A Gluten-Free Wedding Menu So Tasty Your Guests Won't Miss the Bread

It seems the whole world is cutting back on gluten or eliminating the gelatinous protein from their diet altogether because of allergies or Celiac disease. If you or any of your guests are gluten-sensitive, you’ll definitely want some gluten-free wedding menu options to make sure everyone has plenty to eat during your cocktail hour and reception.

After all, more than half of wedding guests say food is the most important thing they care about when attending a wedding. Also, nearly 1 in 4 couples who married last year took care to have gluten-free wedding menu options, according to WeddingWire data.

To be sure your wedding menu is both tasty and safe for the gluten-sensitive, remember to let your caterer know you want to have gluten-free options before your tasting, said Gail Varuso, director of sales for Ralph Brennan Catering & Events in New Orleans. This helps the chefs select dishes that blend gluten and gluten-free wedding menu items to present you for the tasting.

Once you select the dishes you’d like, be sure to consider ordering more than just what you need for the gluten-sensitive, said Carl Hall, owner and executive chef at 3 Dimensional Catering & Events in Richardson, Texas. Do this so guests who aren’t on a gluten-free diet, but still want some of the delish gluten-free treats you’ve selected for the wedding, will have enough to eat.

Ask your caterer about these tasty gluten-free wedding menu dishes for your celebration!

Hors D'oeuvres

Substitute starches with fruits, like plantain chips in Ralph Brennan’s Caribbean Fruit Salsa on Plantain Chips, or veggies, like the cauliflower in 3 Dimensional’s Baked Cauliflower Latkes for starters that are gluten-free and healthier.  

• Tomato Caprese Skewers
• Shrimp Remoulade on Cucumber
• Jerk Chicken Salad with Caribbean Fruit Salsa on Plantain Chips
• Layered Vegetable Tower w/ Grilled Shrimp and Mangos
• Baked Cauliflower Latkes
• Grilled Vegetable Pinwheel

Entrées

Whether you choose to simply not serve common dinner items made with grains, like various soups, sauces, and pasta dishes, or you want to supplement those dishes with gluten-free wedding menu options, there’s a world of flavor accessible to those who are gluten-intolerant. Fortunately, main dishes are usually the easiest to craft without gluten, said Gail, since they are normally composed of a protein and a vegetable.

• Mixed Field Greens with Goat Cheese Crumbles, Spiced Pecans, and Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Cherry Cola Baby Back Ribs
• Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Asian-Glazed Sea Bass

Desserts

Perhaps the most groan-inducing for those who can’t eat many types of flour or baked goods, this is where you can really surprise and delight your guests with delectable gluten-free wedding menu desserts.

• Bananas Foster
• Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls
• Flourless Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie

This sample gluten-free wedding menu is comprised of dishes prepared by 3 Dimensional Catering & Events and Ralph Brennan Catering & Events.