Entree choices on place cards!!

On the inside of the place card, simply put the initial for what is being served.

"B" for beef.

"C" for chicken

"F" for fish

But I don't want the servers to have to pick up the cards and look! Could take too long.

You could print their names in different colors

Beef - red

Chicken - black

Fish - blue

That's a good thought. thinking about different colored ribbons but would rather find some small black stickers with the letter "b", "c" etc

Do you have assigned seating? If you do, then the servers should have a map showing who gets what.

I'm using stick on bling. One for chicken, two for pork, three for vegetarian

If putting it on the inside is too much, stick it on the outside that doesn't mess with the look of your place card.

Julean A makes a good point. At my daughter's venue, she only needs to tell her venue how many of which are at each table.

I love the bling and ribbon ideas.

I saw a genius idea on Weddingbee. It's actually where I got my inspiration for my escort/place cards. The bride added a paper flower to each card - the color indicated what they were eating. I can't find the picture now, but it was so cute!

Or just find a sticker (or shaped hole punch) you like. Placement of sticker can be what they are eating.

Top left corner = chicken

Top right corner = beef

Lower right corner = fish

Lower left corner = child's

this site lets you print out cards...

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/06/10/diy-project-custom-place-cards/

Thanks for the good ideas. It's just a detail but it has been hanging us up!

What's stick on bling?

Im still working on this too, I've heard the sticker idea, different color ink,ect. But I found on etsy a shop that has placecards with laser cut butterflys and other things on them, I think I'll wind up using those: butterflies for chicken, flowers for pasta,ect

*edited

I just looked on Etsy to find the ones I was talking about, but couldnt find them, although these might help, (you could use a different pattern background for the different entrees) or just use different hole punches to indicate entrees.

I suggest not making it too complicated. Servers will be very busy and need to be able to identify your code easily and from a bit of a distance. Also, consider the lighting in your venue. Will it be bright or will the lights be dimmed? The map idea will only work if your guests actually sit in the exact seat the you assigned them, rather than two chairs to the right. LOL!

Color is really the easiest way for a server to ID the choices. That can be the printing, a dot (or bling), a ribbon, etc.

I'm afraid you're right If we print it im thinking there will be a certain amount of "who gets the chicken" by the server since so many rsvp's don't say which person gets what Oh well, there could be worse things than that going wrong!!

Since your RSVP's do not include the entree choice, perhaps you could have some type of item (be that a small flower, a square of paper, what have you) that guests pick up when they get their seat assignment. They could place it at their place setting.

Just an idea.

The guests will be sitting near their date (I assume.)

Just assign a meal to each of them, they can always switch if they need to.

Or for those that didn't do their rsvp cards yet, do something like this.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Please respond by May 10, 2012

We have reserved ____ seats in your honor

__Accepts with pleasure

__Must decline with regret

Name(s) ___________________

chicken / beef / vegetarian (circle one)

Name(s) ___________________

chicken / beef / vegetarian (circle one)

Adult only reception

Thanks everyone for all the ideas We did give guests their food choice The venue made us order three extra of each type just in case there are issues. That's another story which I will blog once this is over Stay tuned!

As a chef with more than a dozen years experience in doing this type of event, Let me say: Keep it simple!

Hint: Venues are dimly lit, making pale colors difficult to distinguish in the dark.

Color-coded ribbons work, but take a lot of time to do, and are generally done at the last minute-not a good mix.

The BEST is a picture-often a cartoon picture or a line drawing-don't make it too realistic!) of what you are eating (cow, fish, broccoli, clown for kids, etc.)

Other options are to color-code the entire card in a logical way (beef is pink, fish blue, vegetarian is green, etc.), or to put a colored dot or stripe on the card (same colors as above, but generally darker to make is stand out).

Initials (B, F, C, etc.) can work, if large enough.

NEVER rely on a chart-people move constantly! Been there, done that. NEVER put the code on the back or inside.

If someone has an allergy and has to have a special meal, a contrasting dot/heart in a corner is a great signal.