Do you include a menu card in the invitation or do you send it separate?

Question

I want to find out prior to my wedding what dinner selection the guests want so i can coordinate with the caterer. Is there a proper way to get this info? Also, do/did you include a different meal for those who have dietary restrictions?

Answer 1

Yes -you can include this information w/ your invitation.

Typically, this will go directly on the response card. A sample wording would be:
The favor of a reply is requested on or before June 1, 2007
M ____________________
____accepts____regrets
Please indicate number of each
_____Prime Rib _____Baked Chicken

Most reception venues will allow you to give your guests two menu options, however they will accommodate vegetarians and other dietary needs. Most vegetarians know to make a little note on the reply card requesting a veg. meal (I am one - so I know that we are used to doing this). However, you may include the veg (or kosher, etc.) option above right next to the "baked chicken"

Good luck.

Answer 2

There should be a section on the RSVP card that they return to you - the section would look something like this (with your meals included, of course):

____ prime rib (and they fill in the # of guests)
____ baked chicken
____ pasta primavera

You may also wish to have them note somewhere that if they have special dietary restrictions that they may note them on the back of the RSVP card. The problem with that? Sometimes people can get a little out of control. I've seen where people have asked for their beef Medium-well, others write they want it well done, etc. Not exactly a "dietary restriction." And some may say "No MSG" or something uncontrollable like that. This is why we are offering 2 meat dishes and one vegetarian dish. We figure this will cover the problem of having vegetarians at the wedding and really, that's my main dietary concern. But severe allergies could be noted so that those could be taken into account.

Answer 3

You are supposed to send it with the invitations and there should be a checkbox beside the selections. I strongly advise you to stay away from catering to dietary restrictions. Normally two choices are offered. eg Chicken or Beef. It is hardly likely that anyone would be allergic to both. The Catering cost will go through the roof if you need several different dishes. If you indicate that you are willing to offer different choices according to dietary restrictions -every person who is diabetic, sodium restricted etc will want you to cater to their individual needs -so don't do it. If however you know you have a lot of people who honestly need these accommodations eg elderly or sick people or people with specific allergies etc coming to your wedding then might I suggest you tell the caterer to do a buffet instead. This is what I did and it worked out well. I've also helped to plan many weddings and my advice is based on trial and error.
If doing a Buffet -do not send a menu choice to the guests. YOU choose what you would like on the Buffet.

Answer 4

Some people include a meal choice on their RSVP cards and get the head count for each main course that way.

You don't mail out a menu card-- a menu card is something you offer AT the table to say what wil be served.

If you ASK for dietary resrtictions, you will get every different food comment under the sun-- that is asking for a huge headache! People will either speak up on their own, or they will eat ahead of time if they are that worried about not being able to eat what you're serving. It's not possible for you to offer an entire menu of choices the way a restaurant does-- you're throwing a private event-- you offer 1-3 thoughtful main course options and if they don't like what you're serving, again, they can eat ahead of time to be polite.

Answer 5

For the invitations, just put "Dinner reception to immediately follow" and the location of the reception, if it's not at the same place the ceremony is being held. You don't have to spell out what kind of dinner, and you only have to put the entrees in the invitations if you are doing a sit down dinner where the guests have to choose an entree. If you wedding is pretty informal, then go ahead and put "and Family" on the invitations. If you're having a fairly formal wedding and reception, then you might want to get the kid's names. The envelope with the address on it can still say "and Family", but the inner envelope should say their names, and the names of the kids individually. You can actually send out your invitations in 2 waves--out of towners go out 6-8 weeks before the wedding, or 4-6 weeks before the RSVP date, and in towners go out 4-6 weeks before the wedding, 2-4 weeks before the RSVP date. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Usually this info. would be included with the invitations and most of the time the guest would supply this information on the reply card via checkbox. I did, and have been to several weddings where special dietary needs were taken into account But usually it is only drastic restrictions that are noted (i.e. peanut allergies, shellfish allergies etc.)
congratulations on the forthcoming wedding!

Answer 7

It is a card to go with wedding invitation. It usually gives 2 choices plus a special dietary box. Include stamp to receive back.

Answer 8

The menu choices go as an insert in with the invitation. Then the reply card has their names, number in their party, and the lines for food choice. They will know to put the number of meals that need to be oprdered on each line.

Example reply card:
Mr & Mrs. Joe Smith
___Will be attending.
___Will not be attending.
___Fish
___Chicken
___Beef

If you know that there are some people with special diets, have one choice of available for them. If you don't know in advance, then you should not worry about trying to suit everybody's needs. They are smart enough to choose the lesser evil on a menu that isn't designed for them. They do it everytime they go out to eat.

Example: Uncle Joe has diabetes. The choices are pasta and a steamed fish and vegetables dish. Uncle Joe chooses the fish because he knows pasta has too many carbs for him. There will also be several other people who would prefer the fish over pasta, so Uncle Joe doesn't have to feel like it's only there for him.

Answer 9

Send it with the invitations if you are having choices for dinner. Be sure you keep it near the response card or if you are making your own invitations, put it on the response card! Also be sure you are sending hotel information and directions for locations of the ceremony and reception as well! There is a lot of information, but your guests will be thankful.

Answer 10

I would send it with the invitation, and have it like this:

Please select one of the following
__Chicken
__Steak
__Special dietary need (Kosher, vegetarian, etc)

Good luck!