Why Use Wedding Table Menu Cards?
If you have ever been involved in planning a wedding, then you will know how many different aspects of the event you need to consider – and the amount of effort that it requires! Of all the different considerations, the wedding stationery is an aspect that requires special attention with regards to the accuracy of detail and content, and one of the important stationery items is the wedding table menu card. These cards play a practical role, potentially both before and during your wedding breakfast celebrations – here are some aspects of wedding table menu cards you need to consider:
Wedding Menu Cards
There is nothing too complex about wedding menu cards – basically, they are usually just small pieces of card displaying the food menu that your wedding guests will be served at your event. Usually rectangular in shape, around A6 size, they can be on flat or folded card and can be printed in a plethora of designs and styles that enable you to select a perfect match for the rest of your wedding stationery items. Whilst these cards may seem relatively simple items, they can play a significant role in the efficient running of your wedding day!
Function
Wedding menu cards are designed to inform and pique interest and, hopefully, expectation in your selected menu for the food your guests can enjoy at the wedding breakfast. Informing your guests of the menu in advance allows the opportunity for anyone to ‘flag up’ any allergies, or special dietary requirements and restrictions they may have, so that alternative items may be arranged where necessary. Wedding breakfasts are traditionally a set menu and, in the time-given format of a starter, followed by a main course, and finishing with a dessert item.
There has been a trend in more recent times though, of guests being offered alternative options between fish dishes, meat offerings and, importantly, both vegetarian and vegan choices. If alternative menus are to be an option for your wedding, then the wedding table menu cards should be issued with the wedding invitation itself, as to allow guests time to respond with menu choices along with their RSVP to the event.
Placement and Use
If the wedding menu cards have not been included in the wedding invitation, or the guests not informed of the menu content prior to the event, they are usually displayed with each individual place settings in the pre-assigned wedding reception table organisation. Alternatively, some receptions will have the wedding menu cards simply placed in the centre of each table for the guests to see what they will be served.
Content
Regardless of what format your wedding breakfast is to take – the traditional ‘sit-down’ three-course menu, a self-serve buffet, or even a BBQ – printed menu cards should be available for the guests. They should contain a brief description of all the food items, as you would find in a restaurant, and indicate whether the item is a starter or main or dessert. It is important that there should be a clear indication against each food item denoting dishes that are vegetarian, vegan, and any that contain potential allergens such as gluten, shellfish, nuts, wheat, and soy, amongst others. It is sometimes advisable to also highlight any food items that may be considered particularly hot or spicy!
The wedding card menus offer, not only warnings as to potentially harmful ingredients, but also the ‘flip’ side of that – they can be used to highlight the special, attractive ingredients of the dishes! They can showcase the premium ingredients, or the style of cuisine along with which dishes or ingredients are organic and locally grown and sourced! Most catering companies offering the wedding breakfast services will supply you with a pre-prepared list of such features in their food helping you to discern which items you want included in your menu.
Benefits
All wedding arrangements include many different stationery items – all at a cost – and you may be tempted to consider the menu cards as unnecessary. Whilst it is, of course, a personal choice, you should not underestimate the value of the printed wedding menu cards – they serve an important and practical purpose.
If guests are unsure of what they will be served, there will be those who are concerned about aspects such as allergens and food options which can lead to a number of individual enquiries from people adding to your already burdened arrangements with which you are contending – also, on the day itself, the waiting staff will be hindered in getting all the dishes out in time with people asking them to explain individual dishes and their contents. Having menu cards available makes the day easier to handle in many ways.
The other main benefit is as mentioned earlier – if you are to offer guests a choice of menu options, then they must receive wedding card menus in advance of the event itself – and a preview of an exciting menu also helps add to the expectation, anticipation, and pardon the pun, appetite of your guests for your big day celebrations!
Cost
As everybody knows, weddings can potentially cost an enormous amount of money – and the wedding stationery suite adds to that! If, however, you are planning a wedding on a small budget, or simply trying to keep the overall costs down, then wedding menu cards do not have to prove expensive to design and print. Whilst it may be desirable to have expansive, spectacular menu cards, embossed and ribboned and such, it is not necessary – attractive, smart wedding menu cards can be printed on high-end card stock with many design templates to select from to produce, what we have already established are important wedding items, that your guests will enjoy and benefit.
Summary
The options for these important wedding day menu cards are many – you can keep it simple and professional or, if your budget allows, produce spectacular, all-singing, all-dancing, cards with satin ribbons, heart-shaped pearls, rhinestones and such, which provide a touch of glamour and elevate your wedding display. Whichever your choices, wedding menu cards are both attractive and practical aspects of your overall wedding day arrangements and celebrations.