Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception Wedding Reception Ideas 33 Pretty and Unexpected Wedding Menu Ideas By Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber has been writing, editing, and producing lifestyle and weddings content for over 7 years. In that time, she has interviewed and worked with hundreds of leading experts to become an authority on all things homekeeping, flower arranging, home design, and wedding planning. Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 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. 01 of 33 Clip Board Branco Prata Take a hint from this couple and display your signature cocktail list on clip boards. Here’s How to Choose the Perfect Signature Cocktail 02 of 33 Lucite Michelle Roller Looking for a way to instantly make your wedding more mod? Lucite menus, calligraphed in punchy, retro-inspired colors, are the way to go. 25 More Lucite Ideas for the Minimalist Couple 03 of 33 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. 04 of 33 On the Table Lilly Red Creative Perfect for a rustic, barnyard wedding, this food list was printed directly onto the reception tables. 05 of 33 Mossy Sign Sabine Scherer If you're planning a garden wedding, embrace nature and top off a simple wooden menu sign with tufts of moss. Even More Creative Wedding Signs You’ll Love 06 of 33 Half Marble, Half Wood Jenna Joseph Photography This marble slab serves as both menu and placemat. 07 of 33 Elephant Ears Alea Moore Photography We love how a calligrapher transformed this elephant ear leaf into a casual menu, perfect for a beach or destination wedding. Discover More Trendy and Tropical Wedding Ideas We Love 08 of 33 Scroll Tara Rochelle Easy enough to DIY, this brown paper scroll lists every part of the meal, from the appetizers to the desserts. 09 of 33 French Doors Autumn Cutaia Photography With a seating chart on one panel and the menu on the other, this greenery-draped door piece is doubly helpful. Discover More Unique Wedding Seating Charts 10 of 33 Gold Hoop Rebecca Hollis Photography Station one of these dainty circular hoops at each table, so guests always know what they're eating next. 11 of 33 Ornate Display Michelle Roller A classic menu card—dressed up with gold foil—gets the royal treatment on an opulent stand. Other Wedding Details You Can Gild with Gold Foil 12 of 33 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." 13 of 33 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. 14 of 33 Slate and Metallic Feather and Stone A blue-gray menu, printed with metallic text, pairs perfectly with gold flatware. More Ways to Add a Pop of Metallic to Your Wedding 15 of 33 Double Layer Nicole Lev Cover circular menus with transparent wax paper, calligraphed with guests' names. 16 of 33 Hexagon Kelly Wood Photo Bring a little intrigue (and info!) to your dessert station and add a geometric sign that lists all the treats and eats. Discover More Geometric Wedding Ideas That Are Anything but Square 17 of 33 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. 18 of 33 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! 19 of 33 Bread Packets Jacqui Cole Photography Pay homage to your love for everything carbohydrate by printing your entire menu onto paper bread sleeves. 20 of 33 Watercolor Signage Phil Chester Dress up a pretty menu sign with pastel florals. Bonus points if you ask your illustrator to recreate the flowers in your bouquet. Love Watercolor at Weddings? Here Are 35 More Ideas You'll Both Love 21 of 33 Coconut Sara Bee Photography These wooden slabs subtly mimic coconuts, making them a perfect addition to a tropical wedding's décor. 22 of 33 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. 23 of 33 Marble Magic Lucy Munoz Photography Served atop a rose gold placemat, this petite marble menu is the definition of millennial style. More Elegant Marbled Wedding Ideas Perfect for Your Modern Fête 24 of 33 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. 25 of 33 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. 26 of 33 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. 27 of 33 Invite-Inspired Amaranth Photography Take notes from this bride, and embellish your chalkboard menu sign with florals and motifs from your invitation suite. Modern Wedding Initiations to Inspire Your Own 28 of 33 Extra-Large Katie Stoops Photography Serving simple cuisine? Offer up a major menu, like this calligraphed canvas display, for a fun juxtaposition. 29 of 33 Mediterranean Minded Larissa Cleveland Photography Perfect for a Mediterranean affair, these tile menus (and table numbers!) add a bit of architecture to your tabletop. 30 of 33 Cultural Keepsake 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. 31 of 33 Bold Print KT Merry 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. Even More Ribbon Ideas for Your Wedding 32 of 33 Unexpected Neutral Raya Carlisle Photography Want something classic, but less fussy? Opt for a small, circular menu printed only with transparents leaf details. 33 of 33 Outdoor Menu Jose Villa This menu was written on a vintage window frame and fit in perfectly with the wedding's natural décor and setting. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit