How to communicate reception menu

Personally, as a guest I hate seeing "chicken or fish" on the RSVP card. I always get nervous that it's going to be something I don't like, but I have no way of knowing till I show up. I pack snacks for those weddings just in case.

ETA: Do you think your caterer will comply with you wanting to do a tasting sooner if you push for it?

Is buffet style an option? That's what we're doing. It's cheaper and you don't need to put entreés options on the response card, just 'Buffet style dinner to be enjoyed following the ceremony' on the details card. We're having a sirloin carving station, grilled chicken with creamy herb sauce, cheese tortellini, vegetable medley, and potato soufflé. I put our menu on our website so guests know what they're having and so they can inform me if there are any food allergies I should know about.

I also prefer more than just "chicken or fish". Ask her if you can do it at the very beginning of July - then you can finalize your menu and order your RSVP cards in time to get your invites out. (That's basically what we did - we didn't get to have our tasting until 3/25, so I just ordered the RSVP cards the next day after the tasting.)

We're having guests order at the table.

Almost all my venues take orders at the table.

Agree with PPs, that it's better to have actual dishes listed rather than generic proteins. For example, my FH is allergic to dairy, so that influences his menu choice. There's a big difference between Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken Piccata.

Can you push back with the wedding planner and ask to have it scheduled earlier? I don't see how it makes a huge difference to venue when you do it unless they plan to change their menu.

We had a duo plate so their was no selection but we did a menu at each plate. I actually made it and printed it myself.

We did an earlier tasting for that reason. Our venue requires that we have meal designation on the place cards, as they wont be taking "orders." We also didn't taste a few of the items we picked (prime rib and the chicken dish) because our venue does one massive tasting for all couples more to give a general idea of style, ability and flavors then to have them try each meal. Do you have the menu to pick from already? Are there some meals that you just know you want to serve without tasting?

We have a general "beef, fish, vegetarian" on our RSVP cards. It doesn't have to be specific. If a guest is curious as to what kind of dish it is, they can always call and ask!

My fear is that a guest will choose "chicken" and get to the reception and the chicken is served in a mushroom sauce and they don't like mushrooms and will have wanted to pick a different option.

We both really like the idea of a plated dinner. The coordinator mentioned color coding the place cards with the guests menu choice, so I will have to ask if guests ordering at the table is an option.

When I initially mentioned having the tasting sooner she said the chef likes to keep it closer to the event date so they can give us more options and in season selections for the menu.

Have a separate insert for the meal selection. Be sure to offer many choices.

If they won't budge on moving up the tasting so you can have enough time to order RSVP cards that actually have the entrée names on them, include a note on your RSVP cards that say entrée descriptions will be available on your wedding website. That way, the info is still available for any guest who really wants to know.

Our guests ordered tableside, and everyone had a menu at their seat.

I'm definitely going to push to have the tasting sooner and explore some other options. The menu revolves with the season as far as it's been communicated to me. The menu of the couple that were getting married during our meeting was different than the menu on our information packet. I think that was just a sample menu. I hadn't asked if orders can be placed day of, so I will explore that option as well. Thanks for your help and suggestions everyone!

I'd definitely be specific with the food. Our venue does tastings 2x a year. We're going in November for the tasting for our wedding next October.

We will have a separate insert with the menu option selection.

I would prefer at least the exact name of the dish. FH's sister was a vegetarian that just started eating poultry again. She attended a wedding that just had chicken beef and vegetable as options so she picked chicken. Well no one said the chicken was wrapped in bacon and she cant eat pork without being ill so she couldnt even eat her dinner!

This is an example I found on Pinterest, I customized it with my plated options

As a lactose intolerant person who doesn't eat red meat, receiving just "chicken, beef or vegetarian" would throw me into a frenzy. I am team as much information as possible

@celia Milton, when having a buffet reception is it essential to have a printed menu showing what the meal will be? Was thinking I could go without it being a buffet.

We did what BlueHenBride suggested. I think it worked okay, we didn't get a lot of questions on it.