How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (2024)

4 creative ways to create wedding place cards with meal choice indicators for food preferences.

If you’re offering multiple meal choices for your guests to choose from, chances are your catering team will request that you create a coded system to indicate each guests’ meal choice on dinner place cards. This way, the catering team can quickly and easily distribute entrées. Even if you aren’t doing individual entrée options, you may need a code to highlight guests with a special diet (ie vegetarian) or allergy (ie gluten).

You might be wondering what the easiest (and perhaps cheapest) way to do this. The tricky part is that many stores that offer wedding place cards sell them in sets of 1 design. So it can be difficult to get them ordered or printed how you need. Not to worry, we have found a number of great solutions to this tricky problem!

Before we get into those solutions, if you’re collecting meal preferences, we highly recommend going for an online RSVP. Tracking regular RSVPs by mail is one thing, but adding the meal preference choices just adds more work (and more room for error). There are many tools for online RSVPs with meal choice functionality. It will make your life easier! Of course, you can also select from tons of fun wedding RSVP cards with meal choices too.

Ok, now that we got that tip in, let’s review the best ways to indicate meal choice on place cards!

How to indicate meal choice on wedding place cards

There are a number of things you can do to differentiate between meal choices on a card. It is important that the difference is going to be obvious enough for catering staff to quickly identify, but there are ways you can do this subtly from the guest perspective! Head’s up, some caterers may ask that the meal preference isn’t written out in script or calligraphy, as this can be difficult for staff to read quickly!

  • Use totally unique (but coordinating) designs for each meal choice
How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (1)
  • Change the color of the same design for each meal choice
How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (2)
  • Write the meal choice in text on each card, or just the first letter.
How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (3)
  • Use an icon indicator for each meal choice
How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (4)

1. Use Meal Choice Place Card Stickers

One simple way to indicate meal choices is by adding stickers to any place cards. This is a great option if you already have specific place cards you want to use (ie the ones that match your invitations!). This also allows you to get your placecards printed earlier and leaves room for any last minute meal changes. Adding stickers is an easy project for the wedding week, and a great task to delegate to a friend or family member who wants to help!

How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (5)

2. Design unique place card designs

Another option is to design unique place cards for each meal choice option. This one is really difficult to do with most providers, but we did find one tool which makes this process quite easy and customizable!

With Basic Invite, you can easily design unique sets of place cards and order the exact quantity of each that you need. There are tons of ways you can customize the place cards for the indicators.

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3. Work with a stationer to create place cards with meal choices

If you like the last idea but need a bit more help, Etsy is a great place to turn. Simply provide the stationer with your guest list, table assignments, and meal choices and they will do the rest! Of course, review the exact instructions provided by your selected seller. Here are a few to check out!

TRULYinspiredPaperCo

How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (7)

Want to wow guests? Check out OccasionalPaperCuts

How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (8)

Select unique colors for each food choice, or add a sticker or letter indicator through CalligraphybyDeanna

How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (9)

4. Purchase A Place Card Template With Meal Choice Indicators

If you are open to a bit of DIY’ing, Etsy’s selection of menu choice card templates are another great option for executing your place cards. Menu choice templates give you an a nice design that you can easily customize and print either at home, or by working with a local print shop.

How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (10)
How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? (2024)

FAQs

How do you indicate meal choice on place cards? ›

What to do: Write the guest's name and table number on the card. If you're using flat cards with an envelope, write the guest's name on the front of the envelope and put the table number on the card tucked inside; for tented cards, also put the name on the front and the table number inside.

How to write out place card? ›

What to do: Write the guest's name and table number on the card. If you're using flat cards with an envelope, write the guest's name on the front of the envelope and put the table number on the card tucked inside; for tented cards, also put the name on the front and the table number inside.

Do you put first and last names on place cards? ›

For place cards, using full names keeps it more formal. If you're after a more relaxed vibe then just use first names. The same applies as the table plan for any duplicate names.

Do you put Mr. and Mrs. on place cards? ›

Because the purpose of the place cards is to show guests to their exact seats, you'll need one for every guest, even for children and plus-ones. Write each guest's first and last name on the wedding place cards, adding "Dr." or other prestigious titles when applicable (no need to include Mr. and Mrs.

How do you label place cards? ›

Typically, the guest's names are on the front and the table numbers are inside or on the reverse.

What name goes first on a card? ›

When signing Christmas cards or other greeting cards from the entire family, the father's name should appear first, followed by the mother's and then the children's. The children's names should be in order from oldest to youngest.

Do you put table numbers on place cards? ›

A place card is a piece of paper indicating what table a guest at an event, such as a wedding or banquet, is assigned to sit. Place cards generally have the guest's name and table number, and frequently have some design as well to add style.

What do you put when it says name on card? ›

-A cardholder name is a security feature that proves you are the authorized user of the credit or debit card. -The name on your card could be your full legal name, it could use initials, or you could be permitted to use a preferred name.

How to address a married couple on a place card? ›

Traditionally, married couples are presented as a pair under the husband's name, as in “Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jennings.” These days, it's also acceptable to use both the husband and wife's names, as in “Edward and Silvia Jennings.”

Can you put Mr and Mrs and both first names? ›

There are a few options for addressing wedding invitations to married couples with the same last name. You can either use the man's full name (referring to them as Mr. & Mrs. Mario Bryant)—or, you can include both first names, with the male's name coming first (Mr.

Do the parents of the bride and groom sit together at the reception? ›

Where should parents and grandparents of the bride and groom sit? Depending on the size and shape of tables you have, it's common to have a family table where the bride and groom's parents and grandparents sit together. Or, each set of parents can host their own table and be seated with close family and friends.

How do you indicate meal choice at a wedding? ›

A few of our favorites ways to denote meal choice are: Colorful silk ribbons. Different colored keys. Mini photos of each guest in different colored frames.

How do you list dinner options on a wedding invitation? ›

If you've finalized your wedding menu before you send out your invites, you might include a little more detail on each menu choice. It's not necessary to write out a full menu, but saying "filet mignon" rather than beef or "mahi mahi" instead of fish can help your guests more easily choose their entrée.

How do you get menu choices for a wedding? ›

You could include the full menu options on an additional insert card provided within the invite. 3. You could fit these on the reverse of an RSVP card – just email your Stationer (hopefully me!) who could advise whether or not they could squeeze it in or whether the additional card is needed.

Is there a place card template in Word? ›

Launch Microsoft Word and click the File tab. Select “New” and click once on the “Cards” button on the top row of the Available Templates pane. You can choose from one of the already installed templates, or you can purchase a template from an outside company such as Gartner Studios templates.

How do you write a good greeting card? ›

Be sincere. A card is a great place to tell someone how much you really care about them and how much they mean to you. Thank the person - for the times they were there for you, helping you out, something nice they did for you or the unique qualities they bring to your life. Share a funny memory or story with them.

Where is the proper place to write in a card? ›

When using vertical or portrait cards, begin on the inner right side. (The inner left side is the back of the front cover.) When your message extends beyond one page, continue writing on the back of the card, and finish the message on the inner left side of the card.

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