We are regularly asked ‘How can my guests tell me their menu choices?’ and ‘How do I get my guests menu options?’ so here’s everything you need to know about how to communicate what you need from your guests when it comes to your wedding menu, and how to get it!
For many weddings, your guests will have choices to make when it comes to food – some of these may be dietary requirements, and others may be preferences based on options you have given them.
Some couples choose to include a full menu with their invitations – and ask that their guests include their choices on their response card/RSVP. If this is what you need to do, we can create a Menu Choices card for you which is usually on the reverse of the RSVP card.
Asking your guests to initial against their options allows you to gather all the information you need from all the attending guests. Bear in mind that some invitations may be addressed to a whole family, adults and children, so you may need choices from several individuals on one card.
We can accommodate for this, as our design team will work to create a bespoke response card that meets your needs and also matches your chosen invitation design.
While we are on the subject of menus, here’s some top tips to help you decide and plan your wedding menu.
- This may be understated, but think about what you like to eat – this is your day after all! Incorporating food and/or drinks that means something to you is one of the many touches you can add to your day to make it even more personal– whether it be a sweet treat you both enjoy, or your favourite tipples featuring on the bar menu, these little touches won’t go unnoticed by your guests either.
- There is no rule book that says you must have a formal, sit down, three course minimum wedding breakfast. There are so many options available today, that you really can have whatever you want! If you would prefer to be more informal, consider ideas such as afternoon tea, a picnic style lunch, grazing stations – you could even have a barbeque or street food stalls!
- Ask your guests for any dietary requirements or allergies. Your wedding caterers will be asking you for this important information – that is one of the reasons we feature it as part of our standard RSVP wording. Even if you are choosing not to share your entire wedding menu with your guests, you will need to know this as a minimum so that your caterers can provide alternatives for these guests.
- If you are inviting children to your celebration, consider a children’s option. This will help to keep the little ones happy, especially if there are some fussy eaters! Depending on the age range you could also choose to offer a reduced size portion of the adult options.
- Your venue / caterers will most likely give you a final date by which they need to know numbers and requirements. If they haven’t, make sure you ask the question so that you know your timescales. Take this into account when giving your guests an RSVP date – If you need to know 6 weeks before the big day, set your RSVP date for 7 weeks – this helps keep the stress levels low for you, and also gives allowance for a few stragglers too!
When it comes to your on the day wedding menus we’ve got you covered too. Choose a menu for the entire table or if you want to go the extra mile a personalised guest menu per person. Whichever your preference Pure Invitation will work with you to create the perfect wedding menus to help set off your special day.
The choices you make for your catering arrangements are probably one of the larger and potentially more stressful decisions you need to make on your wedding journey, but it is also an opportunity to add some fun and personality to your day. Arrange as many tasting sessions as you can stomach (pun intended) and use them as an opportunity for you to both enjoy creating your menu together. Although we can’t be there for that part, when it comes to ensuring your guests let you know their choices easily and stylishly, you know where we are!
Click here to start your wedding stationery journey with the experts at Pure Invitation.