Written by Brittany Kuramoto, Event Sales Director | Yorba Linda Country Club

What are meal markers?

Meal markers are a fabulous way to ensure that all of your guests are served the meals they requested on their RSVP card, and help with a smoother, hassle-free entrée service at private events & wedding receptions. If you're not hosting a buffet at your event, or you have multiple options for entrées, your host venue or caterer may even require pre-made meal markers for the event.

You've probably seen meal markers, even if you didn't think much of them at events. Some meal markers also serve as escort cards, while others might just be an image of a chicken, cow, fish, or carrot to indicate which entrée your guest prefers (i.e., poultry, beef, seafood, or vegetarian).

If you want to be a bit more creative with your meal markers, here are a few suggestions that will hopefully spark your creative mind and inspire you to adapt the marker to best fit your style and soiree.

Samples Clockwise from Top Left:

1. For two entrées, place one large flower or sticker for the vegetarian meal and a small flower or sticker for the main entrée.
2. For three entrees, leave one card blank, place a pretty ribbon on the bottom of the second card, and distinguish the third with a full-color block border.
3. For three entrées, use the same starting place card for all. Choose your favorite sticker or gem and designate two stickers, one sticker, or no stickers for each meal option.
4. For two or more entrées, choose a different color cardstock or background for each entrée selected. Place your labels or hand-write names and table numbers on the cards.

Always remember to:

• Ensure there is a visible distinction between each card, which is easy for guests and event staff to see.
• Consider the lighting in the room (e.g., using option #4  may be best for an afternoon affair or party hosted in a very well lit room, while option #1 may work better for a candlelit evening event because of the contrasting size and color of the flowers).
• Be creative and stay true to you, your event theme, and color scheme.
• Provide the meal marker key or legend to your caterer, club, or event team (also provide a full guest list with table numbers and preferred meal choices as a helpful backup).
• Have your welcome host/hostess announce, upon entrance to the reception, that meal markers/escort cards should be placed on the tables in front of each guest for entrée service. You can also have a DJ or emcee announce this after the initial introductions have been made.

Meal markers are an important aspect of planning a smooth and successful dining event or wedding reception, but they don't have to be boring or plain. Keeping these creative ideas and tips in mind, you can create fun and clever meal markers and escort cards that keep with the theme of your event and still serve their function in helping you throw a memorable event.