RSVP/Menu Questions

As a side note: We haven't decided yet if our reception will be gold or silver (chargers), so that's why there are two different colors there. The Save the Dates used gold, but FH doesn't think he'll like gold chargers, so we need to get with our decorator to look at them.

Also, the RSVP date isn't set in stone - we just threw something random in there while we're figuring this stuff out. Is 1 month out fairly normal?

1. I think the basic descriptions of each entree are fine, but I've also seen people just do the basic Beef, Chicken, Veggie with no description and I thought that was fine too. I'm not a picky eater, so I don't bat an eyelash and almost always choose beef.

2. I would just communicate w/ those guests that are bringing their children. I assume it wouldn't be a high volume?

3. Menu looks good to me, I don't think you need to list child meals. If you've communicated up front with people about that, then they'll know it's available, and it's not like the actual kids themselves are going to be reading the menus anyways = )

4. Is it Wedding Paper Divas? They were able to accommodate some specific designer requests that I had and it was super easy.

ETA - My RSVP date for my wedding is August 8th. Gave myself a couple of weeks to track down last minute RSVP's. I think your date is fine based on your wedding date, just make sure when you need to have final numbers to your caterer/venue, and base it off of that.

If they are choosing their meal on the RSVP, I would remove the OR between the meals. I'd also take out the wording Vegetarian Option and just list it as a meal description, which also leads to the removal of the word both when referring to the sides. A lot of my couples are moving away from the "M" on the RSVP and changing it to Name to avoid confusion. I'd also put your menu and your meal choices on the RSVP in the same order (that is the OCD part of me coming out).

Thanks, ladies! Brandy, that's a great callout. I'm generally pretty OCD too, so I don't know how I didn't notice that! I need to find out if the vegetarian option comes with the sides as well. I imagine it does, but I'm actually not positive.

It is Wedding Paper Divas! I'm hoping they'll be able to accommodate some changes, but I already learned with STDs that they can't move the foil parts at all. That's a good idea to put Name instead of the M. I wonder if I could put something like "name" and then below that, "number of guests" (above the will/will not attend)?

I've always thought the full meal description is nicer than "chicken", "beef", or "fish". Brandy also made a great point. Remove the word "option" when listing your vegetarian dish. I also agree with her suggestion to add the choices on the RSVP card. I think it's fine to add "Child's Meal" to the RSVP card.

I have to ask...is that just an example or are those the meals you're serving at your wedding. Pheasant? I've never had it. On the other dish, I would state what the fillet is...the dish as stated could include fillet of beef or fillet of some type of fish.

Good point, Centerpiece! Those are actually the meals. We tried quite a few of the different meal options during the tasting and those were the ones we liked best (honestly, many of the others we didn't like at all. We are IN LOVE with the venue, but they have a dedicated caterer, so we had to get what we had). Pheasant looks and tastes just like chicken (or at least this did!). That's actually part of the reason I'm considering just "chicken, beef, vegetarian", because I feel like some folks may be turned off by pheasant. I told my grandma one of the options is pheasant and she said "Isn't that like a skunk?" Haha. Bless her adorable heart.

Edit for typos.

@Connie - I don't think you should write "Chicken" on your RSVP card, and then serve your guests pheasant, instead. I'm not a fan of pheasant, regardless of what it might taste like, and I know my grandmother would take the vegetarian option, if you weren't really serving chicken.

Thanks for the input, Dreamer! I'd never had pheasant before the tasting and the 3 of us just shrugged and said "Eh, it tastes like chicken to me." Haha. I'm glad to hear it isn't the same for everyone. That's very helpful.

Here's what I'm thinking for the RSVP. I'm able to change the part above the entrees, so I changed that a bit to the number of meals needed. I feel like it's worded a bit awkwardly, but it would hopefully help with the "how many are coming?" question. Any thoughts? I wonder if people would just ignore it and put an X. Haha.

I'm actually wondering if I can make the font a bit smaller and add a 4th line for the children's meal selection. That would save us from needing to contact each family with kids individually.

We just went to a wedding where my grandmother was S. out of luck. They served a duet entrée, of beef and chicken. They didn't include the entrée information, with the invitation. When she got the entrée plate, my grandmother gave the beef portion to my brother in law (she can't eat read meat). Then she looked at the chicken, and it was dark meat - a leg and thigh combination, which she isn't suppose to eat, either. She ate 3 pieces of bread that night.

P.S. I was once told that possum tastes like chicken. I hope they were kidding. LOL!

Haha. Oh yikes. I hope I never have to find out what possum tastes like. ;P

Edit: that's actually part of the reason I wanted to add the full entree. I know a lot of people who would love the beef, but hate onions. If they got beef covered in caramelized onions, they wouldn't eat at all that night. Some people may not know what "chippolini" is, but they at least have google. Haha.

I prefer the longer meal description as opposed to the basic beef, chicken, fish, etc. I'm pretty picky so I like to know my full options

That's what I was thinking too, Future!

So question for you all. If I do request to have a 4th line added, how should I word it? Just "Child"? Or should we add what it will be? We have two different options, but I'm not sure what would be most popular - Cheese pizza or chicken fingers. Should we just pick one and say "Child - Chicken Fingers"?

I would carefully consider how you list the children's meal option. Generally, I think it's a good idea to have it on there, but I am a very picky eater and would not choose any of your entree choices (no offense to your choices at all, I'm a weirdo when it comes to food). I would make it clear somehow that only kids can choose the kids meal if that is the case.

P. S. I'm not letting our caterer plate FH's and my food at our wedding (we are having a buffet but they always plate the bride and groom's meals) because I'm so crazy picky.

I totally understand and no offense taken! And to be honest, I actually don't mind if someone else chooses a kids meal as an adult. My sister's BF said that he might choose chicken fingers. Haha!

Honestly, I kinda hate our caterer. Don't get me wrong, the food that we chose is delicious, but you're right, it's a bit odd. We tried some of the more standard stuff and really didn't like it at all. I wish we had a choice of another caterer, but in-house catering and dream venue put a stop to that real fast. Ugh. Edit: Also, our caterer is so non-responsive, it's ridiculous. I have to email her 3-4 times to get a response and even then, it'll take a couple of weeks to hear back from her. Thank god our venue coordinator is so awesome, but it's still frustrating. That's a side rant, though. Hah.

Check with your caterer on age limits before you add the line. They may only serve children between 3 and 10 a child's meal.

If you choose to add it, say Under 10 - chicken fingers with mac and cheese (or whatever it is).

If you are using this as part of your escort cards, people will need to indicate their name or you will be chasing that down as well.

Connie - I think 1 month before the wedding is early for the RSVP - when does your caterer need numbers - if you mail out 8 weeks before the wedding they need to drop that baby back in the the mail that day - try for 3 weeks before that way you still call people who don't and get caterer numbers.

I would totally pick chicken fingers too!

Brandy, that's a really good point. I didn't think about age limits!

Erin, I posted in a follow-up that the date isn't set in stone. I just threw one in there for now. The final numbers are due 2 weeks before, so I will likely change that date.

If it does end up being an age limit, should I just put "Children's Meal" as the 4th option and leave out specifics? I feel like this shouldn't be that hard, but I'm terrible at this stuff. Hah.

Good looking out, Brandy! I just took a look at the menu sheet and you're right - it says children ages 2-12.

How does this wording look? I'm not replacing the vegetarian option, I can just only see 3 lines at once. I'll submit a request for 4 lines.