What is for dinner is the first question every guest has when they sit down at the reception, and a printed wedding menu at each place setting answers it before anyone has to ask. Each design is fully editable in our free browser-based editor for individual menu cards at each place setting (4x9 inches tall, 5x7 inches, or A6 tucked into napkins), large menu signs for buffet displays (16x20 or 18x24 inches on an easel), and table-center menus for family-style receptions (5x7 in a frame). Customize courses, dishes, dietary notes, and pairings. Whether your reception is plated, buffet, or family-style, every template here is built to be printed at home or at any local print shop.
A wedding menu is the printed list of food courses your guests will eat at the reception. It is set out at each place setting for plated dinners or displayed as a large sign for buffet receptions. Our wedding menu templates are fully editable in our free browser-based editor. No Canva account, no Photoshop, no software to install. Customize the courses, the dishes, dietary notes (vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free), wine pairings, and any thank-you message at the bottom. Whether you are searching for printable wedding menu cards, an editable wedding menu template, a wedding dinner menu for a plated reception, a wedding buffet menu for a buffet line, or a wedding reception menu for a family-style table, every template here is built to be customized in your browser and printed at home or at any local print shop. Most templates are available in three formats: 4x9 inch tall menu cards for individual settings, 5x7 inch cards for tabletop framing, and 16x20 or 18x24 inch large signs for buffet displays.
Clean lines, modern serif typography, and generous white space. For weddings with a contemporary or modern aesthetic.
Watercolor florals and soft botanicals. Pairs with garden weddings, vineyard receptions, and floral wedding suites.
Earthy textures, terracotta tones, and hand-drawn details. Great for outdoor and desert weddings.
Formal typography and traditional layouts. Ideal for ballroom receptions, country club weddings, and black-tie events.
Warm wood tones and hand-lettered scripts. Perfect for barn weddings and farmhouse-themed celebrations.
Your menu format depends on how dinner is served. Pick the option that matches your reception:
Plated dinner. Each guest receives a printed menu card at their place setting (next to the place card or tucked into the napkin). Most common format is 4x9 inch tall cards or 5x7 inch cards. The menu lists the courses each guest will receive (appetizer, salad, entree options, dessert) plus dietary notes. Print one menu per guest, so a 150-guest wedding needs 150 menus.
Family-style. Each table has one or two larger menu cards (5x7 inches) displayed in tabletop frames or laid flat in the center of the table. Guests pass and share the courses, so each guest does not need their own menu. Print 1 to 2 menus per table, so a 150-guest wedding at 8 per table needs about 20 to 40 menus.
Buffet. A large menu sign at the start of the buffet line lists all available dishes so guests can plan their plate before serving themselves. Most common size is 16x20 or 18x24 inches mounted on foam board and displayed on an easel. Print one large menu sign for the buffet line, plus optional smaller menu cards (4x6 inches) at each station to label individual dishes.
Stations or grazing. Multiple small signs (5x7 inch tent cards or 8x10 inch tabletop signs) label each food station independently. Print one sign per station, typically 4 to 8 stations for a stations-style reception.
A complete wedding menu typically lists all courses in the order they will be served. Sections to include:
Title and names. "Dinner Menu," "To Begin," or "Our Wedding Menu," plus the couple's names and the wedding date.
Hors d'oeuvres or canapes. Listed if you are serving passed appetizers during cocktail hour. Either grouped together or split into hot and cold.
First course. Soup, salad, or starter.
Entree options. List each entree (chicken, beef, fish, vegetarian) so guests know what they ordered from their RSVP. For plated dinners, the place card meal selection marker tells the catering team what to serve.
Side dishes. Either listed under each entree ("Filet Mignon with rosemary potatoes and seasonal vegetables") or grouped at the bottom.
Dessert. The wedding cake is sometimes listed separately as a finale. Some couples skip dessert on the menu and reveal it as the cake-cutting moment instead.
Dietary notes. Vegetarian (V), Vegan (VG), Gluten-free (GF), Dairy-free (DF) markers next to applicable dishes. Use a small key or legend at the bottom.
Optional additions. A thank-you message at the bottom, a small monogram or wedding crest, or wine pairing notes for upscale receptions.
Confirm your final menu with the catering team 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding so the printed menu matches what guests actually receive. Late changes mean reprints.
Pick a template that matches your wedding invitation suite. Filter by style above (Minimalist, Floral, Boho, Classic, or Rustic).
Choose your format based on service style. Individual menu cards (4x9 or 5x7) for plated, table-center menus (5x7 framed) for family-style, large menu signs (16x20 or 18x24) for buffet.
Open the template in our free browser-based editor. List the courses in service order, add dish names exactly as the catering team will present them, and include dietary notes (V, VG, GF, DF).
Pull color codes from your wedding invitation suite so the menu matches the rest of your stationery.
Download the print-ready PDF. Print at home for small menu cards (most templates print 2 to 4 per 8.5x11 inch sheet). Send large buffet sign files to a print shop for foam board mounting ($35 to $65 for 18x24).
Wedding menus are part of the dinner table stationery suite. Most couples pair them with matching place cards at each setting and table numbers for each table. For the bar (signature cocktails, beer, wine) see our separate wedding bar menus collection. For the entrance to the reception, see our seating charts and welcome signs. Browse the full Ceremony & Reception Essentials collection for the complete day-of stationery suite.
It depends on your service style. Plated dinners need one menu per guest (150-guest wedding equals 150 menus). Family-style receptions need 1 to 2 menus per table (150 guests at 8 per table equals 20 to 40 menus). Buffet receptions need one large menu sign at the buffet line, plus optional smaller cards at each station (typically 5 to 10 total signs). Add 5 to 10 percent extras for damage during setup and last-minute attendees.
Wedding menu cards come in three standard formats. Tall menu cards (4x9 inches) print one per page, work well at place settings, and look elegant when laid lengthwise on the dinner plate. 5x7 inch cards fit in standard photo frames for table-center display at family-style receptions. A6 cards (4.1x5.8 inches) fit cleanly when tucked into a napkin. For buffet menus, the large sign size is 16x20 or 18x24 inches displayed on an easel. Pick the format that matches your reception service style.
Print wedding menus 1 to 2 weeks before the wedding, after your final menu is locked with the catering team. The catering team typically finalizes the menu 4 to 6 weeks out, but small substitutions can happen until 2 weeks before. Wait until you have written confirmation of the final dishes (in the exact wording the team will present) before printing, otherwise you risk reprints if a dish is renamed or substituted. For 150 menu cards, allow 1 to 2 hours of home printing time including setup.
Yes for menu cards. Wedding menu cards (4x9 or 5x7 inches) print at home easily on 80lb to 100lb cardstock. Most templates print 2 to 4 cards per 8.5x11 inch sheet. For 150 menu cards, you need about 38 to 75 sheets of cardstock, which costs $25 to $60 at office supply stores. Large buffet menu signs (16x20 or 18x24) need a print shop because home printers max out at 11x14 inches. Print shops typically charge $15 to $35 for paper and $35 to $65 for foam board mounting.
List every dish your guests will receive, including side dishes that come with each entree. For plated dinners, write each course as the catering team will present it ("Filet Mignon with rosemary potatoes and seasonal vegetables" rather than just "Filet Mignon"). This gives guests a complete picture of what to expect and signals the level of care behind the meal. For buffet menus, list every dish available at the buffet line, grouped by station type (proteins, sides, salads, breads). Always include dietary notes (V, VG, GF, DF) next to applicable dishes.
The standard dietary notes on a wedding menu are V (vegetarian), VG (vegan), GF (gluten-free), and DF (dairy-free). Place these markers in small letters next to each applicable dish, with a small legend at the bottom of the menu explaining the abbreviations. For weddings with multiple guests with severe allergies, also note common allergens (nuts, shellfish, eggs) on dishes that contain them. The point is to let guests verify what they can eat before the food arrives, especially helpful at plated dinners where substitutions take time.
