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Updated Oct 14, 2024What's The Proper Etiquette for Wedding Invitations With Food Options? Experts Weigh In
Featuring expert-approved insight, templates and actual examples.
When you ask guests what stands out most at a wedding, many say the cuisine. Regardless of the meal service, from elegant plated dinners to eclectic buffet stations, the food plays a significant role in the event's overall experience. With this in mind, opting for wedding invitations with food options is a good idea, as it shows that you truly took the time to consider each guest's preferences, dietary restrictions, and allergies. Plus, this information is helpful for your caterer so they can prepare accordingly (read: no ingredient shortages!). Below, we've broken down everything you need to know about etiquette for including wedding meal choice options on RSVP cards, as well as specific wedding RSVP wording examples to guide you on how to ask for this information.
In this article:
- Do You Put Food Choices on Wedding Invitations?
- How Do You Ask for Meal Choices on a Wedding Invitation?
- RSVP Cards With Meal Choice
- Free Online RSVP Tool With Meal Choice
Do You Put Food Choices on Wedding Invitations?
According to Elena Markwood, owner and lead event planner at Adoration Weddings and Events in Columbus, Ohio, the need to collect guests' meal choices depends on the food service style of the wedding (a buffet versus plated wedding dinner). Moreover, she explains, "The only food service style that requires collecting food choices from guests is a plated dinner with multiple different entrée options." In other words, "a buffet, station, or family-style meal does not require that guests make meal selections ahead of time because they can choose which entrée they prefer when they go through the line(s), and a plated dinner where all guests will be eating the same thing (for example, a chicken and filet duet) does not require meal choice selections either because all the plated meals will be the same."
However, collecting meal choices with RSVPs for a plated wedding dinner with multiple entrée options is crucial, as the caterer needs several details to prepare and serve efficiently. In this case, include clear wedding RSVP questions for guests on the cards themselves. Alternatively, if you're using a QR code for wedding invitations that leads to your website, ensure your wedding website has an RSVP form that allows guests to select their meal and list any dietary restrictions.
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How Do You Ask for Meal Choices on a Wedding Invitation?
"If meal choices are being selected on a physical reply card, the best way to ensure that the information you collect is clear is to list the meal options and ask guests to initial next to their preferred entrée," Markwood says. This helps eliminate confusion, especially when larger groups or families RSVP together but have different preferences.
Online RSVP forms, on the other hand, can simplify the process of selecting meal choices. This is because they can be customized to require a selection for each guest. "Any possible ambiguity about which members of a household want which entrées can be removed," Markwood adds. Of course, no matter what format you opt for, it's also important to clearly state when RSVPs should be due, giving your caterer ample time to finalize headcounts and meal breakdowns.
RSVP With Meal Choice Template
For straightforward wedding menu selection cards, consider using one of the templates below that clearly communicates exactly what information you're looking for. Simply copy, paste and you're good to go!
For physical RSVP cards:
Kindly Respond by [Date]
M______________________________
We have reserved ___ seat(s) in your honor.
___ Accepts with pleasure
___ Regretfully declines
Please initial next to your entrée choice:
___ Chicken Marsala
___ Filet Mignon
___ Miso Cod
Please note any dietary restrictions or allergies:
For online RSVPs:
Name(s):
[Text Field]
Will you attend?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
Entrée selection (one per guest). If RSVP'ing for multiple guests, please list each guest's name and selection below:
Chicken Marsala [Text Field]
Filet Mignon [Text Field]
Miso Cod [Text Field]
If any of the following apply, please check all that do:
[ ] Kosher Meal
[ ] Halal Meal
[ ] Vegan Meal
[ ] Vegetarian Meal
Please list any additional dietary restrictions or allergies:
[Text Field]
Should You Ask Guests to Share Dietary Restrictions on Their RSVP Cards as Well?
Vijay Goel, co-owner of 440 Elm by Bite Catering in Long Beach, California, emphasizes the importance of inquiring about guests' "serious allergies or dietary requirements that meet religious standards." He also recommends including opt-in categories with checkboxes for vegan, vegetarian or kosher preferences. Fortunately, collecting this information is easy—simply include a line on the reply card requesting any dietary restrictions or use an open-ended question on an online RSVP form. If you're using a wedding website, such as one hosted on The Knot, you can also customize your RSVP form to gather this information digitally.
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Markwood echoes these sentiments, saying, "It's very important to make sure you know of any allergies or restrictions so that the caterer can accurately prepare and ensure that all guests will be taken care of." She emphasizes that this information is essential, regardless of the type of food service. For example, if there's a buffet full of dishes containing dairy, a dairy-free guest may not have anything to eat. While many guests will include allergies and restrictions that seem unnecessary, the pro argues that it's ultimately better for the caterer to know so that they can inform guests of any potential cross-contamination.
RSVP Cards With Meal Choice
Capturing guests' entrée preferences is easy—that is, as long as you select an RSVP card with meal choices. And while you can customize any design on The Knot Paper, these wedding meal cards already have the choices incorporated into the design, which means you have one less thing to worry about (because, let's face it, wedding planning is its own full-time job!). It's also worth mentioning that each option below features wedding websites with matching invitations and the ability to add QR codes at no additional cost.
Once you've selected the meal choice card that suits your specific style, check out our top wedding place card ideas to complement your invitation suite and overall wedding theme.
1. Romantic Wisteria Wedding Response Cards
If you love florals, look no further than this aptly named RSVP card. Choose from five fantastic colors—including vibrant pinks and purples—that best suit your desired color scheme.
2. Soft Pampas Wedding Response Cards
These minimalist wedding meal choice cards are a timeless choice thanks to their muted color palette and simple yet stunning typography. The pampas grass and floral illustrations add a rustic, boho-inspired flair.
3. Timeless Elegance Wedding Response Cards
Sleek and sophisticated, these menu selection cards for weddings stand out for their elegant typography. The two-tone design, featuring a solid block of color on the back to complement the invitation suite, adds a nice touch.
4. Vintage Flourish Wedding Response Cards
For the perfect blend of old-world glamour and modern sophistication, select these wedding response cards, which use both cursive and serif fonts. Add a monogram on the back featuring your and your soon-to-be spouse's initials.
5. Timeless Frame Wedding Response Cards
These opulent RSVP cards have a shimmery, foil-lined border—the true star of the show here. It's a subtle, albeit luxurious, detail that instantly elevates the invitation suite.
6. Vintage Toile Wedding Response Cards
Available in five bold hues, these RSVP cards feature your wedding date, printed to look like an old-fashioned stamp at the top of the page. Surrounding the "stamp" is an ornate, vintage pattern inspired by Toile de Jouy, adding a romantic, European flair. Très chic!
7. Striking Scene Wedding Response Cards
Set the scene for a memorable soiree with these marvelous RSVP cards, which display meal choices in a modern italicized font. This, coupled with the striking script-style "RSVP by" text, offers an elevated look and feel.
8. Mountain Wildflowers Wedding Response Cards
If you're having an outdoor or garden-inspired wedding, these meal cards for weddings are the way to go, thanks to the bright and beautiful bouquet illustration. Meanwhile, the charming portrait frame ties everything together. Oh, and did we mention they come in nine color options, from cheery yellows to dusty blues and pastel pinks and purples?
9. Neo Accent Wedding Response Cards
Prepare to be dazzled by these dreamy art deco-inspired response cards, which stand out for their gorgeous geometric accents. Couples can choose from three metallic-hued foil options, as well.
Free Online RSVP Tool With Meal Choice
Using an online RSVP tool is recommended for tracking responses, meal choices and other insights. With that in mind, if you're looking for a free tool for online RSVPs with meal choices, we've got you covered: The Knot Guest List Tool lets couples collect addresses directly from guests, along with RSVPs and essential details like meal preferences, allergies and more, all in one central spot. To take advantage of this feature, start by creating a wedding website on The Knot, where you can direct guests to RSVP online via your invitation by either writing out the URL or including a QR code.
