Menu Choice Dilemma

k3wilson

We are getting to the point where we have to make our menu selections.  Our venue allows for two meal choices.  If we want to add a third choice, there is an upcharge of $3.00 per plate.  We have several vegetarians attending the wedding.  We are allowed to offer 10% vegetarian meals for no upcharge.  However, I feel if we place a vegetarian meal option on the rsvp card, we may get more than 10% of the guests asking for vegetarian.  I had a thought of having the two "meat" selections on the card and a note saying "please let us know if you have any special dietary needs."  Then some family members brought up that people would write back with peanut allergies, gluten free, no sodium, low cholesterol, etc. 

Any suggestions on how to solve this dilemma?  Do we just offer two meat selections and leave it at that?

Karen's MOH

How about, instead of 'any special dietary needs', writing "Vegetarian meal available upon request". You are probably right in that if you put the veg meal on the card, you might get more than 10%, and you could be opening it up to a whole host of detary issues.

We didn't have to have guest select meals ahead of time, but I included the Veg meal upon request line on my menus and that seemed to work just fine.

Blueyed228

Most vegetarians know that even if its not listed it is available and will write it in under the choices. I had 2 people do that. I wouldn't list it on the card.

rubyredlucy

Maybe you can write a little note to include in the invitations of those you know who are vegetarians.  This only works if you know about all of your guests, though.

Galaxy8227

We didn't put vegetarian on our cards but a few people wrote it in and the venue accommodated us 

k3wilson

Thank you for the suggestions.  My mother felt that specifically offering vegetarian meals to only some people and not everyone was rude.  I think we may only offer two meal choices and if someone specifically requests a vegetarian dish we may try to accommodate their request. 

Pesapenny

I wouldn't put it on the invite either- why not make one choice the vegetarian choice and one meal choice the meat option? I don't think it's necessary to have two meats.

We're doing that- I'm only offering one meat choice or vegetarian choice...but they'll find that out at the reception, on their menu cards, and they can pick there. (Not on the invitation). I know that's probably breaking all sorts of conventions, but people can just deal with it. We're thinking of going with a pricy meat anyway, or we may pick a duo plate with a meat and a fish (surf and turf kinda thing).

kt8301

I like Karen's MOH suggestion of writing, "Vegetarian meal available upon request".

Writing it in requires a greater effort than choosing the available options (so only the people who REALLY want the veg. meal will make the effort to write it in).