Menu???

ciginicole

Hi Ladies, 

     Hope you are all doing well today.  I am pretty new here and just wanted some opinions on a question about the menu cards at the reception.  I am posting here bc I want some honest opinions, not just someone to pacify me.  
     Ok, so a lil background.  We are having a 300 person wedding at a function hall.  We are responsible for eveything except putting out the bare tables and chairs.  So, we are renting linens, hiring caterer.....etc.  My question is....since we are foldint he linens ourselves, I wanted to fold the napkins around a menu.  (I don't have a picture but I'm sure you have seen it a million times.)  Would this be stupid considering it is going to be a buffet?  The wedding is a lil more formal than not, and I don't want the napkins in the stupid fan shape that you see at high school prom.  Just wanted some opinions on if this is too much for a buffet.  Thanks for your help.

[Deleted User]

Is it 100% necessary to even have menus if it's a buffet?

526SadieSadie

I don't understand the purpose of having a menu for a buffet, but I like the way a menu looks when it's displayed the way you described, it looks like some thought went into it instead of just laying it on the dinner plate.

betrothed123

Why don't you wrap the napkins around the silverware?

We had a buffet, and I think it would have been strange to have menu cards at each place setting.  We had each item labelled on the buffet, and I think that's sufficient.

Starmusica

I think that its probably not necessary with a buffet but if you want it.. why not? Honestly though- just remember its not like they are going to carry  it up to the buffet with them... so they may not get a lot of use out of it.

ciginicole

Yeah, I figured it wasn't necessary.  Maybe just liked the idea for the appearance of it????  I guess maybe just feel like the place setting will seem empty because the plates will be at the buffet.  Thanks for your help.

Celles

From a practical standpoint, I think cards beside each dish in the buffet would be more helpful to your guests than menus on the table.  But menus on the table are by no means stupid.  I'm sure some of your guests would like to know what's planned for the buffet before they actually see it, if only so they can leave room on their plates for the truly yummy stuff at the end of the buffet line. 

Me, I'm notoriously indecisive -- so I'd actually like to know I had a choice between enchiladas and fajitas before stepping up to the buffet. 

[Deleted User]

For something that's not necessary, it just seems like a huge pain in the ass for 300 people. Ya know?

mewebster59

I prefer to have a menu with a short description of food available no matter what the serving style is.  That being said, to answer your question, I think it would look nice to have the menus folded into the napkin.  If you want something less formal, put the silverware in the napkin and two or three menus just stood up at each table so each guest knows what to expect when they get to the buffet (also for allergy purposes!)

ricksang

We did not have menus and we had a buffet. The caterer did have descriptions by the foods being served.

nyrek

bbyckes...you're still awesome.  I won't hold it against you. At least your wasting 220 less than OP!!!    XD 

hgahagan

I think that menu cards are unneccesary for a buffet, but i understand your concern about the place setting looking bare. Maybe you could consider placing a flower folded into or on top of your napkin to add some color, but that could get pricey with 300 guests. What are you favors could they be added to the table rather than on a table by themselves?

beatlesgirl25

If you don't want plain, folded napkins, you could fold them like this (the pic) and use a satiny ribbon to tie around the star part in your primary wedding color. We did that to spiff up our ivory napkins, and I bought violet ribbon from Michael's for like $1.99/roll. It added a nice pop of color to the table too.



I think the individual menus are unnecessary as well. You could put your menu on your website and then have a few large ones at common areas and near the buffet, plus placecards labeling each dish.

bbyckes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:d352d6dc-c481-42dc-a39c-7b2824b3329fPost:6501580f-82db-433f-8c64-9527e85e1a4a">Re: Menu???</a>:
[QUOTE]bbyckes...you're still awesome.  I won't hold it against you. At least your wasting 220 less than OP!!!    XD 
Posted by nyrek[/QUOTE]

Awwww, I wish I had caught this earlier. :)  Thanks, sweetheart!

ericksb

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:d352d6dc-c481-42dc-a39c-7b2824b3329fPost:19b1b197-c267-4cc8-bcf6-4cdde6c9c444">Re: Menu???</a>:
[QUOTE]A menu at each place setting for a buffet is <strong>retarded</strong>.  That is my honest opinion.  If you want guests to be aware of what is on the buffet ahead of time, print one or two menus per table...but one at each place setting is an absolute waste of money, time, energy, and paper.
Posted by nyrek[/QUOTE]

<div>Regardless of your thoughts about the menu (which, OP, I think you could go either way on this topic), the use of this word is completely unacceptable. Pick a different word-foolish, silly, stupid, a waste of time, a terrible idea, ridiculous, etc. </div><div>
</div><div>Spread the Word to End the Word: <a href="http://www.r-word.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.r-word.org/</a></div>

laura_fett

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_menu?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:d352d6dc-c481-42dc-a39c-7b2824b3329fPost:e473e52c-0996-47b2-a022-4a81f5164453">Re: Menu???</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Menu??? : Regardless of your thoughts about the menu (which, OP, I think you could go either way on this topic), the use of this word is completely unacceptable. Pick a different word-foolish, silly, stupid, a waste of time, a terrible idea, ridiculous, etc.  Spread the Word to End the Word: <a href="http://www.r-word.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.r-word.org/</a>
Posted by ericksb[/QUOTE]

I agree! When people use inappropriate words, you lose the respect of quite a few people.