The Exotic Teapot

Last year, I received a wedding invitation with the menu enclosed. I thought it was good for the guests to know ahead what will be served during the reception, but was that appropriate? I'm helping a friend with her wedding preparations, and we wanted to know the available options to present the invites.

If you are offering an option of main entrees, then it is acceptable to include these choices on the response card. This card should be enclosed with the wedding invitation. However, it is not recommended to print the menu if there are no options for guests. The explanation for this omission is that the bride and groom are requesting the presence of individuals whom they know; therefore, if there are special needs, they should already be familiar with this person’s dietary requirements and have made accommodations in advance.

Should the reception be a different location than the ceremony, it is recommended to include a map for guests, especially for those out of town invites.

I have never received or heard of an invitation with the menu inserted. I'm not sure if it's appropriate or not, but I don't think it is necessary, so why spend for another page? What I usually see inserted in invitations are seat cards and RSVP cards, and I can see how these may help some couples.

I have received two wedding invitations with menu cards. I did not understand why it was included.

I think Haley said it right. The menu card provides two advantages. First, it gives the guests an idea about the food to be served, so that they can inform the couple about their special food requirements. On the other hand, it also gives the guests an impression that the event is well prepared, prompting them to look forward to the occasion.

I'm not really a whiz when in comes to wedding invitations. But with the dozens of invitations that I have received before, here are the most common contents of a wedding invite (arranged in order based on the most commonly included):

- main invitation page
- wedding entourage
- seat cards (for the reception dinner)
- programme (wedding rites and reception)
- RSVP card
- food menu card

While enclosing the dinner menu in the invitation is a good idea, take note that it is not really expected.