Rsvping For Wedding Meals: The Knot's Guide

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when it comes to organising the guest list and meal options. Luckily, there are many ways to make the process easier. One way is to include an RSVP card with your wedding invitations. This allows guests to confirm their attendance and select their meal preferences. This helps the couple and caterers know how much food to prepare and can also be used to create a seating chart. While it may be tricky to decide on the level of detail to include about each meal option, it is important to provide enough information, especially if guests have allergies or dietary restrictions. There are many ways to collect RSVPs, from printed cards to online forms, and it is becoming more common to request meal choices as part of the RSVP process.

How to add meal choices to online RSVPs

Adding meal options to your online RSVPs is a great way to streamline your wedding planning and ensure your guests get the meal they want. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Decide on Your Meal Options

Before you can add meal choices to your RSVPs, you need to decide on the options you'll offer your guests. Consider offering a variety of options, such as chicken, beef, fish, and a vegetarian option. If you've already finalised your wedding menu, you can include more specific details, such as "filet mignon" instead of just "beef". This helps your guests make a more informed decision.

Step 2: Log into Your Wedding Website

Log into your wedding website or app, such as The Knot or Zola. These websites usually offer a dedicated section for managing RSVPs and meal choices.

Step 3: Locate the RSVP Settings

On your wedding website, look for a section called "RSVPs", "Events", or "Guest List". From there, you should be able to find a setting or option to add meal choices. On The Knot, for example, you can click on "Your Website/Manage Website" and then "View Attendance Summary" to access the RSVP tab in the website editor.

Step 4: Edit the RSVP Form

Once you've located the RSVP settings, look for an option to edit the form or add follow-up questions. This is where you can add your meal choices as a multiple-choice question or a fill-in-the-blank question. Be sure to provide clear instructions for your guests, such as "Please initial next to your meal choice" or "Please select one option".

Step 5: Test and Finalise

Before finalising your RSVP form, be sure to test it to ensure it works correctly. Submit a test RSVP and check that the meal choices are recorded properly. Also, pay attention to any error messages or glitches that may occur. If you encounter any issues, refer to the website's help section or community forums for troubleshooting tips.

Step 6: Communicate with Your Guests

When sending out your invitations, be sure to include clear instructions on how to RSVP online and select their meal choices. You can include the URL to your wedding website or a QR code that directs them to the RSVP page. It's also a good idea to provide your contact information in case guests have any questions or need assistance with the online RSVP process.

By following these steps, you'll be able to successfully add meal choices to your online RSVPs, making it easier for your guests to make their selections and for you to plan your wedding dinner.

How to word meal choices on RSVP cards

Including meal choices on your RSVP cards is a great way to ensure your guests get the food they want and reduce food waste. Here are some tips and examples for how to word these choices:

Be Descriptive

It is a good idea to be as descriptive as possible about the meal options to help guests with allergies or food preferences make an informed decision. For example, instead of just "chicken", consider "Chicken Wellington", and include a brief description of the dish if it is not well-known. This will also make the options more enticing for your guests.

Include Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

Even if you are having a buffet or family-style meal, it is helpful to be aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions in advance. Include a line for guests to write in any issues, and consider going over the menu with guests who have serious allergies.

Provide a Separate Card

If you are including printed wedding invitations, you can add a food choice section to the response card, or include a separate enclosure card with the invitation suite. This separate card can include space for guests to initialise their meal choice, and you can also add a line for dietary restrictions.

Online RSVPs

If you are using online RSVPs, you can still include meal choices. Online wedding websites often have functionality to allow guests to select their meal and provide dietary information.

Examples

• "Please initial a meal choice for each guest: Chicken __ Fish __ Beef __ Vegetarian __"
• "Chicken Wellington __ Filet of Beef __ Eggplant Parmesan __ Children's Chicken Strips __"
• "Please mark how many with initials beside each meal: Chicken __ Steak __ Vegetarian __"

Pros and cons of RSVP cards with meal choices

RSVP cards with meal choices have been considered “tacky” in the past. However, with modern weddings, requesting guests' meal choices on wedding stationery is becoming increasingly common. While some guests may view this as a "nontraditional" approach, it can be a practical and efficient way to gather important information from your guests. Here are some pros and cons to consider:

Pro: Less Food Waste

Gathering menu choices in advance allows caterers to bring the correct amount of food, reducing waste. Without this information, caterers must prepare for scenarios like everyone ordering the same dish, resulting in a significant amount of uneaten food.

Con: Guests May Change Their Minds

Predicting what someone will want to eat a month from now is challenging. Guests' preferences may change on the wedding day, and they may opt for a different entrée than what they initially selected. To accommodate this, caterers can bring a few extra entrées of each type.

Pro: Caterers Prefer This Approach

Caterers usually request the final headcount and menu choices about a week before the wedding. Having guests' entrée choices in advance simplifies the caterer's job and saves time during the event, as waitstaff won't need to take individual orders.

Con: Place Cards May Be Necessary

If you request meal choices in advance, you'll need a way for the caterer to know which guest receives which entrée. Place cards with small icons representing each dish are the most straightforward solution, but they are optional for most weddings.

Pro or Con: Non-Traditional Approach

In the past, having guests order their entrée at the reception was considered more formal and traditional. However, in modern weddings, including meal choices on RSVP cards is becoming more common and is no longer seen as "tacky." While some guests may view it as a departure from tradition, it doesn't detract from the amazing experience your wedding can be.

How to ensure guests get the meal they choose

To ensure your guests get the meal they choose, there are a few steps you can take. Firstly, be as descriptive as possible about the meal options on your RSVP card. This helps guests with allergies or food preferences make an informed decision. For example, instead of simply writing "beef", specify "filet mignon".

You can also include a separate line for each invited guest, so they can write their name and clearly indicate their entrée choice. This ensures that each guest is matched with their chosen meal. You can also ask guests to initial their meal choice, providing enough space for multiple guests to write their initials next to each option.

If you're using a digital RSVP system, you can still collect meal preferences and dietary restrictions. Online platforms often allow you to create additional fields for meal choices and any other special requests. This method also saves paper!

If you want to go the extra mile, consider creating place cards with small icons representing each meal choice. This helps the catering team quickly identify which dish goes to which guest.

Finally, be mindful that guests might change their minds about their meal choices. To accommodate this, ask your caterer to bring a few extra servings of each entrée.

How to handle guest dietary restrictions/allergies

It is important to be aware of your guests' dietary restrictions and allergies, so it is highly recommended to ask about this on your RSVP card. You can adjust your RSVP card template to include enough space for guests to write down any issues, and having this information in advance will help you and your caterer ensure that everyone will have food to enjoy on the big day. Here is some sample wording:

"Please advise of any food allergies: __________________________"

If there are guests with serious allergies, consider going over the menu card with them before the wedding so they are aware of what they can and can't eat. You can also include a separate line for each invited guest, so that the entrée choice is clear. Each guest would write their name in the space provided, check a box to indicate whether or not they can attend the wedding, and then circle a picture of a chicken, cow, fish or vegetable (or other meal option) depending on their meal choice. Using a picture to represent each menu selection can be a fun twist on the traditional method and provide a nice visual cue.

If you are creating printed wedding invitations, you can add a food choice section to the response card itself, or include a separate enclosure card in your invitation suite. It is important to know how many of each entrée your party will need, but you should also create a system to know which wedding guest wants each dish. Make sure you provide enough space for more than one guest to write their initials next to each entrée selection.

If you have finalised your wedding menu before sending out your invites, you might include a little more detail on each menu choice. It's not necessary to write out a full menu, but saying "filet mignon" rather than beef or "mahi mahi" instead of fish can help your guests more easily choose their entrée.

Frequently asked questions