Menu Help!! - is fish on the menu weird?

Just to clarify, they just give the guest one or the other without them choosing? That wouldn't be ideal but it sounds like you're doing your best to accommodate your guests. The main thing is making sure with those with special limitations are taken care of. I'd rather someone eat something they didn't like versus not at all.

ETA: just saw your comment above mine.

As some PP have pointed, maybe it's best to do just beef or chicken in this scenario... i.e. I love fish but FH can't stand it so if both of us got the fish he would just not eat it, and I won't eat both either

@Aly G, that seems like a totally arbitrary decision on their part... why does it specifically alternate like one person gets steak, other person gets fish like that? That's such a weird arrangement, I would not like that venue at all.

I would just go with one choice then - steak. Unless you have hindu guests, I think everyone eats steak.

I would be very disappointed if I got fish and the person next to me got steak. That is so odd.

I love fish (we are having lightly breaded grilled swordfish as one of our three entree choices), but you need to work something out where people can actually choose. You can't tell them they have to have steak or fish and the person next to them gets the other. Renegotiate your contract.

I agree with @Macy. Whitefish has no smell and if you are eating smelly fish it is a sign that it's bad. Broccoli smells worse than fish! We are having a fish and meat choice with chicken as an app. And of course vegan options for a few of our guests who need it.

This seems like a terrible idea. Having fish is great, I am too. But what if someone doesn't like fish? Or someone else doesn't like red meat? How can you just assign it every other seat? You'll have guests eyeing each other's plates, or just being unhappy with what they are stuck with

That's a whacky set up - do you have any other catering options? Do you have vegetarian options? What about people with allergies?

ETA: I see you have options for those people. But still, I would absolutely not want to do the 50/50 option, and giving everyone fish (or steak, or chicken...) is shitty.

This is a wicked stragne situation. I would ask for other options. Neither one of those is good.

@jenny + everyone it is! I couldn't believe it but doing the best I can to negotiate with them. Apparently this is how it is always done there and no one but me has complained about it. If a guest wants something else they switch plates with the person next to them and apparently that's ok. Mexico is a totally different world wedding-wise.

I'm going to at least try to take people's orders on my own and offer the vendor that option.

Also I can only pick 2 entrees and then there's the silent veggie option.

Some people don't like fish..

Aly G, you definitely need a new venue, caterer, or contract.

How many guests will you be expecting? If it's an intimate wedding maybe this will not be as big of a issue and you could just personally ask your guests like you said. A larger group may be more difficult though.

As a guest I wouldn't be happy with not being able to choose what I'm eating. I went to a friend's wedding where they served chicken, no other option. For my wedding, we had a vegetarian dish, chicken dish, salmon dish, shrimp dish and a beef dish. Everyone ordered something different so it's nice to give them options. And keep in mind, some people might be allergic.

I mean, taking orders on your own is tricky, because what happens if 70% of your guests request steak and then the venue isn't willing to do that? I would just ask the caterer if you can pay extra to have it be a choice.

What if I just did 100% Steak? Plus all the special orders of course.

I don't like most fish, so if I'd be sitting there with anxiety counting out the meals and trying to figure out if I'd get stuck with fish. And if I did, I'd then be hoping someone would switch with me but most people would probably want the steak. This is so weird.

Is buffet style a possibility?

Mrs fall bride, that's what I'm thinking too! They'd have to honor that!!

@Aly I don't think all steak works either. If someone has a dietary restriction with red meat (I do) do then just get the veggie option?