Before you plan the menu

It is important for every bride and groom to know that to help their guests have an enjoyable time they must take into consideration their special needs when it comes to the food that will be served at your wedding reception. You don't want your wedding reception spoilt because someone had to be rushed off to hospital because they unknowingly ate shellfish. To prevent a crisis like this from happening at your reception, do a bit of research before you start planning your menu.

Your response card

A lot of brides, who send out wedding invitations, include a response card in the envelope. In the response card guests get the option to choose whether or not they will be at the reception but you can also include the following:

• Are you allergic to nuts? Yes No
• Are you allergic to shellfish? Yes No
• Are you a vegetarian? Yes No
• Are you diabetic? Yes No
• Do you have any religious dietary needs? Please state what these needs are.

The caterer

The response cards will give you a good idea of how many special meals will have to be prepared for your guests. Now you can start looking for a caterer who is familiar with making these special meals, without the meals being boring and bland.

A few general guidelines

Have a variety of fresh fruits and salads so that vegetarians and diabetics will have enough to eat. Avoid an excess of food that contain starches, such as noodles and potatoes, and provide at least one main dish that contains no meat, cheese, eggs or any other animal by-product.

Don't try to satisfy every finicky eater's dietary needs – you'll find it an impossible task and something that will only cause you an unnecessary headache!