# Wedding Menu Wording Ideas: Example Menus, Dietary Symbols and Menu Card Ideas (UK)

URL: https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-menu-wording-ideas-uk · Updated 2026-10-20 · By Beth

**Short answer:** Good wedding menu wording includes a heading, each course with the dish and two or three key ingredients, small dietary symbols with a key, your names and a closing line such as “Teas and coffees to follow”. Keep dish names short, copy your caterer’s final spelling, and order one menu per guest or two per table.

Your menu is one of the few pieces of wedding stationery every guest reads properly. They pick it up the moment they sit down, pass it round the table and, more often than you’d think, slip it into a handbag to keep. This guide covers wedding menu wording from top to bottom: what to put on a wedding breakfast menu, full example menus you can copy, how to show dietary requirements discreetly, and how to choose the size, shape and finishing touches for your menu cards.

## What to put on a wedding menu

A good wedding menu card is short, clear and easy to read in candlelight. Most include these six things, in this order:

1. **A heading.** “Menu”, “The Menu”, “Dinner” or “Wedding Breakfast”. In the UK the wedding breakfast is the first meal you eat as a married couple, whatever time it’s served, so “Wedding Breakfast” is perfectly correct on a 4pm menu.
2. **Course titles.** Starter, Main and Dessert are the clearest. “Pudding” or “Something Sweet” are lovely, relaxed alternatives.
3. **Each dish** on one line, with two or three key ingredients on the line beneath.
4. **Dietary symbols**, kept small, with a key at the bottom.
5. **Your names**, and often the date or venue.
6. **A closing line**, such as “Teas and coffees to follow”, “Let’s eat” or “Thank you for celebrating with us”.

**What to put on the back of a wedding menu?** If your menu is printed on both sides, the back is a nice home for your drinks list, the timings for the rest of the day, a short thank-you note or a poem. Keep the front for the food, so nobody has to turn it over to find out what’s for dinner.

![Dusty blue botanical wedding menu for Aimee and Daniel with a Julie name tag on a pale blue satin ribbon, resting on a folded blue napkin and cream plates, with blue and white flowers, a candle and blue glassware](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/dusty-blue-botanical-wildflower-wedding-menu/dusty-blue-botanical-wildflower-wedding-menu-1.jpg)

## Wedding menu wording examples

Copy any of these and swap in your own dishes. Each one matches a different way of serving the wedding breakfast.

### Classic three-course wedding breakfast

Classic three-course menu:

> The Menu
> 
> Starter
> Ham Hock Terrine
> piccalilli, toasted sourdough
> 
> Main
> Roast Sirloin of Beef
> Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, seasonal greens, red wine gravy
> 
> Dessert
> Sticky Toffee Pudding
> butterscotch sauce, clotted cream
> 
> Teas and coffees to follow
> Emily & Tom · 12th June 2027

### Choice menu (guests pre-order)

If guests chose their meals on the RSVP, list both options for each course. Guests can see what everyone else is having, and the catering team uses your place cards to match each plate to the right person.

Choice menu:

> Wedding Breakfast
> 
> Starter
> Roasted Tomato & Red Pepper Soup (VG)
> basil oil, warm bread
> or
> Chicken Liver Parfait
> red onion chutney, toasted brioche
> 
> Main
> Pan-roasted Chicken Breast
> fondant potato, tenderstem broccoli, tarragon cream
> or
> Wild Mushroom Risotto (V)
> parmesan crisp, truffle oil
> 
> Dessert
> Chocolate Torte
> salted caramel, vanilla ice cream
> or
> Eton Mess (GF)
> strawberries, meringue, whipped cream
> 
> Teas and coffees to follow

For the choices themselves, the RSVP card does the work. Here’s simple **wedding invitation menu choice wording** (our [invitation wording guide](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-invitation-wording-examples-uk) has full RSVP examples):

RSVP card: menu choices:

> Please choose one dish per course for each guest
> 
> Name ______________________
> Starter: Soup / Parfait
> Main: Chicken / Risotto
> Dessert: Torte / Eton Mess
> 
> Dietary requirements or allergies ______________

![Soft floral wildflower wedding menu with two choices for each course and “Teas and coffees to follow” in gold script, on a taupe linen napkin and gold-rimmed plate beside white cosmos and caramel roses](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/soft-floral-wildflower-wedding-menu/soft-floral-wildflower-wedding-menu-1.jpg)

### Alternate drop menu

With an alternate drop, the kitchen serves two different dishes alternately around each table, so guests don’t pre-order and can swap with their neighbour. Say so on the menu, or guests will wonder why their plate doesn’t match the one next to them.

Alternate drop menu:

> Dinner
> 
> Starter
> Burrata, heritage tomatoes, basil (V)
> or
> Smoked salmon, pickled cucumber, dill crème fraîche
> 
> Main
> Slow-cooked Shoulder of Lamb
> dauphinoise potatoes, rosemary jus
> or
> Roasted Cod
> crushed new potatoes, samphire, lemon butter
> 
> Dessert
> Lemon Tart, raspberries, crème fraîche
> 
> Dishes are served alternately.
> Feel free to swap with your neighbour.

### Sharing or feasting menu

Sharing menu:

> Let’s Feast
> 
> To Share
> Cured meats, local cheeses, olives and warm focaccia
> 
> Feasting Platters
> Herb-roasted chicken
> Slow-roast pork belly with crackling
> Charred vegetable and halloumi skewers (V)
> 
> On the Side
> Garlic and rosemary potatoes · Summer slaw · Green salad
> 
> Pudding
> Our dessert table, so help yourselves
> 
> Pass the plates, pour the wine and enjoy

### Evening food

Evening food menu:

> Evening Food
> served from 9pm
> 
> Bacon or sausage baps
> Halloumi baps (V)
> Fish & chip cones
> 
> The Cheese Table
> British cheeses, crackers, grapes and chutney

### Drinks menu

A drinks menu can sit on the back of the dinner menu, or on a sign at the bar. Naming a cocktail after each of you is a fun touch.

Drinks menu:

> Drinks
> 
> On Arrival
> Prosecco or Elderflower Pressé
> 
> With Dinner
> House red, white and rosé
> 
> For the Toast
> Champagne
> 
> Signature Cocktails
> The Emily: gin, elderflower & cucumber
> The Tom: dark rum, ginger beer & lime

## How to show dietary requirements on a wedding menu

The key word is discreet. Put a small symbol after the dish and a key at the foot of the menu, in smaller type than the dishes. Use the same abbreviations as your caterer so the menu matches what the waiting staff are told.

| Symbol | Means |
| --- | --- |
| (V) | Vegetarian |
| (VG) | Vegan |
| (GF) | Gluten free |
| (DF) | Dairy free |
| (N) | Contains nuts |

Dietary key:

> (V) Vegetarian · (VG) Vegan · (GF) Gluten free
> Please ask a member of staff about allergens

Allergen information is your caterer’s job, not your menu’s. UK caterers must be able to tell guests which of the 14 major allergens are in each dish, so keep the menu to simple symbols and let staff handle the detail.

### Guests with their own meal: markers on place cards

For guests who pre-ordered, or who need a special meal, the place card is what the catering team looks at. Agree a marker with your caterer and add it to each place card:

- **A tiny symbol or initial** in the corner, such as B for beef, F for fish or V for vegetarian.
- **A coloured dot or sprig** in the design, with a key you give the venue.
- **The dish written small** under the guest’s name, which is the clearest for staff and guests alike.

Send your caterer the final list of names and markers a week before the day. Our [wildflower place cards](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/place-cards/wildflower-wedding-place-card) are 100 × 45 mm, with room for a name and a small marker.

## Naming your dishes

Caterers’ menus are often written for the kitchen. Trim them for the table: the dish name on one line, then two or three key ingredients. Shorter lines look better and are quicker to read.

| Instead of… | Try… |
| --- | --- |
| Pan-fried fillet of sea bass on a bed of crushed new potatoes with a lemon and caper beurre blanc | **Sea Bass** / crushed new potatoes, lemon & caper butter |
| Trio of locally sourced British cheeses served with artisan crackers and homemade chutney | **British Cheeses** / crackers, chutney |
| Dessert | **Pudding** or **Something Sweet** |

- Ask your caterer for the final dish names in writing, and copy their spelling.
- Check the accents: crème fraîche, purée, jus, gâteau.
- Use ampersands (&) to save space on long lines.
- A personal name is a sweet touch: “Nana Jean’s Trifle” or “The Proposal Pizza” (keep the ingredients underneath).

![Blush pink wildflower wedding menu with a Sarah name tag on a cream satin bow, with “Something Sweet” as the pudding course, on white muslin with dried lavender, eucalyptus and pink strawflowers](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/blush-pink-wildflower-wedding-menu/blush-pink-wildflower-wedding-menu-1.jpg)

## Do you need a menu for every guest?

Not strictly. Guests love knowing what’s coming, but you have three options, and all of them work:

| Option | How many | Example cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One menu per guest, with their name (also the place card) | 80 | 80 × £2.20 blush pink menu & place card = £176, and no separate place cards needed |
| One menu per guest, no name | 80, plus place cards | 80 × £2.99 menus, plus 80 place cards |
| Two menus per table | 16 | 16 × £2.99 = £47.84 |

A named menu on every plate looks the most finished. Two per table, standing in the centre, keeps costs down and still lets everyone have a look. Our [wedding stationery checklist](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-stationery-checklist-uk) shows how menus fit in with everything else you’ll order.

![Three wildflower meadow wedding menus fanned out on a cream tablecloth, with Menu in purple script, two choices for each course and “Teas and coffees to follow”, surrounded by scattered petals, daisies and lavender](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/wildflower-meadow-wedding-menu/wildflower-meadow-wedding-menu-1.jpg)

## What size should a wedding menu be?

The most popular wedding menu size is tall and slim, around 100 × 210 mm (close to DL). It sits neatly on a folded napkin or on top of a dinner plate without hiding the cutlery. Here’s how the common sizes and shapes compare:

| Shape | Size | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tall and slim | 100 × 210 mm | On a napkin or plate. Our botanical, wildflower meadow and soft floral menus |
| Tall, slightly shorter | 98 × 180 mm | Smaller plates and side plates. Our blue wildflower menu with satin bow |
| 5×7 | 127 × 178 mm | Matching the invitation size. The card behind our oval menu and poem |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm | Longer menus and menus shared per table |
| Oval | Varies | A softer, romantic shape. Our dusty blue oval menu |

Thicker card matters more for menus than for almost anything else, because they’re handled during dinner and sometimes stood upright. Look for something around 300 gsm or more so it won’t curl or flop.

![Blue wildflower wedding menu for Aimee and Daniel with a pale blue satin bow, standing on a linen tablecloth in front of a wildflower centrepiece with pink and sage taper candles](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/blue-wildflower-wedding-menu-satin-bow/blue-wildflower-wedding-menu-satin-bow-1.jpg)

## Menus that double as place cards

A menu with the guest’s name on it does two jobs at once, which saves money and keeps each place setting uncluttered. On several of our designs a small printed name tag is tied to the menu with a satin bow, so it reads as the place card the moment guests sit down. Our oval menu has a name tag cut in the shape of a lavender sprig.

Our menu and place card designs include the [olive green botanical](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/wedding-menus/olive-green-botanical-wildflower-wedding-menu), [dusty blue botanical](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/wedding-menus/dusty-blue-botanical-wildflower-wedding-menu), [blush pink wildflower](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/wedding-menus/blush-pink-wildflower-wedding-menu) and [dusty blue oval](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/wedding-menus/dusty-blue-oval-wildflower-wedding-menu) menus. Each guest’s name is printed on their own tag, so send us your guest list exactly as you’d like the names to appear.

![Dusty blue oval wildflower wedding menu with a lavender-sprig-shaped name tag tied with a blue satin bow, on a gold-rimmed plate framed by white stocks, peonies and blue delphiniums](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/dusty-blue-oval-wildflower-wedding-menu/dusty-blue-oval-wildflower-wedding-menu-3.jpg)

Named menus can’t be shared, so order one per guest plus two or three spares for late changes. Then lay them out using your seating plan, table by table.

## Ribbon, bow and poem menus

A satin ribbon is the simplest way to make a menu feel special, and it lets you bring in your colour scheme. Our menu and place card designs come with a choice of ribbon: green or cream, blue or cream, or pink or cream, depending on the design.

For something a little different, our [blue floral oval menu and poem](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/wedding-menus/blue-floral-oval-wedding-menu-poem) ties an oval menu over a 5×7 floral card with a blue or cream ribbon. The card behind can carry a poem or a few words of thanks. You can use your own, or something like this one we wrote for the table:

A poem for the table:

> Pull up a chair and fill your glass,
> the vows are said, the nerves have passed.
> Of all the tables, near and far,
> we’re glad that this is where you are.
> So raise a toast and pass the bread,
> and save some room: there’s cake ahead.

![Blue floral oval wedding menu tied with a pale blue satin bow over a 5×7 card illustrated with blue wildflowers, a bee and a butterfly, ending with “Let’s Eat!”](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/products/blue-floral-oval-wedding-menu-poem/blue-floral-oval-wedding-menu-poem-2.jpg)

## When to order your wedding menus

Order menus once your caterer has confirmed the final dishes and your RSVPs are in, ideally at least four weeks before the wedding. That leaves time for your digital proof (usually within 7 days of receiving your details), any changes, and making. Full timings are on our [delivery page](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/delivery).

Doing your table plan at the same time? Our guides to [wedding table name ideas](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-table-name-ideas) and [seating plan ideas](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-seating-plan-ideas-uk) will help you finish the tables, and our [table numbers](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/table-numbers) and [place cards](https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/shop/place-cards) come in matching designs.

Questions:

- **What do you put on a wedding menu?** A heading such as “The Menu” or “Wedding Breakfast”, each course with the dish name and two or three key ingredients, small dietary symbols with a key, your names or the date, and a closing line like “Teas and coffees to follow”.
- **How do you show dietary requirements on a wedding menu?** Add a small symbol after each dish, such as (V) vegetarian, (VG) vegan or (GF) gluten free, with a key at the bottom in smaller type. Leave detailed allergen information to your caterer, and mark special meals on place cards.
- **How do you word an alternate drop menu?** List both dishes for the course with “or” between them, then add a line such as “Dishes are served alternately. Feel free to swap with your neighbour.” so guests know why plates differ.
- **How many wedding menus do I need per table?** One per guest is the most generous, and essential if the menu carries the guest’s name. Two per table is a popular way to keep costs down while still letting everyone see what’s coming.
- **What size are wedding menu cards?** The most popular size is tall and slim, around 100 × 210 mm, which sits neatly on a napkin or plate. 5×7 inches, A5 and oval menus are also common.
- **What do you put on the back of a wedding menu?** The back is a good place for your drinks list, the timings for the rest of the day, a short thank-you message or a poem. Keep the food on the front.
- **Can a wedding menu double as a place card?** Yes. A menu with each guest’s name, often on a small tag tied with ribbon, works as the place card too, so you only need one piece per setting.
- **How do you show meal choices on wedding place cards?** Agree a small marker with your caterer, such as an initial, a coloured dot or the dish written under the guest’s name, and give the venue a key and the final list before the day.

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Web page: https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/journal/wedding-menu-wording-ideas-uk · Contact: gracefulstudiouk@gmail.com · Full catalogue: https://gracefulstudio.co.uk/llms-full.txt