13 Creative Wedding Menu Ideas That Aren’t Chalkboards

One of the best parts of planning a wedding (after choosing the white dress, obviously) is how you can personalize the smallest details and turn them into something totally unique. While the actual menus may not get you as pumped as all those other wedding details, you still want your guests to be as stoked about every hors d’oeuvre and customized cocktail as you are. That’s where the perfectly styled wedding menu comes in. Once you put a creative spin on it, a cool wedding menu can be just the thing to really amp up the anticipation. Ditch the chalkboard paint and check out these 13 creative and colorful menu displays that fit in with every wedding theme.

DIY 3D Popout Menu

Cut out the word “menu” in several sheets of paper and then fluff the letters out to create a cool 3D effect. Use as many colors as you want, or stick with your wedding colors — either way, the brighter the paper, the better it looks. Practice your rad typography skills and write out the dishes in white pen for a menu that really pops. (via Paper and Stitch)

Taco Inspired Menu

For the fiesta-inspired wedding, stick with your theme and DIY mini tacos. Gold faux leather makes for a perfect taco shell, and the menu can even double as a favor. Add a little green tissue paper for the lettuce and you’re good to go. (via Sugar & Cloth)

Mini Wood Planks

Whether you’re entertaining several hundred guests or several dozen, mini wood planks are a fun, slightly rustic way to show off the menu. Pull out the white Sharpies and have fun writing out each menu card. You can place one at each seat or each table, depending on how much time you have to DIY all those menus. (via Green Wedding Shoes)

Rod + Hook

Take a cue from this fancy restaurant: Spray paint clipboards your wedding colors and have them hanging on a rack. Guests can grab one on their way to the tables and peruse the options while they wait for their food. (via Swoon Worthy)

Butcher Paper

A giant roll of butcher paper might be the new chalkboard, especially if you’re dining in a trendy venue. Dedicate one roll to the food menu and another roll to the cocktail options or dessert bar. You could even have a roll for the guests to sign and doodle on. (via Life and Thyme)

Bread Bag

Weddings have a tendency to attract unexpected delays, so make sure your guests don’t get hangry — put the menu on a paper bag that contains a mini baguette. They can snack while they wait for the main course, and you’ll win the award for Most Thoughtful Wedding Ever. (via Mademoiselle Fiona / Style Me Pretty)

Paper Placemats

Brown paper placemats look surprisingly elegant with white calligraphy. You can easily DIY these yourself with a little help from your friends with good handwriting. They won’t mind getting an early sneak peek at the menu. (via Kristyn Hogan / Brides)

Giant Mirror

Hit up some flea markets and thrift stores to find a giant mirror for your menu display. Having an oversized menu is a great option for either a buffet or a small wedding reception. And if it’s a mirror you love, you’ve got a piece of wedding decor you can use around the house for years to come. Winning. (via Mirelle Charmichael / Style Me Pretty)

Oar Menu

If your wedding venue is next to the water, using a prop like an oar is a fun way to keep the theme going. Dig it into the sand to keep it upright or sink it into a concrete stand for a more permanent fixture. Whatever helps you make sure it doesn’t fall over. (via Jose Villa / Swooned)

DIY Menu Balloon

Regular chalkboards may have had their moment, but faux chalkboard balloons are totally awesome. Set up a balloon at each table and let the kids take them home at the end of the reception. (via The Merrythought)

Bar Menu

If you came up with a signature drink just for your big day, you’d better display it loud and proud. Dedicate a separate menu to the tasty cocktails with a stained piece of wood and white painted words or stickers. Take it home at the end of the day and mount it over your home bar cart to remember your special day in a unique way. (via Sposto Photography / Green Wedding Shoes)

Popcorn Bag

Don’t make your guests wait for their appetizers — put them out front and center. It is dinner and a show, after all, right? The informal, playful aspect will win you major points from both the kids and adults. (via Swooned)

Elephant Leaf Menu

Go totally au natural and ink a giant leaf for your menu. You can keep the leaf upright in a vase or leave it on each table for guests to admire. Writing on that leafy texture might be the ultimate test for your hand-lettering skills, but we totally be-leave in you. (via Camille Styles)