Inquiring About Food Preferences: Wedding Invitation Etiquette

Planning a wedding reception menu that everyone will enjoy can be challenging, especially when considering your guests' dietary restrictions and allergies. Asking your guests about their food preferences through the invitation is a convenient way to know their dietary needs in advance and plan your menu accordingly. This can be done by including a separate insert or a note at the bottom of the RSVP cards. Here are some ways to ask about food preferences on a wedding invitation:

Asking about dietary restrictions and allergies

It is important to ask about your guests' dietary restrictions and allergies when sending out wedding invitations. This will help you plan the menu and ensure that everyone can enjoy the food on your wedding day. Here are some tips on how to do this:

Include a separate insert or enclosure

You can include a separate insert or enclosure with your wedding invitations that specifically asks guests about their dietary restrictions and food allergies. This can be a simple checklist indicating common dietary restriction options such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and food allergens. You can also include an "other" option where guests can specify any additional restrictions or allergies. This insert can be mailed back to you along with the RSVP.

Add a note to your RSVP cards

If you prefer a more simplified approach, you can include a note at the bottom of your RSVP cards asking guests to inform you about any special dietary restrictions or food allergies. This ensures that you are aware of true medical conditions rather than just preferences. Here is some sample wording that you can use:

• "Please note any food allergies or dietary restrictions"
• "Please advise of any food allergies"
• "Please contact us by phone or email about any food allergies or dietary restrictions"
• "If you have any dietary restrictions that we should be aware of, please leave a note on the back of this card."
• "Do you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements? Please let us know."

Provide a way for guests to contact you

To keep a record of these requests, you can ask guests to email a dedicated wedding email address or contact you directly. Be sure to include a cutoff date to inspire urgency and give yourself enough time to plan the menu accordingly.

Consider the type of meal you are serving

If you are having a sit-down dinner with menu options, it is especially important to know your guests' dietary restrictions and allergies in advance. This will help you and your caterers plan the proper amount of food and ensure that everyone's needs are accommodated. However, even if you are having a buffet or family-style meal, it is still helpful to be aware of any restrictions or allergies so that everyone can enjoy the food on your special day.

Including a separate food allergy insert

Content and Wording:

Keep the content clear and concise. You can include a checklist with common dietary restriction options such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and food allergens. Also, provide a fill-in-the-blank option for any other restrictions or allergies that may not be listed. Here are some wording samples:

• "Please note any food allergies or dietary restrictions."
• "Please advise of any food allergies."
• "Please contact us by phone or email regarding any food allergies or dietary restrictions."
• "If you have any dietary restrictions that we should be aware of, please leave a note on the back of this card."
• "Do you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements? Please let us know."

Record-Keeping:

To keep a record of these dietary restrictions, you can ask guests to email a dedicated wedding email address or contact you directly. Be sure to include a cutoff date to ensure you have enough time to plan your menu accordingly.

Timing:

It is recommended to send out invitations early if you plan to have a tasting before finalising your menu. However, this may not give you an accurate headcount as guests may cancel or forget to RSVP. A suggested timeline is to send invitations 10 weeks before the wedding and then send out invitations to the B-list guests as declines come in, around 7-8 weeks before the wedding.

Menu Options:

If you are providing menu options for your guests to choose from, it is helpful to include the full menu details with your invitation. This allows guests with allergies or dietary restrictions to make their choices accordingly.

In summary, including a separate food allergy insert is a thoughtful way to accommodate your guests' needs and ensure that they feel comfortable and excited about the food at your wedding. With clear wording, organised record-keeping, and timely communication, you can plan a wedding menu that everyone can enjoy.

Wording for RSVP food allergy section

It is important to ask about dietary restrictions and food allergies on your RSVP cards so that you can accommodate your guests' needs and make them feel welcome and satisfied. Here are some ideas for how to word the food allergy section of your RSVP cards:

"Please note any food allergies or dietary restrictions"

This wording is direct and straightforward, and it gives guests a space to write in any allergies or restrictions they may have. It is important to specify "food" allergies to avoid any confusion.

"Please advise of any food allergies"

This phrase is a simple and polite way to ask guests about their food allergies. Leaving space for a written response allows guests to specify their allergies.

"Please contact us by phone or email about any food allergies or dietary restrictions"

Here, guests are invited to reach out to the hosts via phone or email to discuss their dietary needs. This option may be preferable if you anticipate that guests will have more complex needs that cannot be easily summarised in writing.

"If you have any dietary restrictions that we should be aware of, please leave a note on the back of this card"

This wording is a polite request for guests to provide information about their dietary restrictions. It also specifies the location for the response, which may be helpful for organisation and record-keeping.

"Do you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements? Please let us know"

This sentence is a direct question that leaves space for guests to provide information about their food allergies or dietary restrictions. It is important to specify "food" allergies to avoid any confusion.

"Kindly respond on or before [date]

Name(s) ______________________________________________

___ Accepts with pleasure

___ Declines with regret

[Space for guests to write in their names and meal choices, with a column for each course, e.g. Starter, Main, Dessert. Guests can indicate their choices by writing the corresponding letter next to their names]

[Space for dietary restrictions/food allergies]"

Meal selection on RSVP cards

Including Meal Options

If you decide to give your guests meal options, it's a good idea to include the full menu as part of the main invitation detail. This can be done using pocketfold or concertina-style invitations, which provide ample space for all the information. The invitation can include a brief description of each dish, making it easier for guests to choose. For example, instead of simply listing "beef" or "fish," you could include more specific options like "filet mignon" or "mahi-mahi."

Collecting Guest Preferences

To collect your guests' meal preferences, you can include a separate response card with your invitation. This card should have space for guests to write their names and indicate their meal choices. It's important to provide enough space for multiple guests to write their initials next to each entrée selection. Here's an example:

"Please initial a meal choice for each guest: Chicken __ Fish __ Beef __ Vegetarian __"

Alternatively, you can create a separate line for each invited guest, where they can write their name, indicate their attendance, and then circle or tick a picture or symbol representing each menu option. This adds a fun visual element to the traditional RSVP card.

If you're using online RSVPs through a wedding website, you can create additional fields to request each guest's meal choice, saving paper while still gathering the necessary information.

Considerations for Different Serving Styles

The style of food service you choose for your wedding will impact how you collect meal selections. If you're having a sit-down dinner with a choice of entrées, it's essential to know each guest's preference in advance. This information will help your caterers prepare the right amount of food and save time during the event, as waitstaff won't need to take individual orders.

For a buffet or family-style meal, it's not as crucial to collect individual meal selections. However, knowing the overall numbers for each dish can still be helpful for planning purposes. In this case, you can ask guests to indicate their preferences on the RSVP card without providing their names.

Asking About Dietary Restrictions

In addition to meal selections, it's essential to ask about any dietary restrictions or food allergies. This can be done on the RSVP card or through a separate insert included with the invitation. Here are some examples of wording you can use:

"Please note any food allergies or dietary restrictions"

"Please advise of any food allergies"

"Please contact us by phone or email about any food allergies or dietary restrictions"

"If you have any dietary restrictions, please leave a note on the back of this card"

"Do you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements? Please let us know"

By collecting this information in advance, you can ensure that all your guests will have food they can enjoy on your big day.

How to indicate menu choices

It is not necessary to include a menu in your wedding invites unless you are offering your guests different options that need to be pre-ordered. If you are planning to serve the same set menu to all your guests, it is actually beneficial not to include a menu, as guests won't have the opportunity to be fussy and request something different.

However, if you are offering menu choices, there are several ways to indicate this on your invitations. One way is to include the full menu (with all the options) as part of the main invitation detail. You can then encourage your guests to reply on a separate card with their name and tick boxes for each dish they have chosen. It is important to include guests' names so that you know who has ordered what. You could also include pictures of each menu option, with guests circling their choice.

If you are offering multiple courses, you can add a section for each course on your RSVP card, with guests writing their initials next to their choice for each course.

"Please initial a meal choice for each guest: Chicken __ Fish __ Beef __ Vegetarian __"

If you are offering several menu options, it is a good idea to provide a system for keeping track of which guest has chosen which dish. This could involve assigning a number or letter to each dish and asking guests to write this on their RSVP card. You can then include this information on a seating plan provided to your venue, so that the correct dish is served to each guest.

It is also a good idea to ask about any dietary restrictions or allergies on your RSVP card, even if you are offering a buffet or family-style meal. This will help ensure that all your guests have food they can enjoy on your big day.

Frequently asked questions