Plated meals at reception- how/when will my guests "order"?

[sunkist867]

Hi brides! I have a question concerning plated meals (more specifically at the GF) for the reception hour.

My preference is to have 3 entree options for my guests to chose from during the reception (a beef, fish, and chicken). I want to have the menu cards on the table listing the salad, entree choices, and dessert.

My question is, in doing this do I have to have my guests indicate their chocies on their rsvp to me, or does Disney have the option of "taking their order" at the beginning of the reception hour? I'm sending my invites out 4 months in advance and I know I wouldn't really want to chose my dinner four months out. I've also been to quite a few weddings where people forget what they order or change their order. And how do you ensure each guest gets what they ordered four months ago?! Do I write it on their place card?

If you could share your experiences I would appreciate it! (I know a buffet could solve this dilema but that is not our ideal choice) TIA!

 

[MissManners]

Hi there! We are also doing a plated dinner at the GF. We are including on our response cards the list of dinner choices, and having our guests write their names next to whichever dinner they want. After we have received all of the responses, our place cards will be color-coded to match what they chose. For example:
Blue place card = chicken
Red place card = beef
Yellow place card = vegetarian

The servers will know which meal coordinates with which color, so your guests won't have to remember what they ordered. If you don't have several distinct colors in your overall wedding scheme (we don't), you could have all of the place cards be the same color, and just add a different ribbon or rhinestone to each to reflect the meal choice. Hope this helps!

 

[jworkkul]

If you are doing a plated meal and having the guests decide on what they want, it will be done at the reception. It can get a little pricey. Let's say you invite 100 guests and you given them a choice of either beef, chicken or fish; the kitchen has to have on hand enough entrees for each--100 beef, 100 chicken and 100 fish. At my daughters wedding we had a dual plating of beef and chicken with a choice of vegetarian and organic. At the bottom of the RSVP card the guest would indicate which entree they wanted (either meat, vegatarian or organic). When I sent in the table seating chart, I indicated at which table who wanted what and it was done without any problem.

 

[CaptainObvious]

Yes, Disney offers what they call "white glove" service where they will take your guests order the day of your reception, but it is extremely spendy.

 

[lurkyloo]

My question is, in doing this do I have to have my guests indicate their chocies on their rsvp to me, or does Disney have the option of "taking their order" at the beginning of the reception hour?

So, just to be sure all this helpful info is clear to you, you can do it either way. But it will be cheaper if you collect guests' preferences with their RSVPs because then you only have to pay for exactly one meal per guest. If you want to give them the option to decide on the spot at the reception, as a previous poster said, Disney will have to cook all three meals for them in advance, and you will pay for all three.

The third option is that duo plate mentioned by the previous poster: You don't give your guests a choice, you just serve them a meal that has smaller portions of two entrees instead of one big entree. It's more expensive than getting their menu choices beforehand but less expensive than letting them pick on the spot.

 

[sunkist867]

Thank you so much everyone! That really clears it up. I will be having them choose on their rsvps... nooooo way in h-e- double hockey sticks am I paying for 3 meals to be prepared! It makes sense though because it's not a restaurant.

P.S. I am in awe because the famous Lurkyloo repsonded to me! *Starstruck* hahaha

 

[DisneyBride1207]

We are doing a duo plate, it takes all the guess work out of people deciding weeks before they are even at the wedding. This way they have a bit of everything