33 Pretty and Unexpected Wedding Menu Ideas

Think beyond those classic paper rectangles.

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You'll receive lots of differing advice when planning a wedding, but most pros and planners are united on one thing—the food is important. If you've carefully curated a list of foods both you and your spouse-to-be love, you're likely incredibly eager to share the cuisine with your guests on the big day. Since so much work has gone into make everything from your hors d'oeuvres to your dessert table magnificent, why not introduce your food in style?

The following menus from real weddings completely paid homage to their next-level fare. From unique paper options, to unlikely mediums (like acrylic!), and larger-than-life banners, these menus weren't just menus—they served as eye-catching pieces of wedding décor. We were most impressed by the couples that truly embraced the unexpected. Some gave vintage doors, window panes, and cutting boards new life by calligraphing them with their full cuisine roster. Others went full-blown millennial and used geometric shapes and marble circles.

We think you'll be beyond excited by all of the creative options out there. From menus in tea towel, calligraphed palm leaf, and mirror form, the elevated options are limitless—and all are guaranteed to bring a touch of pretty personalization to your big day. Ready to see all of the fresh, inspired menus of the future? Find your own here.

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Clip Board

Branco Prata

Here’s How to Choose the Perfect Signature Cocktail

Take a hint from this couple and display your signature cocktail list on clip boards.

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Lucite

Michelle Roller

25 More Lucite Ideas for the Minimalist Couple

Looking for a way to instantly make your wedding more mod? Lucite menus, calligraphed in punchy, retro-inspired colors, are the way to go.

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Menu, Menu On the Wall

Alicia Swedenborg

Use an erasable marker to dress up a chic, distressed mirror—that way, you can wipe your "menu" off later, and display the mirror in your first home.

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On the Table

Lilly Red Creative

Perfect for a rustic, barnyard wedding, this food list was printed directly onto the reception tables.

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Mossy Sign

Sabine Scherer

Even More Creative Wedding Signs You’ll Love

If you're planning a garden wedding, embrace nature and top off a simple wooden menu sign with tufts of moss.

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Half Marble, Half Wood

Jenna Joseph Photography

This marble slab serves as both menu and placemat.

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Elephant Ears

Alea Moore Photography

Discover More Trendy and Tropical Wedding Ideas We Love

We love how a calligrapher transformed this elephant ear leaf into a casual menu, perfect for a beach or destination wedding.

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Scroll

Tara Rochelle

Easy enough to DIY, this brown paper scroll lists every part of the meal, from the appetizers to the desserts.

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French Doors

Autumn Cutaia Photography

Discover More Unique Wedding Seating Charts

With a seating chart on one panel and the menu on the other, this greenery-draped door piece is doubly helpful.

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Gold Hoop

Rebecca Hollis Photography

Station one of these dainty circular hoops at each table, so guests always know what they're eating next.

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Ornate Display

Michelle Roller

Other Wedding Details You Can Gild with Gold Foil

A classic menu card—dressed up with gold foil—gets the royal treatment on an opulent stand.

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Illustrated

Anna Delores Photography

If pictures speak louder than words, have an illustrator add little pictorials next to each dish for a completely unique "ingredient list."

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Cutting Board

The McCartneys Photography

Simple and stunning, this cutting board menu also serves as a functional keepsake—just turn it over and use it to chop veggies at home.

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Slate and Metallic

Feather and Stone

More Ways to Add a Pop of Metallic to Your Wedding

A blue-gray menu, printed with metallic text, pairs perfectly with gold flatware.

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Double Layer

Nicole Lev

Cover circular menus with transparent wax paper, calligraphed with guests' names.

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Hexagon

Kelly Wood Photo

Discover More Geometric Wedding Ideas That Are Anything but Square

Bring a little intrigue (and info!) to your dessert station and add a geometric sign that lists all the treats and eats.

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Ombré

Urban Rose Photo

If you're set on presenting more traditional menus, but want to tie them into your theme or color palette, consider an ombré paper stock.

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Napkins

Cluney Photo

Print your wedding's fare onto linen napkins—all guests will have to do is look down onto their laps to check out the menu!

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Bread Packets

Jacqui Cole Photography

Pay homage to your love for everything carbohydrate by printing your entire menu onto paper bread sleeves.

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Watercolor Signage

Phil Chester

Love Watercolor at Weddings? Here Are 35 More Ideas You'll Both Love

Dress up a pretty menu sign with pastel florals. Bonus points if you ask your illustrator to recreate the flowers in your bouquet.

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Coconut

Sara Bee Photography

These wooden slabs subtly mimic coconuts, making them a perfect addition to a tropical wedding's décor.

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Bold Type

Twin Lens Weddings

If you've asked your guests to choose their meal via RSVP, they likely don't need a full menu. Instead, display just each personal order. We're loving this couple's interpretation, which involved black-and-white bold type.

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Marble Magic

Lucy Munoz Photography

More Elegant Marbled Wedding Ideas Perfect for Your Modern Fête

Served atop a rose gold placemat, this petite marble menu is the definition of millennial style.

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Banner

Autumn Cutaia Photography

A pennant banner topped with a rose-studded garland of greens, like this one created by Whimsy Design Studio, is a pretty add to a simple door display.

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Framed Wood

Jen Rodriguez

Opt for mixed mediums (and time periods!) and frame a modern wooden menu sign with a vintage picture frame. Pretty calligraphy—this sign's was done by Lovelyfest Events—adds the finishing touch.

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Eucalyptus

Majenia Design

Everything about this neutral menu display, from the green-blue silver dollar eucalyptus spray to the matching door color, is picture-perfect.

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Invite-Inspired

Amaranth Photography

Modern Wedding Initiations to Inspire Your Own

Take notes from this bride, and embellish your chalkboard menu sign with florals and motifs from your invitation suite.

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Extra-Large

Katie Stoops Photography

Serving simple cuisine? Offer up a major menu, like this calligraphed canvas display, for a fun juxtaposition.

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Mediterranean Minded

Larissa Cleveland Photography

Perfect for a Mediterranean affair, these tile menus (and table numbers!) add a bit of architecture to your tabletop.

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33 Pretty and Unexpected Wedding Menu Ideas

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Clip Board

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Lucite

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Menu, Menu On the Wall

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On the Table

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Mossy Sign

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Half Marble, Half Wood

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Elephant Ears

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Scroll

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French Doors

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Gold Hoop

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Ornate Display

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Illustrated

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Cutting Board

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Slate and Metallic

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Double Layer

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Hexagon

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Ombré

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Napkins

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Bread Packets

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Watercolor Signage

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Coconut

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Bold Type

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Marble Magic

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Banner

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Framed Wood

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