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  5. 33 Pretty and Unexpected Wedding Menu Ideas
Martha Stewart Weddings

33 Pretty and Unexpected Wedding Menu Ideas

By Sarah Schreiber
August 05, 2011
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wedding menu mirror
Credit: The Marions

Think beyond those classic paper rectangles.

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wedding menu mirror
Credit: The Marions

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

wedding menu clipboard
Credit: 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

floral wedding menu
Credit: 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

menu on mirror
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: 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

wooden wedding menu
Credit: 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

wooden menu
Credit: Jenna Joseph Photography

This marble slab serves as both menu and placemat.

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Elephant Ears

menu on leaf
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: 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

glass door menu
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: 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

colorful menu placesetting
Credit: 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

wooden wedding menu
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: Nicole Lev

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

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Hexagon

wedding menu
Credit: 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

wedding menu placesetting
Credit: 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

wedding menu fabric
Credit: 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

wedding dessert menu
Credit: 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

floral wedding menu
Credit: 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

wedding menu placesetting
Credit: 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

wedding menu placesetting
Credit: 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

wedding menu stone
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: 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

wooden menu
Credit: 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

wedding menu door
Credit: 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

rachel-andrew-wedding-menu-091-s112195-0915.jpg
Credit: 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

kelly-jeff-wedding-palm-springs-flamingo-menu-pink-5456-s112234.jpg
Credit: 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

wedding menu
Credit: 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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Cultural Keepsake

eden jack wedding place setting
Credit: Samm Blake

Your menus don't have to be traditional in order to embrace your culture's customs. Add something that speaks to who you are—like these love spoons, typically given to brides and grooms in Wales.

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Bold Print

wedding placesetting
Credit: KT Merry
Even More Ribbon Ideas for Your Wedding

Make menus bolder with big floral prints in opulent colors. A black velvet ribbon ties it all together, and also adds a bit of drama.

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Unexpected Neutral

wedding menu
Credit: Raya Carlisle Photography

Want something classic, but less fussy? Opt for a small, circular menu printed only with transparents leaf details.

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Outdoor Menu

real-weddings-zoe-john-006760-R1-010.jpg
Credit: Jose Villa

This menu was written on a vintage window frame and fit in perfectly with the wedding's natural décor and setting.

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    1 of 34
    2 of 34 Clip Board
    3 of 34 Lucite
    4 of 34 Menu, Menu On the Wall
    5 of 34 On the Table
    6 of 34 Mossy Sign
    7 of 34 Half Marble, Half Wood
    8 of 34 Elephant Ears
    9 of 34 Scroll
    10 of 34 French Doors
    11 of 34 Gold Hoop
    12 of 34 Ornate Display
    13 of 34 Illustrated
    14 of 34 Cutting Board
    15 of 34 Slate and Metallic
    16 of 34 Double Layer
    17 of 34 Hexagon
    18 of 34 Ombré
    19 of 34 Napkins
    20 of 34 Bread Packets
    21 of 34 Watercolor Signage
    22 of 34 Coconut
    23 of 34 Bold Type
    24 of 34 Marble Magic
    25 of 34 Banner
    26 of 34 Framed Wood
    27 of 34 Eucalyptus
    28 of 34 Invite-Inspired
    29 of 34 Extra-Large
    30 of 34 Mediterranean Minded
    31 of 34 Cultural Keepsake
    32 of 34 Bold Print
    33 of 34 Unexpected Neutral
    34 of 34 Outdoor Menu

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