Signs for "exotic" food

If you don’t assign guests to tables at minimum, you will have chaos by splitting up couples and families, essentially recreating the ptsd from the high school cafeteria, along with needing extra tables and chairs.


If you are having a buffet, everything needs a large tent card (card stock is very inexpensive) in front telling what it is and if there are any allergens or other triggers for dietary restrictions. It is ideal to have at least one menu per table that can serve double duty as the back side of your table numbers. That way guests can tell before they go up to the buffet line what is available and what to avoid which makes the lines go so much faster.

IDK, I've been at plenty of weddings that have open seating, should be fine. We have tables for 200 no matter what (the venue won't remove extras) and expect somewhere between 100-130, plus another large amount of picnic tables and Adirondack chairs outside. It's a super casual thing.

Yes, as I had said previously would be putting a small sign by each thing about allergens/diet or whatever. But wanted to explain a little more about some of the foods (like mentioning a distinctive spice in each, or for people to know, hey! no surprises, this has pepitas and pickled onions)

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The forum is full of posts describing open seating backfiring but you know your crowd.

Describing and listing ingredients is where a menu on tables comes in handy.

Card stock and printing at like staples is fairly inexpensive. I'm doing a buffet and going to just print through staples for each place setting at the tables. I think it's easier than one large menu or one menu per table that people have to share.

First I'd def. assign tables at the least. I've been to a wedding that had open seating and they didn't have enough tables/chairs for everyone, so me and a ton of other people stood the entire night. It's just easier for guests to be directed where to sit and it provides a better traffic flow into the reception.

I love those types of foods, but have several picky eaters for friends, so I know that they'd appreciate table menus. You could do one per table and everyone can take a look at it before their table is called to receive food. Or you could print one per place setting at Vistaprint or Staples like Ashlee suggested. I like your idea of labeling the foods for those with food sensitivities. It would also be wise to go ahead and get any food allergies written down so that you make sure those that do have them, are able to eat something. A card listing what each item is in front of it would also be helpful!