There are as many ways to present menu cards as there are ways to design receptions. Below are a few ways from classic to modern, casual to formal.

Traditionally, the bride and groom’s name or duogram and the date of the wedding appear at the top of the card, then the menu follows with wine either noted alongside courses or at the bottom of the card. The menu card usually matches the place card, both in the stock of the paper it’s printed on and possibly with the repetition of a motif or monogram (see Kathryn’s invitation below — she used the wreath motif throughout her wedding on printed materials).

Although menus can be shared, they usually go on each place setting, and can double as place cards. In that instance, the guest’s name would be hand calligraphed or printed at the top of the menu (see Kathyrn’s menu for an example).

When outdoors, it’s best to have the menu tucked into a folded napkin or secured in another way so it’s not picked up by the wind.

A classic menu that uses a mix of calligraphy and type, for a rehearsal dinner featured on Snippet and Ink and photographed by Kristen Loken.

A modern calligraphed menu, photographed by Karen Mordechai, by Betsy Dunlap for Sunday Suppers.

Kathryn’s classic wedding menu, photographed by Elizabeth Messina, used the wreath motif that appeared on many printed goods at her wedding. Her menu cards also doubled as place cards — guests’ names were calligraphed by Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls at the top of each card.

A casual wedding menu photographed by Suzanne Christine Photography and featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. The bride and groom used a repetitive stamp motif on their day-of paper goods.

This menu, photographed by Timothy K. Lee and originally featured on MSW, doubled as a napkin band — a great solution for an outdoor event!