Should guests select their entrées before the wedding? Entrée Pre-Selection: Is It Right for Your Wedding? Enhance Your Reception: Benefits of Pre-Selecting Entrées. Wedding Planning Tip: Entrée Choices Before the Big Day?
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Did you include an insert when you sent out your invitation for your wedding guests to be able to select their entrée?
This might be a good idea and will help your caterer with the cost. As well as help with cost and prep.
But the biggest question is, are you or are you thinking of assigning someone to do the follow-ups and tracking the meal choices?
Depending on your guests’ number, let’s say 300 guests, tracking entrée choices can be a bit of a task.
So, should guests select their entrées before the wedding?
If you are working with a wedding planner/coordinator, then yes, this might be doable.
Why Guests Should Select Entrées Before the Wedding
- Streamlined Service: Pre-selected entrées can significantly speed up the serving process, ensuring that all guests are served promptly and efficiently.
- Dietary Needs: This approach allows you to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences ahead of time, reducing the risk of last-minute issues.
- Cost Efficiency: Knowing exactly how many of each entrée is needed can help control costs and minimize waste.
- Menu Planning: It enables the catering team to better plan and prepare, ensuring each dish is perfect and meets your expectations.
- Personal Touch: Guests may feel valued knowing their preferences were considered, enhancing their overall experience.
However, tracking all choices on your own is time-consuming. Download the planning binder below where we included the seating plan with entree selection!
If you feel that this will be worth the savings you will have with your caterer, we’d say it is a good choice.
You can leave a note on the RSVP card along the lines of “please inform us of any dietary restrictions.”
Knowing most of your guests, you will most likely have an idea of any major dietary restrictions that might come up.
If there are 10-20% dietary restrictions that you have to note and send to your caterer, that is still more manageable than asking every guest to send in a choice.
Assuming they have no dietary restrictions, serving the original menu that you and your caterer have decided will still be a much more manageable way to go.
This usually works for plated meals. For a buffet, family, and cocktail-style reception, having an “ingredient card” that will help your guests know exactly what’s on their food.
Why Guests Might Not Need to Select Entrées Before the Wedding
- Spontaneity: Allowing guests to choose on the day can add an element of surprise and delight, making the dining experience more dynamic.
- Flexibility: This approach accommodates last-minute changes, such as unexpected guests or shifts in dietary needs.
- Simplified RSVP Process: Not requiring meal selections can streamline the RSVP process, making it easier for guests to respond promptly.
- Variety: You can offer a buffet or family-style service, which provides variety and allows guests to sample multiple dishes.
- Less Pressure: Guests won’t feel pressured to make a decision well in advance, which can be particularly beneficial for those with changing dietary preferences.
Putting together a wedding website where your guests can leave their choices or their dietary restrictions will make the process much more manageable and easier to track!
A seating plan where you assign these dietary restrictions will help your caterer and your wedding/venue coordinator to ensure the meals are placed on the proper seats!
If you plan an at-home wedding with guests to attend virtually, you can let them pick their entreé if you plan to send them a care package or a meal where they can also celebrate at home!
Ultimately, the decision depends on the type of wedding you envision and the experience you want to create for your guests. Pre-selecting entrées can add a layer of organization and precision while allowing day-of selections can establish a more relaxed and flexible atmosphere. Consider what aligns best with your wedding style and priorities to make the choice that suits you and your guests best.
Before You Decide
Asking your wedding guests to select their entrée on the RSVP card can simplify your wedding planning process. This allows the venue and catering team to accommodate meal choices and any dietary restrictions without last-minute surprises. Your wedding website is the perfect place to inform guests about the wedding menu options, making it easy for them to choose their preferred plated meal.
Whether you’re planning an engagement party, bridal shower, or the big day itself, meal selection can ease stress for everyone. Real weddings show that this method ensures no guest feels left out due to food preferences or allergies. Plus, it helps the wedding cake and cookie table shine as the focus for dessert! You’ll be saving time while creating an organized, seamless dining experience for your guests.
