Dinner Options For Wedding Invitations: When And What To Choose

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when it comes to the guest list and dinner options. The dinner options are often chosen before sending out invitations, but some couples prefer to give their guests a choice of meals. This can be done by including a meal card with the invitation or allowing guests to choose at the reception. Some couples choose to have a plated dinner, while others opt for a buffet or family-style dinner. It's important to consider the caterer's needs and decide if having everyone's order in advance is necessary. Including a meal choice on the RSVP card can be helpful for caterers and reduce food waste, but guests might change their minds on the day.

Invitations with meal cards for individual guests or per family

When it comes to wedding invitations with meal cards, there are a few options to consider. You can choose to include a meal card for each individual guest or provide one card per family. Here are some detailed instructions and tips for creating invitations with meal cards:

Invitations with Meal Cards for Individual Guests:

• Include a meal card with each invitation: Provide a separate meal card for each guest, allowing them to choose their meal preferences. This ensures that everyone's preferences are considered.
• List all available options: On the meal card, list the available options for each course, such as starters, main courses, and desserts. This gives your guests a clear idea of what to expect and makes it easier for them to make their selections.
• Encourage guests to specify dietary restrictions: In addition to their meal choices, ask guests to indicate any dietary restrictions or allergies. This information will be crucial for the caterer and can be noted on the meal card or a separate section of the invitation.
• Provide a reply-by date: Request that guests respond by a specific date to ensure the caterer has enough time to prepare. This date should be well in advance of the wedding, giving you time to finalise details.
• Consider a personalised approach: If guests pre-order their meals, consider providing personalised menu cards at each place setting on the wedding day. This adds a special touch and helps guests remember their selections.

Invitations with Meal Cards for Families:

• Provide one meal card per family: If you have multiple guests from the same family, you can include a single meal card for them to fill out together. This simplifies the process and reduces the number of cards needed.
• Allow for multiple choices: On the meal card, provide space for guests to indicate the number of meals needed for each option. For example, they can specify "3 chicken dishes, 2 fish dishes, and 1 vegetarian dish" for their family.
• Offer a separate response method for children's meals: If children's meals are involved, consider providing a separate response method. You can include a children's menu with the invitation and ask that their meal choices be communicated via phone, email, or a separate response card.
• Assign seating and inform the caterer: If guests choose their meals in advance, you may need to assign seating to ensure the caterer knows who ordered which meal. This can be done through escort cards, coloured tickets, or another method that works for your wedding setup.
• Consider an online RSVP system: If managing multiple meal choices and guest responses becomes complex, consider using an online RSVP system. This allows guests to make their selections when they RSVP, and you'll receive an email with their choices.

Invitations with a section to list dietary restrictions

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially when it comes to the guest list and dietary requirements. It's important to ensure that all your guests are catered for, and one way to do this is to include a section for dietary restrictions on your wedding invitations. Here are some tips and suggestions for including this information:

Including a section for dietary restrictions on your wedding invitations is a thoughtful way to accommodate your guests' needs. It shows that you care about their well-being and want to ensure they have a pleasant experience at your wedding. By giving your guests the opportunity to inform you of any dietary restrictions, you can work with your caterer to provide suitable options for everyone.

When to Include a Section for Dietary Restrictions

The timing of when to include a section for dietary restrictions depends on the format of your wedding invitations. If you are sending out physical invitations, you can include a separate reply card specifically for dietary restrictions. This way, guests can indicate any restrictions or allergies when they respond. Alternatively, if you are using digital invitations or a wedding website, you can include a section for dietary restrictions in the RSVP process.

How to Word the Section for Dietary Restrictions

When including a section for dietary restrictions, it's important to be clear and concise. You can simply add a line that says, "Please indicate any dietary restrictions or allergies:" followed by a blank space for guests to write their responses. If you are using a digital format, you can provide a text box or a drop-down menu for guests to select their restrictions.

Collecting and Organising the Information

Once you start receiving responses, it's essential to organise the dietary restriction information effectively. Create a spreadsheet or a list that categorises the different types of restrictions, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc. This will help you communicate the information to your caterer and ensure that everyone's needs are accommodated.

Communicating with Your Caterer

After collecting and organising the dietary restriction information, it's crucial to have a detailed discussion with your caterer. Provide them with the list of restrictions and work together to create a menu that offers a variety of options. It's important to ensure that guests with restrictions have equally enjoyable meal choices and that their needs are safely met.

Final Thoughts

Including a section for dietary restrictions on your wedding invitations is a thoughtful and practical way to accommodate your guests. It allows you to collect the necessary information to plan a menu that caters to everyone's needs. By following the tips above, you can ensure that your guests have a positive dining experience at your wedding, making it a memorable celebration for all.

Invitations with a meal selection for adults and a separate card for children

If you're planning a wedding with a plated dinner and multiple menu options, it's a good idea to include a meal selection option on your RSVP card. This will help you and your caterers immensely, especially if you're having a seated dinner. Your caterer will need the numbers to know how much of each dish to prepare and will probably request this information in advance.

If you're creating printed wedding invitations, you can add a food choice section to the response card itself or include a separate enclosure card. Make sure you provide enough space for more than one guest 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 __"

You could also create a separate line for each invited guest, so that the entrée choice is even clearer. Each guest would write their name, check a box to indicate whether they can attend, and then circle a picture of the entrée they want. Using a picture to represent each menu selection can be a fun twist on the traditional response card and provide a nice visual cue.

If you're concerned about food waste, requesting meal choices in advance is a good idea. It will allow your caterer to bring the proper amount of food without much additional waste. However, keep in mind that guests might change their minds, so your caterer should bring a few extra entrées to accommodate last-minute changes.

Including meal options in wedding invitations can be a bit complicated, especially when it comes to children's meals. If you're inviting families with children, you can choose to sort out the children's menus privately without mentioning them in the invitation. However, if you want to include children's meal options, you can add a little extra card with the kiddies' options and a separate way for them to reply. This could be their own reply card, returned with the adult ones, or a phone number or email address for their options to be sent to.

In summary, you don't need to include a menu in your wedding invites unless you have options that need to be pre-ordered. If this is the case, include the full menu details along with a reply card with tick boxes for guest names and menu choices. Always ask about dietary requirements, and only include children's menus in the invites that are going to families with children.

Invitations with vague meal options

If you're having a plated dinner with multiple menu options, it's a good idea to give your guests a choice of meals on their invitations. This helps your caterer know how much of each dish to prepare and reduces food waste. However, it can be tricky to finalise your menu and print your invitations months in advance, especially if you're offering your guests several options. Here are some tips for handling meal options on your wedding invitations:

Be as specific as possible

While it may be tempting to go with vague options like "meat" or "fish", it's best to be as specific as possible. For example, instead of just "fish", you could offer "salmon" or "mahi mahi". This helps your guests make a more informed decision and reduces the likelihood of them changing their minds on the day.

Include a space for dietary restrictions

Even if you're offering a variety of meal options, it's a good idea to include a space on your RSVP cards for guests to note any dietary restrictions or allergies. This will allow you to accommodate guests with unusual allergies or dietary needs, and ensure that everyone has a meal they can enjoy.

Consider using your wedding website

If you don't want to include meal options on your printed invitations, you can use your wedding website to gather this information. Many wedding website templates allow guests to make their meal selections when they RSVP online. This is a convenient option, especially if you're sending out your invitations before finalising your menu.

Ask your caterer

If you're unsure about how to handle meal options on your invitations, your caterer can be a great resource. They may be able to provide you with sample menus or popular options to choose from. They can also advise you on how much food to order and whether they need to know guests' meal choices in advance.

Be flexible

Remember that your guests' preferences may change between the time they send in their RSVP and your wedding day. It's a good idea to order a few extra portions of each dish to accommodate last-minute changes. You can also ask your caterer to prepare a few vegetarian or vegan options for guests with dietary restrictions.

Invitations without meal options, and guests choose at the reception

If you don't want to include meal options on your wedding invitations, you can still give your guests the opportunity to choose their meal at the reception. Here are some tips to ensure this process goes smoothly:

Inform Your Caterer

Before deciding to exclude meal options on your invitations, check with your caterer to see if they need to know your guests' meal choices in advance. Some caterers will need this information to ensure they have enough food and to avoid wasting food. If your caterer needs to know in advance, you may want to consider including meal options on your invitations or having guests select their meals online before the wedding.

Collect Dietary Restrictions

Even if you don't include meal options on your invitations, you should still ask guests to inform you of any dietary restrictions or allergies. This can be done by including a simple line on your RSVP card, such as "Please include any dietary restrictions or allergies: ______". This will allow you to give your caterer a heads up and ensure that all your guests have a meal they can enjoy.

Choose the Right Catering Style

Consider choosing a catering style that doesn't require guests to select their meals in advance. Buffets, for example, allow guests to choose what and how much they want to eat without the need for prior selection. Family-style meals are also a popular option, where guests pass around large plates of food and serve themselves at their tables. This eliminates the need for individual meal selections.

Provide a Variety of Options

If you're offering a plated dinner with multiple options, it's a good idea to provide a variety of choices to accommodate different tastes and dietary restrictions. Include at least one option suitable for vegetarians, and consider offering a fish or chicken dish in addition to beef or other meats. This will increase the likelihood that your guests will find something they like and can eat.

Create a System for Guests to Choose

If you're offering a plated dinner, create a system for guests to choose their meals at the reception. You can have waitstaff take orders at each table, or set up a designated area where guests can place their orders. To make the process smoother, consider providing a menu with a brief description of each dish to help guests make their selections.

Consider Place Cards or Escort Cards

If guests are choosing their meals at the reception, you may need to use place cards or escort cards to help the catering team know which guest receives which entrée. You can include a small icon or symbol on each place card to indicate the guest's meal choice, making it easier for the catering team to serve the correct dish to the right person.

Frequently asked questions