Are wedding menus confusing?

LizzyRB

I went to a wedding last year where we preselected our dinner choice on the RSVPs but when we got there we had menus on our plates. I thought it was cute as they matched her theme and didn't think much of it.

Fast forward to now, I have an extra Vista Print coupon and thought about using it to make dinner menus. I mentioned this to my mom and she pointed out it might be confusing to the guests. (Didn't I already pick my dinner? Do I get to change my mind?)

Are menus normal? Would it be confusing to guest? Should I go ahead and make some up with my groupon or put nothing out?

misshart00

I've never been to a wedding where I picked out my meal on the RSVP card, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I would be confused. Mostly because I would wonder if I could change my mind. I do think you could do like one per table on a stand. That way people know about their side dishes and such. I think I would use the groupon to order some really cute thank you notes that you like.

daria24

I usually give individual menus a (small) side-eye because I think they are a waste if you aren't actually choosing an entree tableside. I would just do one per table personally. 

[Deleted User]

I concur with misshart... go for thank you notes - you'll actually need those.

manjermj

Not necessary, but we chose to have menus because on our RSVPs it only said "Chicken, Beef or Vegetarian" becase we didnt have meals picked out at the time. We put "Pre-selected" under the entree part so I think that helps with the possible confusion.

Ours were like this: 

First Course

CHICKEN GUMBO

Entrée 

(PRE-SELECTED)

BREAST OF CHICKEN

WITH RICOTTA CHEESE, 

ROASTED PEPPERS AND ARTICHOKES

WILD MUSHROOM CREAM SAUCE

OR

TRADITIONAL CARVED WHOLE ROASTED TENDERLOIN OF BEEF

ROASTED SHALLOT DEMI-GLACE

OR

HOUSE-MADE VEGETABLE LASAGNA

WITH RICOTTA CHEESE, 

SUN-DRIED TOMATOES, SPINACH

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM SAUCE

Dessert

WEDDING CAKE

COOKIES

COFFEE & TEA

[Deleted User]

I did menu cards for my wedding. We had a family style dinner so this way people would know what they would be getting served. But I have to admit, orginally had no plans of doing it. Only reason I did is because we ended up going with dark brown napkins and the favors (chocolate suckers) were going to be placed on top of the napkin. I was concerned that the suckers would be lost on the napkin so I did an ivory menu card to put between napking & favor so favor would show more. I made them myself on a heavy card stock and a nice scrapbooking corner punch. Time consuming, but not too expensive.

crysspears

In dointhem to add to decor. They do.t have the option to choose their meal. We are doing a duet plated meal. Just so everyone knows what's for dinner

JoanE2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_are-wedding-menus-confusing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:5206dc84-7644-4771-9a64-1b3563c46c16Post:13466d7b-522b-481a-93e3-13b87eaceca7">Are wedding menus confusing?</a>:
[QUOTE]I went to a wedding last year where we preselected our dinner choice on the RSVPs but when we got there we had menus on our plates. I thought it was cute as they matched her theme and didn't think much of it. Fast forward to now, I have an extra Vista Print coupon and thought about using it to make dinner menus. I mentioned this to my mom and she pointed out it might be confusing to the guests. (Didn't I already pick my dinner? Do I get to change my mind?) Are menus normal? Would it be confusing to guest? Should I go ahead and make some up with my groupon or put nothing out?
Posted by LizzyRB[/QUOTE]

Our venue asked us to do a meal selection on the RSVP so they could get an idea of how to order.  On the day of the wedding, they still provided a custom menu.  While most people would chose the same entree, the venue still ordered enough that if people changed their mind or forget it was ok.  This also saved us from having to have entree selections noted on the escort cards.  It worked well.

kipnus

I think they're a waste of paper. Do one per table, if you must.

Ella and Pedro

I think as PP have pointed out, it really depends on your menu and what the guests know in advance.

One thing I can point out, three years or so ago, I went to a wedding where people did select their entrees, and I was so busy with work that I could not even remember when I got there what was served and what I picked. I enjoyed the menu so I could refresh my memory.  I also enjoyed it because it reminded me of the other choices, and then I of course saw them on the other plates. 

Another thing I can point out is that you don't have to do the menu as just food.  Our menu is a sort of program for the meal. We're doing I-POD music so we will know the order of songs and which songs.  I timed them out with youtube, so they should be fairly close to spot on in terms of length of various playlists to duration of components within the evening.  Our 'cocktail hour' music is about an hour of songs.  On the menu, on the front, we have the cocktail hour appetizers, and explain about the open full bar and the martini bar (signature drinks) - providing those.  Below this is the list of music being played, titles and artists.  On the inside, on the left - the menu of food, on the right, the people giving toasts/speeches, in the order, and who they are, below this, the choice of toasting champagne being served (we are offering sparkling white grape, moscato, prosecco and brut champagne as choices)...below this is a quick "thank you" and below this is the music being played for dinner.  On the back is our dessert menu (cake buffet and ice cream station) and the music being played for the dessert.

I think you could use the free page as a way of doing all kinds of things. Include the words to your wedding ceremony reading. Put fun facts about the wedding location/city/region, or fun facts about you and your fiance. Do a wedding mad libs, and put a small cup of pens on the table for people. Use it to provide recipes of the food, as well as the food being served...  Everyone takes home a recipe card. That could be a favor/menu. You could use it to discuss fair trade and organic food, and why you selected it. 

Think of what your meal is, and what your wedding is, and what you'd tell each guest if you had time to sit with them, not merely 5 minutes per table to say hi.

ciligirl

I'm doing one (two possibly) per table and incorporating it with the table number like the photo below.  I too liked the décor factor:

 

OjitosVerdes

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_are-wedding-menus-confusing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5206dc84-7644-4771-9a64-1b3563c46c16Post:bd24188e-b48d-4f52-bdfc-d16b243dc4ea">Re: Are wedding menus confusing?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm doing one (two possibly) per table and incorporating it with the table number like the photo below.  I too liked the décor factor:  
Posted by ciligirl[/QUOTE]

<div>I really like this idea - are you making your own, or ordering them? </div>

Butterfly898

I agree with Mrs Kaiser - If the guests choose their entree in advance, they still like to know what else they are having, in terms of salad, appetizers, desserts etc. Do a couple menu cards per table (no need to do one for each person). Vista coupon would be awesome for this.