Printed Menu a must?

shan87

I just assumed to print a menu to put on the tables. But My Mom thinks they are uneccessary so I've come here to make a final decision.

We are going to be giving Guests an Option btwn 2 choices. Comes with a salad (Dressings I believe are on the table)
What are your thoughts?

Belle2Be

I think its necessary if you give them options, how else are they going to know what to order?

shan87

Whoops A MUST***

cat1121

Menus have only become necessary because Martha Stewart said so at some point.

Just do what makes you happy and sane.

mysticl

I only think you do a menu if the guests are going to order their meal at the reception.  However, if they indicated their choice on the rsvp card or it is a buffet a menu is just one extra thing on the table.

shan87

Thanks ladies. I love the Martha Stewart Comment

tenofcups4me

Menus are never necessary. I happen to like them, but don't see them often -- even with tableside ordering. If you want to do them, great; if not, they're not at all required. (FWIW, I did do menus and did have tableside ordering, but I still don't think they're necessary.)

I think its necessary if you give them options, how else are they going to know what to order?

The waiter tells them their options. Easy.

shan87

Sorry I wasn't clear in the OP but we are giving them options in the Invite and having them RSVP with their option. I was thinking that having a Menu would be nice to jog their memory so they remember what they ordered.
However, its a double edged sword in the sense that on the day of they may want to change their mind.

laurak43

Definitely not a must, but you can include them if you want to.  I put the whole menu on our wedding website and will mention the site in the info/directions card included in the invitation.  Can't tell you how many invites the choices are literlly beef or chicken or fish.  What type of beef or chicken or fish?  If I assume the fish is salmon and it turns out to be lobster then I can't eat because I'm severly allergic to shellfish. 

 We're trying to keep the costs down so I wouldn't do the menu cards.  I'm not doing programs either.  Like the Martha Stewart comment, I feel there are so many things people think they have to do just because and its just not true.  I prefer the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid! (I'm not calling anyone stupid here).

Belle2Be

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_printed-menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:9773c55b-02fa-4e94-ae0f-07070e443b11Post:c20b6974-4f24-42e1-b962-88fd5a48ee4f">Re: Printed Menu a must?</a>:
[QUOTE]Menus are never necessary. I happen to like them, but don't see them often -- even with tableside ordering. If you want to do them, great; if not, they're not at all required. (FWIW, I did do menus and did have tableside ordering, but I still don't think they're necessary.) I think its necessary if you give them options, how else are they going to know what to order? The waiter tells them their options. Easy.
Posted by tenofcups4me[/QUOTE]


We ordered off menus a couple weeks ago, it was so loud theres no way I would have been able to hear the waiter tell me what the options were. So if you do do menus, mybe just for the tables by the speakers?

cupis001

We're trying to keep costs down too.  We're not providing menus at our reception.  But, I will say that either all your guests should have them or none of them.  The only people at receptions who really should get special treatment are those who have food allergies and those who need accommodations for wheelchairs etc, not because they're by speakers and can't hear the server.  They should move to your guests.  And if you're asking what people want to eat, maybe color code their place card/escort card to their meal?  If you have 3 options, have 3 colors or ribbons.  Some way your server can distinguish what guests gets what meal.  There's always those who "forget" but that happens.  

I will say if you're having a first course in addition to your salad, entree, and desert/cake maybe a menu would be nice.  But defiantly, are not necessary.