Children Getting Adult Meals?!

I would think as a parent responding for a child that the child would just GET a kid's meal vs filet mignon. What does your response card look like?

Is it possible that they thought they were indicating the kids meal? Or at least assuming that's what they would get?

I would follow-up and let the parents know that kids under 12 get the kids meal.

I mean what was the kid meal option? If it was something unhealthy like chicken fingers and fries--are the parents maybe trying to make a healthier choice for their kids? Other than that, I would not be paying for adult meals for 8 year olds. I would simply say the childrens meal choices are X or Y-which would they like? If it were only 1 kid or two id probably keep my mouth shut, but I would not pay 50-100$ for a kid to have filet.

I'd tell the parents the venue makes individuals under 15 order a child's meal. I know it's a lie but it might save you some stress and aggregation.

I asked the venue if they offered "teen meals"

for those too old for kids meals but too young for alcohol. They said no

It's either kids meal or adult meal with alcohol.

Meal choices looked like this:

Filet Mignon

Seabass

Mushroom Risotto (Vegan/GF)

Child's Meal

When my brothers were 10 they were eating adult meals. There was no way a kid portion would fill them up. Isn't there an option to tell your caterer that there are X amount of people under 21 so you are not paying the bar portion for them?

They're probably used to eating regular food. The kids meals are almost always nuggets or hamburger and fries. Nothing I would want my kids to eat. Does your venue offer an alternate meal plan for kids? Also, your venue should be asking you for the number of minors (under 21) and discounting their cost as they will not be drinking alcohol.

Absolutely change their meals to a kids meal.

I'm fine with them eating the adult meal except the venue won't take off the alcohol portion so each child is eating $74 worth of food (I've asked them twice a few months apart to make sure)

I might ask / beg to see if they'll discount their food..

I agree. I would just follow up with the family and say that kids under 12 are getting a kids meal.

Or can you talk to your venue about getting them removed from the alcohol tab but still have an adult dinner? I wouldn't think that would be impossible.

Since it doesn't describe what the kids meal consists of, maybe the kid is picky so the parent decided to opt for something known that the kid will eat, like steak, than leave it to chance with something just called "kids meal." Since you said it was kids of family and BP I assume you and/or your fiance are close enough with the parents to chat? Maybe confer with the caterer to see what the kids meal actually is, then call the parent and say "hey I noticed you marked filet for little Freddy. I would hate for him to get the wrong meal just wanted to make sure you didn't mark that in error," and maybe the parent will tell you the reason. If it is the unknown of the kids meal, give them the additional details and see if it is something their kid can eat.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm going ask/beg the venue first, and ask the parents of those who just picked adult meals for their kids; I don't think all the parents marked it in error because one family with 3 kids had put child's meals for 2 of their kids and then a filet for their eldest (the 10-year-old)

My future step sons eat more than us at 11 and 13. We never get them kids meals anywhere. They'd be starving. Can you tell the caterer it's for food only for these people so they subtract the bar cost?

I understand the concern of having to pay for alcohol for someone under 21, but not for the meal choice. As an 8 year old, I definitely would have selected and enjoyed the filet mignon over chicken strips or whatever the kids meal is.

I'm always surprised by the way people choose to treat children. Since when can a 10-year-old not enjoy filet mignon?

Before we invited a single child, we talked to our venue about adult versus child meal cost and budgeted assuming every child would order an adult meal just in case. The majority got the child's meal, so we used the money we saved on upgrades and paid for adult meals for the couple who ordered it.

That was one of the reasons why we only invited guests, who were 21 and up.

Our venue charged the full adult rate (no discount for 5 hours of open bar), for all guests 13 and up. Guests 12 and under who requested an adult entree (actual 4 plated courses) = full adult rate.

I had already attended a wedding a few years before ours, where a couple brought uninvited kids, and they refused the kids' meal the caterer brought to the table. The plates just sat there and went cold. Of course, they ate little of the adult food; after that, the chance that our wedding would be 21 and up went up to 150%.

I'd be fine with them getting adult meals if it did not include alcohol.

Venue does NOT offer adult meals without alcohol. I asked them TWICE. I'm going to ask them again to take off the extra cost. It makes no sense to charge for alcohol

That's a venue issue and something that should have been worked out ahead of time. I mean, what are you doing for those who are 18 or 19 years old? Surely they're getting adult meals and you're paying for an open bar for people who can't drink?

We don't have any teenagers coming. All of our relatives kids are under 13

All of the kids at our wedding ate adult meals. It worked out great.