Buffet cards for weddings: allergens, design and workflow for caterers

At a wedding, often 80 to 200 guests eat from the buffet – and almost always some of them have allergies or intolerances. Buffet cards with the dish name and the major allergens are therefore both a legal duty and a service. Fold-over cards (folded 100 × 69.5 mm) that match the style of the day and are printed shortly before the event from the final menu work well.

What goes on a wedding buffet card?

The dish name – readable from about one metre away.
The major allergens under EU law (e.g. cereals containing gluten (wheat), milk, egg).
Optionally ingredients, labels such as vegetarian or vegan, and “contains alcohol” (e.g. tiramisu or desserts with liqueur).
Optionally the caterer's logo or the couple's initials – never at the expense of readability.

Workflow: from menu to printed card

Agree the menu with the couple and note special requests (vegan, gluten-free, kids' buffet).
Record every dish with all ingredients – including dressings, sauces and stocks.
Check allergens and have them approved by a responsible person.
Print after the last menu change – not weeks in advance.
Cut and fold the cards and pack them sorted by buffet station.
During set-up, check that every card is next to the right dish.

Design that fits the celebration

Weddings often have a colour scheme or theme. A simple template with plenty of white space suits almost any style; elegant fonts look festive but must stay readable. More important than decoration is that guests recognise dish and allergens immediately – even in dim evening light.

How Catering Cat helps

With Catering Cat you create your dishes once and assemble the right buffet for each wedding. Allergens come from the stored ingredients and are reviewed before printing. Printing is single-sided on A4: 4 fold-over cards per sheet with cut and fold lines. With the QR menu (Pro), guests can also view the dishes including allergens on their phone.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need allergen labelling at a private wedding?

If a caterer or venue supplies the food commercially, the duty to inform about the 14 major allergens applies. For guests it is an important service anyway.

How many buffet cards do I need?

One card per dish and buffet station. For long buffets served from both sides, one card per side is worthwhile.

When should the cards be printed?

Only after the final menu is agreed – so dishes and allergens match what is actually served.

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Catering Cat supports the management of allergen information and does not replace a legal review.