Unlike the rest of the day, which is undeniably about the bride and groom, mealtimes at weddings are about the guests. As far as your guests are concerned, the food at your wedding can either make or break their experience of the day; a bad meal can put a damper on even the most perfect of ceremonies. You can avoid any mishaps by following these simple hints and tips.
Lovesong Mandalay Wedding Menu
Remind Your Guests
It is important to let your guests know where and when they will be eating, especially if you have different venues for the ceremony and reception.This should initially be on the invitation, but it can’t hurt to repeat the information on the day – your guests might not have looked at the invitation since receiving it months ago.
Similarly, if you allow guests to select their own meal from a list of options, it may be worthwhile reminding them of their selection on the day, as people will quite often forget their decision. Individual menus are a great way to do this, and can double up as place settings.
Planning the Menu
Remember to take into account your guests’ dietary requirements. Whether due to allergies, religion, or moral decisions, there’s no point in you paying for a meal that won’t be eaten. Find out guests’ requirements in advance, and if you’re ever unsure, consult with your caterer and guests to ease your mind.
Visualise your guests eating the meals you have selected to identify potential pit-falls, such as serving beetroot soup to friends in wedding finery, or giving your guests garlic breath for the duration of the day. It’s always advisable to try the full menu out for yourself before you make any final decisions.
Sample Wedding Menu
Printing Your Menu
Your wedding menu should be clear and concise – avoid intricate font that might be hard to read, and unnecessary information, such as the weight of meat. You may wish to detail what drinks are available, and which foods contain allergens, particularly where guests help themselves to food, such as buffets and barbecues.
It might be helpful to let your guests know when speeches are being made, and the cake is being cut, so they can leave the room for short breaks without missing these important moments.
Menu Style
Menus for weddings should be as much a part of the day as anything else, so co-ordinate the design to fit your chosen colours or theme; perhaps create your menus along with matching wedding stationery.
Traditional Printed Wedding Menu
Ideally, the wedding theme, food, and menu should all fit in well together. A traditional Scottish wedding, for example, might be amiss in serving Chinese food. Your venue should also be a consideration: a medieval banquet with menus printed on scrolls would work well in a castle but might be overkill in a countryside pub.
