Vegan Wedding

Have vegan options, but don't make the entire menu vegan.

Have some things available for the meat eaters. You wouldn't appreciate having to eat meat at their wedding because they weren't considerate of your dietary preferences.

Also make sure you talk with your caterer- be sure to check that their foods are actually vegan. It's easy for people to forget things like honey and gelatin aren't vegan.

Have something for people that eat meat.

My FH is vegan and we are having our reception at a restaurant that serves both vegan and meat. It was the compromise that we made since not everyone that we are inviting is vegan, or vegetarian.

A friend of mine just did this. She got married on the beach and had an extremely small reception after. I believe she got it catered by a local restaurant. It was like 20 people at most, and they didn't have a full on reception.

Clearly explain what is in the food. I am allergic to, as are many others, items often used in vegan dishes, such as soy and nuts. Have dishes that are naturally vegan, without a ton of "fake" substitutions. Fake cheese to most non-vegans is disgusting.

I know we're only 6 comments in, but does anyone else have a bad feeling that this thread could turn into "meat eaters suck and I refuse to serve anything non-vegan at my wedding!"? I really hope not... OP, come back and ease my fears.

@Beach I'm allergic to nuts too. The first time I heard about almond cheese, I got very scared. Now I'm always afraid that almond cheese could be lurking somewhere, disguised as regular cheese.

I agree with having ingredients posted, and/or extremely knowledgable waitstaff. Find a good vegan caterer with experience. Also, if you are having a buffet, then having vegan and non-vegan on separate tables will help. If you have a plated meal, it will be much easier, since whatever plate the person gets will be clearly vegan or non-vegan.

@Sass Hopefully she ends up being like Travellers and is actually open to suggestions.

Sass, I 100% agree and see this thread blossoming into a meat argument.

Funny fact, I'm a butcher by trade and now working as a meat broker.

I'm vegan. You need a caterer who does real vegan options with protein, veg, and starch. It's common for caterers not to know what "vegan" actually means and include things like honey so ask questions about ingredients. If you guys are asking for guests, think through each food course and see if there are vegan options that are commensurate with the Omni options in terms of how filling they are. I frequently have raw veggies as the only cocktail hour food, a plate of over cooked pasta and steamed veggies with olive oil, and that's it. Cake, favors, protein, are all missing. It's fine because you come to expect it but it certainly doesn't feel like anyone cared much. If you guys are vegan or one of you is, then think about whether you want to offer Omni options or not. The biggest thing is finding a caterer who actually does real vegan food.

Also, if this is you guys who are vegan, obviously silk can be an issue but most Bridal stuff is poly and dyeable satin shoes are a good fallback if you can't find vegan shoes that work.

@AlwaysMs. Where do you live? I find most big cities have vegan options for catering. We have 10 stand alone vegan caterers in our city and several vegan restaurants that will cater. I had no issues when it came to food for our wedding. That was the first thing knocked off the list.

You just need to speak to your caterer / do your research so you know they truly understand what constitutes as vegan and that they're capable of making delicious food with those parameters. Everything else will be the same as planning any other wedding.

As long as we don't have another "I need vegan leather boots" argument, I think I can deal.

@Sass: You mean like the last thread like this did?

Vegan leather boots? Omg. I've noticed though that they're now marketing pleather stuff as vegan leather. Like that makes it sound more upscale so people will pay more for cheap plastic leather. >_>

I would agree with also having meat options. FFIL just went to a vegan wedding this passed weekend and was upset he couldn't have meat. Definitely label the vegan vs non vegan foods to help with allergies.

Eta: Saw your replies that it is not morally right for you to put money towards something you don't believe in. I think you can still have a wonderful fully vegan meal. I think if your guests are aware that you two are vegan and should therefore expect vegan foods and a variety of food is provided, it can be pulled off nicely. I have a vegan friend and when I eat at heroes use you would never know it was vegan. Some foods can be delicious

I was a caterer for years; one of our vegan wedding menus was actually on About.com for a while, and we were getting calls right and left. The couple wouldn't have anything with yeast or honey either. We were very high end caterers, but "delicious food" in those parameters wasn't something we felt was appropriate for the bulk of the guests, nor did it feel right for the collective hosts of the party (the parents and the couple)

When it all came down to that particular wedding, ironically enough, the couple and parents decided to add some salmon and cheese products.

I think, personally, if you're going to ask people to travel, buy clothes and presents and spend (maybe more importantly) time with you, you need to offer some things that are more universal. And vegan cheese, I'm sorry, is not universal.

Aside from that? No silk, no leather.

I'll spare you my opinions on the philosophy; that's just the mechanics.

JessieJV: I'm near Miami and hopefully eloping. If not then I will be in the hunt for our best vegan caterer here, but since I am pro elopement we haven't really discussed offering Omni options or not. The weddings I have been to with not so hot options have been all over the country. It's not access to caterers with vegan options that is the issue. It's just not a priority for most people. They hire a caterer, ask if they have a vegan option, the caterer says yes and that's the end of it. Result: pasta and steamed veg, etc. Oddly, this was even true at a vegetarian couple's wedding where the entree was absolutely beautiful, and consisted only of veggies. I appreciated the thought, it was tasty, but I was glad I brought my backup protein bar. I think it's mostly caterer ignorance and they aren't going to say "we can't do that" and miss a booking for one guest they know won't complain to the couple.

OP, are you guys vegan, or are you looking for vegan options for a few guests?

Please make sure that there is a vegan dessert option.

I had 2 vegans at my wedding, and went out of my way to find a vegan dessert for them, and they were over the moon. (and it was delicious too.)

I'm actually with OGA on this one too.

As a hard core meat eater here...I have no issue forgoing meat and fish for one night and eating a vegan or a vegetarian meal, as long as its prepared well and tastes good.

Like Beach Dreams said, though, please make sure things are labeled for allergies. I know some vegan recipes for baked goods include avocado, and I'm allergic to that (sad.).

I'm a meat eater, and I have no problem eating a vegan meal as long as it tastes good and is filling. I would be weirded out by meat and cheese substitutions, but I'd be perfectly happy with foods that are naturally vegan.

That was such amazing hosting, Yasmina. I am sure they felt very cared about. Super, duper nice.