How did you designate your guests' menu choices for your caterer at your wedding?

I am planning on sending out invitations with 3 menu options for my guests. My caterer will need to know which people ordered which entree because their waiters will not ask at the wedding (too many people could change their minds).



I've heard of placing different colored stickers on place cards to designate menu choices... or tying colored ribbons on guests' chairs.



Did anyone else do anything different? Any ideas for something fun??How did you designate your guests' menu choices for your caterer at your wedding?
When it comes to something like this, keep it simple and easy to follow. My sister works in the catering business, and she says she hates it when brides try to make this aspect of the wedding fun and unique because it's confusing as it is, without adding a new twist to it.



She prefers colors on place cards. Or letters on the place cards (B for beef, C for chicken, etc.). make sure guests pick up their place card first, and then go to the table. That way, there's no confusion if someone doesn't sit exactly in the right seat.



Ask your caterer if they have a preference on how you do it. They'll appreciate the courtesy. If they say no, then feel free to get creative.
I personally tried to make it easy as possible! used the color of our wedding (blue) beef, (white) chicken, tan (vegetarian) The place card them self's were what ever color each guest picked out.



It was easy for the wait staff and they only need to remember table one had three blue and 7 whites. Plus the guest had no idea or remember what they ordered so what was put in front of them they ate!



I didn't have assigned seating either so it all worked out very well. The guest got to sit where ever and it was easy on the staff!!How did you designate your guests' menu choices for your caterer at your wedding?
I agree with every one, color coding is the best way. Don't get too cute, because you'll want the wait staff to be able see it and move on quickly. The will be thankful for you doing this.



I went to a wedding where they used those star stickers in three colors to indicate the item. If you do choose to do ribbon, get a small hole punch and punch corner of your card and tie it through
omgsh that seems confusing.

you could also number the seats.

like all number 1s get this dish..

all number 2s get this dish...

all number 3s get this dish....

although i am not sure if having numbers would be confusing and tacky looking when it comes time for decorations and things.

i like the ribbon idea..seems simple and the colors you can match with your decorations.
We had name cards with entree selections in top left corner that looked something like this:





Pork



John Doe



Table 1






Well, I gave the head chef a breakdown of how many of each dish there were total, then a breakdown diagram of how many of each dish were at each specific table, and then I color-coded the placecards-White was the vegetarian dish, sky Blue was the beef dish, and magenta was the kids meal.

The caterer was really thankful I went through that trouble, because it made everything really flawless, and they didn't make too much/little of either dish.