The Core Hierarchy of a Luxury Menu Card
Wedding menu cards serve two crucial purposes: they elevate the tabletop aesthetic for your photographer's flat-lay images, and they inform guests of allergens so dinner service runs smoothly without kitchen interruptions.
A balanced menu layout uses this typographical hierarchy:
- Header (18pt–22pt Serif / Script): Couple's names, date, or simple centered word: "Dinner" or "Menu".
- Course Headings (12pt–14pt Small Caps): APPETIZER • FIRST COURSE • MAIN COURSE • DESSERT.
- Dish Titles (11pt–12pt Bold): The hero protein or preparation (e.g. Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass).
- Culinary Description & Dietary Tag (9pt–10pt Light): Sides, reduction sauces, and dietary symbols in parentheses.
3-Course Classic Plated Menu Wording Template
Dinner Reception
EMMA & ALEXANDER • OCTOBER 17, 2026
First Course
Baby Arugula & Roasted Pear SaladCandied pecans, shaved pecorino, pomegranate reduction, white balsamic vinaigrette (GF, Vegetarian)Main Entrée
Filet Mignon & Herb-Crusted HalibutTruffled potato mousseline, roasted asparagus, red wine bordelaise sauce (GF)Dessert
Tahitian Vanilla Bean Wedding CakeRaspberry coulis, fresh blackberries, artisanal coffee & tea selectionUniversal Dietary Symbols Reference Guide
Modern wedding etiquette strongly encourages including dietary abbreviations so guests with severe celiac disease or dairy allergies do not have to chase down catering servers:
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Recommended Notation on Menu Card |
|---|---|---|
| GF | Gluten-Free | "Contains no wheat, barley, or rye ingredients" |
| DF | Dairy-Free | "Prepared without butter, cream, or animal milk" |
| V | Vegetarian | "Meat-free; may contain dairy, honey, or eggs" |
| VG | Vegan | "100% plant-based with zero animal byproducts" |
| NF | Nut-Free | "Contains no peanuts or tree nuts (almonds, walnuts)" |
Generate Printable 4x9 Wedding Menus
Pick from luxury serif fonts, add dietary badges, and export vector print-ready PDF files for free.