Listing Buffet Options at Reception

Lobsters25

I suppose I could have asked this in food, but it seems more of a 'proper way to do things' question than a food one (and you ladies always seem to be spot on with advice!)

We're doing a buffet for the wedding.  Should I still do the menu card at each table, or simply a nice sign in front of each dish on the buffet, both, or neither? 

Also, what do you think about putting allergy information on the food labels on the buffet table (example: contains shellfish, nuts) in the growing age of food awareness and allergies.  Is this nice, or is it too much wording to keep the line moving?  (We only have 50 people, so I'm not overly worried about a backup).

achiduck

I think a little card in front of the item is nice. I haven't seen them with allergy alerts before but if you have a group of people with food allregies it would be considerate to list things like shellfish or nuts.

aragx6

We'll have both a menu "tent" card and little signs at the buffet. I think the menus on the table are totally unnecessary but nice -- we're doing them mostly because we're also having passed hors d'oeuvres, so I figured folks might like to know what's being passed around as well.

acaponi87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_listing-buffet-options-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6dea49e7-7e30-476c-ae9e-042348756c89Post:18c92adf-06ab-41ae-bbd6-b2cdda74a56b">Re: Listing Buffet Options at Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I think a little card in front of the item is nice. I haven't seen them with allergy alerts before but if you have a group of people with food allregies it would be considerate to list things like shellfish or nuts.
Posted by achiduck[/QUOTE]

Agree. I've been to weddings with buffets that didn't tell you what was in the buffet and I just wish I'd known what the stuff was. I've never had or seen chicken cordon bleu before and you can't see what's in it just by looking at it in a tray. And ham is a big no-no for me.

Natrasha

We did menus at each place setting. For one, I like the look of it, and for two, I figured it would help the line move faster if people knew what was up there and in each dish. We had a brief description of each dish on the menu, plus it listed the passed hors d'oeuvres

specialk84

In addition to having little signs in front of each dish, I like knowing the whole menu before I start going through the line. That way, if I don't like your main dish, I can get more sides. 

ginadog

I planned on having a menu "tent" or frame at each table, then a little tent card at the buffet for each item.

Meghannsix

I had never thought of it, but I agree it's a good idea to have the menu at each place setting.  I think it would be nice to know what my options are before I load up on something that maybe would end up being my second choice.  I am so doing menus with my place settings now!

RussoWill

We had antique frames with a chalkboard painted board in them near where the line was. My MOh had calligraphy- worthy handwriting and wrote it out. It was pretty big, like a 2'x3.5' rectangle.

Sydney91

I'm having one menu card at each table for the buffet supper, with the bar options on the back. Didn't think about marking the buffet dishes, but then again roast beef and mashed taters are pretty hard to confuse.