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Photo credits: Kyra Jasmin Photography | Rhiannon Sarah Photography | Bubblerock | Mandy Landry Photography | Life Studios Inc.
Happy #weddingwednesday to you all!
Today we are going to discuss all things menus…
They look beautiful in magazines when placed perfectly on the charger and/or plate for the real wedding photograph, but are they really 100% necessary for your wedding?
We get requests for menus all the time, and clients are generally surprised that they can cost nearly as much as what they paid for invitations, if not more! This is due to the size, printing methods needed to match the invitations, and quantities (Which are usually double the number of invitations sent out; remember, not every guest gets an invitation. Families/couples living together typically only receive one, but they represent 2+ plates on tables).
For smaller, more intimate weddings, the cost may not be a budget breaker. But for large weddings of 200+ guests, that can quickly add a lot onto the budget!
It’s important that couples realize that menus, as lovely as they are, are not a 100% critical item for a reception. If you only have the budget to choose between a seating chart and menus, we always recommend the seating chart. However, menus do have some fantastic uses:
- They may alert guests as to any dietary restrictions not caught by the caterer/couple while receiving the RSVPs.
- They allow guests to know what is coming next in courses and can give an approximate timeline for how long dinner will run.
- They make for lovely keepsakes.
- If dinner is a buffet or family style, guests can know in advance what they are going to fill their plate up with! (All the roast beef for us!)
How can couples have menus, but help to keep the costs down? There are a few options to consider:
- You can combine different place setting items, like the place cards and menus, to create one item instead of two.
- Cut down on the number of menus needed by providing 2-3 per table on little stands. This way, each guest then has access to the information, but not every guest receives their own.
- Create a single sign upon entry that indicates the menu for the evening.
It’s also important to remember the timelines for ordering menus and other day-of stationery. It’s always recommended to start at least 3 weeks before your event for items like menus and place cards. We’ll be doing a post about timelines in the next few weeks, so keep checking back for that information!
We want to make sure that our couples make the right decision for their event. If you have any questions regarding menus or other day-of stationery, please reach out to us at {hello@weddingdesignbyanika.com}.
