How to Make $500 in a Weekend with Wedding Menu Cards
I’ve built businesses in markets where margins matter more than volume. Wedding menu cards? That’s a precision niche inside a $70+ billion U.S. wedding industry, and it rewards positioning over hustle.
Nearly 2 million weddings happen annually in the U.S. Every reception needs menus — especially for plated dinners and formal events. Couples spending $25,000–$35,000 on a wedding won’t hesitate over a few hundred dollars for cohesive table styling.
Here’s how to make $500 in a weekend with wedding menu cards.
Reverse Engineer the $500 Goal
Let’s keep it simple.
Option 1:
2 clients at $250 each = $500
Option 2:
1 premium client at $500 = $500
A typical wedding of 100 guests may need 80–100 printed menu cards. Custom menu card packages commonly price between $200–$600, depending on design complexity and print finish.
You don’t need volume. You need one or two solid bookings.
Package for Profit
Never sell per card. Sell per event.
Classic Menu Package – $250
Custom design + print-ready files
Premium Package – $400
Foil accents or specialty layout + matching place cards
Luxury Styling Package – $600+
Menus + table numbers + coordinated signage
If just one client selects the $400 package and adds a $100 upgrade, your weekend target is hit.
Structure increases average order value.
Control Costs and Protect Margin
If you deliver digital files only:
Your overhead may be limited to software costs ($20–$60/month).
Margins can exceed 85–90%.
If printing is included:
Target at least 50–60% markup on production costs.
Example:
Printing costs $180 → Charge $400.
That’s disciplined margin management.
Target the Right Buyers
Not DIY couples — planners and organized brides.
Market through:
- Wedding planners
- Instagram and Pinterest
- Bridal expos
- Vendor partnerships
Planners influence vendor decisions in a large share of weddings. One planner can send multiple bookings per season.
Repeat referrals stabilize income.
Systemize for Speed
Create:
- 8–10 base templates
- Pre-set size formats
- Standardized intake forms
If a $300 project takes 3 hours, that’s $100/hour gross revenue.
Reduce production time to 2 hours with templates?
Now you’re at $150/hour.
Efficiency equals leverage.
Increase the Ticket Without More Work
Upsell:
- Matching seating charts (+$150)
- Wedding programs (+$100)
- Thank-you cards (+$75)
If one client adds a $150 upsell:
Your $400 booking becomes $550 instantly.
Same client. Higher revenue.
Final Word from the Street
Making $500 in a weekend with wedding menu cards isn’t about graphic design alone.
It’s about:
- Selling structured event packages
- Maintaining 80%+ margins
- Partnering with planners
- Increasing average order value
One to two well-priced wedding clients can cross $500 quickly.
Small niche. Premium buyers. Strong margins.
That’s how disciplined operators win.
