Invitations and Menus

I dont think it is the norm to include the menu unless you need your guests to make a choice of of several options so you can let your caterer know in advance.

A majority of my invitation orders don't require menus included but usually have an RSVP card with a line asking the guest if they have any special dietary requirements. The menus are usually only ordered as table stationery.
Menus are only included if the guests have to make a choice before the wedding (which doesn't occur very often). Here's some examples where I included the menu choices with corresponding tick boxes on the RSVP…

I asked for dietary requirements and said that the wedding breakfast would be Salmon and Lamb and to ask for a vegetarian alternative to either of those if preferred. I didn't specify what said alternative was or the exact details of the menu.

We will have the very same situation Loopz. We're getting married in Aug 2013 but want to send the invites in February as at least half of our guests will be travelling and want to give plenty of notice so people can book flights and hotels before they get too expensive.

So if we need our invitations ready in January to prepare we may need to do our menu tasting in October (if we use a stationer) or November (if we DIY). Seems ridiculous as does choosing your meal six months in advance if you are a guest but like you I don't want to do 2 mailings...

I'd be inclined to insist that the caterer do an earlier tasting for you, there is a better chance of getting the required information if part of the RSVP than if you request the 2 separately. Sure, there will be people you'll be chasing up for both but at least you won't have to chase the people who do RSVP on time for more information.

I can just see our wedding co-ordinator laughing at me when I get in touch to arrange our tasting ?

We haven't included the menu in our invites. All we have done is ask for any dietary requirements so guests can indicate if they are allergic to something etc. Other than that, they get what they are given! I've never had the menu in any invite I've been given, I've just had the menu on the table on the day.

I think it's unnecessary to include the menu. If you're expecting to have multiple types of meat options, you can just ask them if they prefer beef/chicken/fish/lamb, or if they're vegetarian/vegan, or have any special dietary requirements. I don't think you need to include the exact menu.

We're in the situation where we have had to send out menu options in our invites (which went over a month ago) yet we dont have a tasting until 10-12 weeks before. I think its easier this way as the guest have picked their own meals from the few things we sounded good and the tasting im seeing as me and OH deciding which we want (it all sounds yummy to us!)

If we'd been having to pick one meal for everyone then i would just have not mentioned it other than asking for dietry requirements as everyone else has said. That said the last invite we required did specify the main course was going to be chicken but no details other than that....

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful!

All the invitations we have has over the past year have had the menu in, so I was panicking, but it it's normal to just ask them to indicate dietry requirements that's cool. *sigh of relief*

We know which of our guests will be fussy too, so if it's not something they will like, we can tell them nearer the time and arrange something with the caterers. Think I just panicked!!

I don't think it is necessary to include a menu choice with your invitation. You could put that when they RSVP they need to indicate if there is any dietary requirements as has been suggested, but I think you need to leave it at that for the moment.