></div>"
@@ -200,29 +201,34 @@ def test_model_diagram_str(self):
     def test_other_section(self, model_card):
         model_card.add_model_plot(section="Other section")
         result = model_card.select("Other section").content
-        assert result.startswith("The model plot is below.\n\n<style>#sk-")
+        assert result.startswith("<style>#sk-")
         assert "<style>" in result
         assert result.endswith(
             "<pre>LinearRegression()</pre></div></div></div></div></div>"
         )
 
-    def test_other_description(self, model_card):
+    def test_with_description(self, model_card):
         model_card.add_model_plot(description="Awesome diagram below")
         result = model_card.select(
             "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
-        ).content
+        ).format()
         assert result.startswith("Awesome diagram below\n\n<style>#sk-")
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("template", CUSTOM_TEMPLATES)
-    def test_custom_template_no_section_raises(self, template):
+    def test_custom_template_no_section_uses_default(self, template):
         model = fit_model()
         model_card = Card(model, template=template)
-        msg = (
-            "You are trying to add a model plot but you're using a custom template, "
-            "please pass the 'section' argument to determine where to put the content"
+        model_card.add_model_plot()
+        result = model_card.select(
+            "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
+        ).format()
+
+        # don't compare whole text, as it's quite long and non-deterministic
+        assert result.startswith("<style>#sk-")
+        assert "<style>" in result
+        assert result.endswith(
+            "<pre>LinearRegression()</pre></div></div></div></div></div>"
         )
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=msg):
-            model_card.add_model_plot()
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("template", CUSTOM_TEMPLATES)
     def test_custom_template_init_str_works(self, template):
@@ -244,26 +250,31 @@ def test_default_template_and_model_diagram_true(self, model_card):
         model_card = Card(model, model_diagram=True)
         result = model_card.select(
             "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
-        ).content
+        ).format()
         # don't compare whole text, as it's quite long and non-deterministic
-        assert result.startswith("The model plot is below.\n\n<style>#sk-")
+        assert result.startswith("<style>#sk-")
         assert "<style>" in result
         assert result.endswith(
             "<pre>LinearRegression()</pre></div></div></div></div></div>"
         )
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("template", CUSTOM_TEMPLATES)
-    def test_custom_template_and_model_diagram_true(self, model_card, template):
-        # in contrast to the previous test, when setting model_diagram=True but
-        # using a custom template, we expect an error during initialization of
-        # the model cord
+    def test_custom_template_and_model_diagram_true_uses_default(
+        self, model_card, template
+    ):
+        # when using a custom template and not indicating a section, use the
+        # default section
         model = fit_model()
-        msg = (
-            "You are trying to add a model plot but you're using a custom template, "
-            "please pass the 'section' argument to determine where to put the content"
+        Card(model, template=template, model_diagram=True)
+        result = model_card.select(
+            "Model description/Training Procedure/Model Plot"
+        ).format()
+        # don't compare whole text, as it's quite long and non-deterministic
+        assert result.startswith("<style>#sk-")
+        assert "<style>" in result
+        assert result.endswith(
+            "<pre>LinearRegression()</pre></div></div></div></div></div>"
         )
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=msg):
-            Card(model, template=template, model_diagram=True)
 
     def test_add_twice(self, model_card):
         # it's possible to add the section twice, even if it doesn't make a lot
@@ -294,8 +305,6 @@ class TestAddHyperparams:
     @pytest.fixture
     def expected(self):
         lines = [
-            "The model is trained with below hyperparameters.",
-            "",
             "<details>",
             "<summary> Click to expand </summary>",
             "",
@@ -314,7 +323,7 @@ def expected(self):
         major, minor, *_ = sklearn.__version__.split(".")
         major, minor = int(major), int(minor)
         if (major >= 1) and (minor >= 2):
-            del lines[10]
+            del lines[8]
 
         table = "\n".join(lines)
         # remove multiple whitespaces and dashes, as they're not important and may
@@ -344,7 +353,7 @@ def test_other_section(self, model_card, expected):
         result = _strip_multiple_chars(result, "-")
         assert result == expected
 
-    def test_other_description(self, model_card, expected):
+    def test_with_description(self, model_card, expected):
         model_card.add_hyperparams(description="Awesome hyperparams")
         result = model_card.select(
             "Model description/Training Procedure/Hyperparameters"
@@ -352,16 +361,19 @@ def test_other_description(self, model_card, expected):
         assert result.startswith("Awesome hyperparams")
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("template", CUSTOM_TEMPLATES)
-    def test_custom_template_no_section_raises(self, template):
+    def test_custom_template_no_section_uses_default(self, template, expected):
         model = fit_model()
         model_card = Card(model, template=template)
-        msg = (
-            "You are trying to add model hyperparameters but you're using a custom "
-            "template, please pass the 'section' argument to determine where to put "
-            "the content"
-        )
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=msg):
-            model_card.add_hyperparams()
+        model_card.add_hyperparams()
+        result = model_card.select(
+            "Model description/Training Procedure/Hyperparameters"
+        ).format()
+
+        # remove multiple whitespaces and dashes, as they're not important and may
+        # differ depending on OS
+        result = _strip_multiple_chars(result, " ")
+        result = _strip_multiple_chars(result, "-")
+        assert result == expected
 
     def test_add_twice(self, model_card):
         # it's possible to add the section twice, even if it doesn't make a lot
@@ -397,16 +409,14 @@ class TestAddMetrics:
     def test_default(self, model_card):
         # by default, don't add a table, as there are no metrics
         result = model_card.select("Model description/Evaluation Results").format()
-        expected = "[More Information Needed]"
+        expected = CONTENT_PLACEHOLDER
         assert result == expected
 
     def test_empty_metrics_table(self, model_card):
         model_card.add_metrics()
         result = model_card.select("Model description/Evaluation Results").format()
         expected = (
-            "You can find the details about evaluation process and the evaluation "
-            "results.\n\n"
-            "| Metric   | Value   |\n"
+            "| Metric   | Value   |\n"  # fmt: skip
             "|----------|---------|"
         )
         assert result == expected
@@ -419,8 +429,6 @@ def test_multiple_metrics(self, model_card):
         )
         result = model_card.select("Model description/Evaluation Results").format()
         expected = (
-            "You can find the details about evaluation process and the evaluation "
-            "results.\n\n"
             "| Metric      |   Value |\n"
             "|-------------|---------|\n"
             "| acc         |     0.1 |\n"
@@ -432,30 +440,35 @@ def test_multiple_metrics(self, model_card):
     def test_other_section(self, model_card):
         model_card.add_metrics(accuracy=0.9, section="Other section")
         result = model_card.select("Other section").format()
+        # fmt: off
         expected = (
-            "You can find the details about evaluation process and the evaluation "
-            "results.\n\n"
             "| Metric   |   Value |\n"
             "|----------|---------|\n"
             "| accuracy |     0.9 |"
         )
+        # fmt: on
         assert result == expected
 
-    def test_other_description(self, model_card):
+    def test_with_description(self, model_card):
         model_card.add_metrics(accuracy=0.9, description="Awesome metrics")
         result = model_card.select("Model description/Evaluation Results").format()
-        assert result.startswith("Awesome metrics")
+        assert result.startswith("Awesome metrics\n\n| Metric ")
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("template", CUSTOM_TEMPLATES)
     def test_custom_template_no_section_raises(self, template):
         model = fit_model()
         model_card = Card(model, template=template)
-        msg = (
-            "You are trying to add metrics but you're using a custom template, "
-            "please pass the 'section' argument to determine where to put the content"
+        model_card.add_metrics(accuracy=0.9)
+
+        result = model_card.select("Model description/Evaluation Results").format()
+        # fmt: off
+        expected = (
+            "| Metric   |   Value |\n"
+            "|----------|---------|\n"
+            "| accuracy |     0.9 |"
         )
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=msg):
-            model_card.add_metrics(accuracy=0.9)
+        # fmt: on
+        assert result == expected
 
     def test_add_twice(self, model_card):
         # it's possible to add the section twice, even if it doesn't make a lot
@@ -623,11 +636,9 @@ def model_card_skops(self, metadata_skops):
         card = Card(model, metadata=metadata_skops)
         return card
 
-    def test_default_pickle(self, model_card):
-        # by default, don't add a table, as there are no metrics
-        result = model_card.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
-        expected = (
-            "Use the code below to get started with the model.\n\n"
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def text_pickle(self):
+        return (
             "```python\n"
             "import json\n"
             "import pandas as pd\n"
@@ -638,13 +649,10 @@ def test_default_pickle(self, model_card):
             'model.predict(pd.DataFrame.from_dict(config["sklearn"]["example_input"]))\n'
             "```"
         )
-        assert result == expected
 
-    def test_default_skops(self, model_card_skops):
-        # by default, don't add a table, as there are no metrics
-        result = model_card_skops.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
-        expected = (
-            "Use the code below to get started with the model.\n\n"
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def text_skops(self):
+        return (
             "```python\n"
             "import json\n"
             "import pandas as pd\n"
@@ -655,7 +663,16 @@ def test_default_skops(self, model_card_skops):
             'model.predict(pd.DataFrame.from_dict(config["sklearn"]["example_input"]))\n'
             "```"
         )
-        assert result == expected
+
+    def test_default_pickle(self, model_card, text_pickle):
+        # by default, don't add a table, as there are no metrics
+        result = model_card.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
+        assert result == text_pickle
+
+    def test_default_skops(self, model_card_skops, text_skops):
+        # by default, don't add a table, as there are no metrics
+        result = model_card_skops.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
+        assert result == text_skops
 
     def test_no_metadata_file_name(self):
         model = fit_model()
@@ -674,50 +691,28 @@ def to_dict(self):
         card = Card(model, metadata=Metadata())
         card.add_get_started_code()  # does not raise
 
-    def test_other_section(self, model_card):
+    def test_other_section(self, model_card, text_pickle):
         model_card.add_get_started_code(section="Other section")
         result = model_card.select("Other section").format()
-        expected = "Use the code below to get started with the model."
-        assert result.startswith(expected)
+        assert result == text_pickle
 
-    def test_other_description(self, model_card):
+    def test_use_description(self, model_card):
         model_card.add_get_started_code(description="Awesome code")
         result = model_card.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
         assert result.startswith("Awesome code")
 
-    def test_other_filename(self, model_card):
+    def test_other_filename(self, model_card, text_pickle):
         model_card.add_get_started_code(file_name="foobar.pkl")
+        text = text_pickle.replace("my-model.pickle", "foobar.pkl")
         result = model_card.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
-        expected = (
-            "Use the code below to get started with the model.\n\n"
-            "```python\n"
-            "import json\n"
-            "import pandas as pd\n"
-            "import joblib\n"
-            'model = joblib.load("foobar.pkl")\n'
-            'with open("config.json") as f:\n'
-            "    config = json.load(f)\n"
-            'model.predict(pd.DataFrame.from_dict(config["sklearn"]["example_input"]))\n'
-            "```"
-        )
-        assert result == expected
+        assert result == text
 
-    def test_other_model_format(self, model_card):
+    def test_explicitly_set_other_model_format(self, model_card, text_skops):
         model_card.add_get_started_code(model_format="skops")
         result = model_card.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
-        expected = (
-            "Use the code below to get started with the model.\n\n"
-            "```python\n"
-            "import json\n"
-            "import pandas as pd\n"
-            "import skops.io as sio\n"
-            'model = sio.load("my-model.pickle")\n'
-            'with open("config.json") as f:\n'
-            "    config = json.load(f)\n"
-            'model.predict(pd.DataFrame.from_dict(config["sklearn"]["example_input"]))\n'
-            "```"
-        )
-        assert result == expected
+        # file name is still "my-model.pickle", only the loading code changes
+        text = text_skops.replace(".skops", ".pickle")
+        assert result == text
 
     def test_invalid_model_format_passed(self, model_card):
         # json is not a valid model format
@@ -743,15 +738,22 @@ def to_dict(self):
             Card(model, metadata=Metadata())
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("template", CUSTOM_TEMPLATES)
-    def test_custom_template_no_section_raises(self, template):
+    def test_custom_template_no_section_uses_default(self, template, text_pickle):
         model = fit_model()
-        model_card = Card(model, template=template)
-        msg = (
-            "You are trying to add get started code but you're using a custom template,"
-            " please pass the 'section' argument to determine where to put the content"
-        )
-        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=msg):
-            model_card.add_get_started_code(file_name="foo.bar", model_format="skops")
+
+        class Metadata:
+            def to_dict(self):
+                return {
+                    "model_file": "my-model.pickle",
+                    "sklearn": {
+                        "model_format": "pickle",
+                    },
+                }
+
+        model_card = Card(model, metadata=Metadata(), template=template)
+        model_card.add_get_started_code()
+        result = model_card.select("How to Get Started with the Model").format()
+        assert result == text_pickle
 
     def test_add_twice(self, model_card):
         # it's possible to add the section twice, even if it doesn't make a lot