Guests choosing their meal when they RSVP

AriesAngel86

I chose a venue that wants to know how many of each entree to make prior to the wedding. Anyone know how to go about having the guests choose when they RSVP? Is it necessary to tell them specifics of the dish: for example grilled roasted chicken vs. chicken? 

tarafina32

be specific because I may pick chicken but not if it is stuffed with cheese or I might pick beef but not if it is a prime rib or fattier cut.

As a tip once they RSVP  and you try and ensure they get what they wanted, consider puting your seating chart together with theirn name in a little frame and make one frame for chicken people and another frame for the beef folks, then  they place it where they sit.  This frame can act as a favor and the servers know what goes where.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Be as descriptive as possible in case someone has allergies or food preferences. But if you don't know what kind of beef or chicken you're serving yet, that's okay. We wrote on our RSVP card, "Please initial next to your choice for the entree" or something to that effect.

SgtK9GF

My 1 cousin almost 2 yeras ago did something very similar to this. With the invite, she included a seperate card(business size) that had on it: Please mark how many with initials beside each meal. There were 3 options. Chicken, steak and a veg meal option. I can't remember how detailed options were on the card but I know it said more than just chicke, steak or veg. She also made a note on the bottom of the card asking if you had any food allergies or foods you couldn't eat do to medical conditions ect... to list them on the back.

At the reception she had escort cards. Each card had the persons name in a certain color. That color said which meal you wanted/signed for. This made it very easy for the waiters/waitresses to find where what meal went to which person.

When I talked to her shortly after the wedding, I told her the colored escort cards doubling as what meal goes to who seemed like a really good idea. She said there was next to no problems with the meals because of that and that the reception hall loved the idea. GL!!!

futurepivko

it is good to be a specific as you can be....we just put steak, chicken or pasta and were getting a lot of phone calls about what exactly does the steak come with and such.

we had spots for the guest to check, like this got that sent back to us with their rsvp. some also wrote their name next to the item

______steak
______chicken
______pasta
______kids meal

Allycat11

I would be as descriptive as possible on the response card.  My family always has plated receptions and usually they just list "chicken or beef".  I always choose chicken because I feel like it is the safe option then I am always disappointed when I see other people eating delicious filets.
Personally I would do something like
_____Chicken Wellington
_____Filet of Beef
_____Eggplant Parmesan
_____Children's Chicken Strips
That gives people a brief description of all of their options (for my example I just put down a random chicken, beef, vegetarian and kids' dish).  If people do not know what chicken wellington is, they can look it up and see if they like the flavors it incorporates.  I wouldn't put ful descriptions because it would be too wordy.