Vegan Wedding

So, I'd be fine with an all vegan meal. Although, I believe, per proper hosting, there SHOULD be some meat options going on. Mostly because I have seen it on here many a times that if you are LDS, but have people who aren't, and like to drink, at your wedding, then you should provide alcohol for them.

If only consumption bars existed for meat....

Oh I gotcha, Elizabeth. I was just puzzled because that would be the same for an omni with an allergy attending an omni wedding. I see where you are coming from now.

@Nikol and @OP I was totally thinking that portobello mushroom steak would be a way to go in regards to vegan wedding planning. Not soy/tofu/seitan/etc just really good whole foods.

OP, I'd also do heavy snacks for a vegan wedding. Definitely lots of fruit and veg, hummus and other spreads, maybe chips and salsas/guac (sorry to the avocado allergic folks out there), nuts, cauliflower wings, potato dishes (OMG maybe french fries because who doesn't love fries), falafel, pita, etc.

Check out vegan restaurants across the country for inspiration along with pinterest. Philly has a great vegan spot, http://vedgerestaurant.com/, which I feel inspired to go to after this thread.

Yeah, I definitely didn't mean to imply that vegan menus are wrong due to allergies :-)

OMG, Polly, you have to quit because Vedge is the yummiest and I am starving because I ate my lunch early.

A wedding with only salad would be rude, yes. But a good vegan caterer is not going to offer only salad, which is why everyone who said it could be done recommended hiring a good vegan caterer.

"No one expects us to change who we are for our wedding day."

THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! I can't with the holier than thou attitude. (not saying all of the opinions here have been holier than thou-becuase they haven't been, but COME ON!)

I want meat in my mouth, plain and simple.

@AlwaysMs I'm literally about 300ft away from it right now at my coworking office and if I didn't have a meeting I'd go try their happy hour now (which I hear is awesome).

Serve a lot of alcohol and a crudite. Problem solved.

"No one expects us to change...."

Do you REALLY think that your guest list, if it's over 20, knows you're vegan?

No. They do not. They just know that they came to a wedding, with all the expense and time involved to eat....

What?

And someone said it earlier, the guest has a right to decline. And that is absolutely true. So OP and others who are not providing meat, please let your guests know. Just as you should if it's dry wedding. Yes, weddings are about viewing the love and commitment of the couple. There's no doubt about that. But as someone who just spent THOUSANDS of dollars on wedding season and attending the four weddings that I took off work for, that I bought plane tickets for, that I got hotel rooms for and rented cars for and bought gifts for... I think I have a right to know that your beliefs were more important than feeding me a meal that I would enjoy. If that makes me a bitch, then I will lace that shoe the fuck up. But I think I should be told in advance so I can make an informed decision about my attendance. I assume if I refused to serve you a vegan meal because I shouldn't have to "change who I am" for my wedding day that you would want the same courtesy to be told in advance so you could decline or at the very least plan accordingly and eat beforehand.

Your opinion @MNBride. Feel free to scroll. That's what it's there for.

@must love cats from what I understand you also believe that my wearing heirloom fur means I support the fur trade. I would find a way to accommodate all types of guests. I have a vitamin B and iron deficiency so I try to eat meat as much as possible. However, could you potentially use wild caught, environmentally destructive fish as a meat option?

@Polly thats the way to go in my opinion. Good, filling whole foods, and none of the processed crap. All of your suggestions are amazing!

It's doable, and if I could get away with eating less meat, I totally would...but it's not in my cards.

Just find an eco friendly fish to serve, provides a meat and many of the fish on the list of non Eco friendly fish are there because they're destructive to their environment

I can't love you more Beau.

It all boils down to what it always boils down to...your wedding is not 'all about you". If you PERSONALLY don't drink, PERSONALLY don't dance, PERSONALLY don't eat meat, then don't. But realize that you've asked your guests there to entertain them. And at that point, it becomes not "all about you". You can have beer and wine instead of vodka flumes....you can serve meat and cheese without having carving stations....

It is possible to accommodate your guests in a way that accommodates them and works for you.

And if that isn't possible? Then elope or have a very small wedding that is totally in line with your beliefs.

Polly: I am so jealous. I may have to add some of their items to Thanksgiving in tribute.

I have to say I agree with Celia, Beau and others saying that proper hosting means offering options for your guests who are not vegan. When figuring out our menu I spent a lot of time with our venue coordinator making sure I covered all the options for our guests who did not or could not eat most of what we selected for the venue. I do not think that is too much for your guests to ask of you OP. One of the suggestions the venue offered as a remedy for this type of situation is that they would provide guests a menu of offerings for those with multiple allergies, vegan, etc and those guests could request a plated meal from the menus. Maybe that is a way to provide options for your guests who are not comfortable with trying your vegan offerings. You could also go as far to make sure the caterers obtain any meat products from ethical farms. And if you are just offering by plate, it will not be out with the buffet (if you choose to have one) and the amount you would be paying for would likely be small. This is a tough one and I can see both sides of the argument. But when we are referring to properly hosting your guests (which is highly preached here), then I believe offerings for those who choose to eat meat should be included.

Personally, I'd love to hear any vegan's answer to this. Cause I don't think OP is coming back...

I think it will be fine as long if you have a good cater. I compare it to only serving beer and wine. I don't drink beer or wine. I am not going to complain because the host offered alcohol options. I just don't like their options. IMO, vegan food is the same. You are providing food options for your guests. Some guests might not like the options, but you are providing a variety of food for your guests. Just make sure you are accommodating to any dietary restrictions. Also, I have never tried vegan food, so I would have zero idea if I would even like it, and it still doesn't bother me.