Planning a wedding can be very stressful in itself. Planning a vegan wedding can be even more stressful, as some venues may have limited food choices.
In this article, we share 9 tips to help you organize an amazing vegan wedding. Not getting married soon (or already married)? These tips are great for any event you may be hosting.
You can hear us discuss these tips on episode 404 of the podcast or read on for a summary and links to everything we discussed.
Larissa and I got married in 2015 (we’ve been together since 2002). We’ve discussed our wedding here and there on this show but we thought this might be a good time to discuss how we had a vegetarian wedding without people even realizing it was vegetarian.
As things start to open up again (with caution during a pandemic, of course) we thought we’d share how we planned our wedding this year and this month (February) to help anyone out there considering a plant-based wedding. Will have a great time. .
Even if you’re not planning a wedding anytime soon (or you already have), these tips can work for other types of gatherings as well.
What is a vegan wedding?
In discussing “vegan” weddings, we want to clarify that we’re not just referring to the food. In addition to eliminating animal products like meat or dairy from the menu, a vegan wedding—like a vegan lifestyle in general—is also about being eco-friendly and cruelty-free.
In 2018, Veg News published an article titled “How Veganism Is Creating a Quiet Revolution in the Wedding Industry”. The article discusses how couples are breaking traditional wedding norms by choosing more plant-based cuisine and opting for environmentally friendly, cruelty-free and sustainable decor.
The choices many couples are making these days are in line with their own values ​​(as they should be).
9 of our tips for an amazing vegan wedding
1. Finding a vegan caterer
Although veganism isn’t all about food, food is a big part of the big day. Depending on your location, securing a vegan caterer can be difficult. If you have trouble finding a caterer who advertises as “vegan,” try calling and asking what accommodations can be made.
Note: Be very careful to be specific about your preferences and any dietary restrictions. Put it in the contract so there are no disputes.
If you’re lucky enough to live in a town that has vegan restaurants, try them first and give them a chance to earn your business. Try searching for “vegan caterers (or vegetarian restaurants) near me”.
2. What would you serve at a vegan wedding?
As with potlucks and other events, I like to easily choose “veganized” foods.
One thing to consider for your vegetarian menu is a cuisine that can easily be adapted to being vegan. For example, one of our favorite restaurants, Viva Vejeria, had a Tex-Mex menu. Tex-Mex (or Mexican food) is quite easily veganized. It is also very popular in our area, so it has already scored a point with most of our guests
For vegetarian appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, there are plenty of options that an experienced caterer should recommend, but if you’re looking for some great ideas that will please even meat-lovers, here’s an article from Recipes to some great options.
You’re not cooking vegan; You are cooking food that could be vegan. -Suzy Silvestre, Vegan Caterer
3. Try a non-vegan friend meal
If you’re still a little nervous about whether your wedding guests will enjoy the food, try taking a trusted, open-minded, non-vegan friend with you to try some of the items you’re considering for the menu.
4. You don’t need to advertise it as a “vegan” wedding
While we’re certainly not saying that you should hide the fact that you’re vegan or that you’ve chosen to be a vegetarian, some people (except your vegan friends, of course) may have preconceptions and stereotypes about what that means.
I find the stereotype that all vegetarian food is tasteless “rabbit food” to be normalizing.
We didn’t advertise our menu as “vegan” and many people were surprised to learn that. They knew the food was great!
5. DIY or upcycled/recycled decorations
Instead of spending a ton on flowers and disposable decorations, consider upcycling or recycled art for your decor. Larissa, who is very crafty, used upcycled materials like old paper and sheet music for our invitations, thank you notes and centerpieces.
If you’re not crafty yourself, consider supporting independent artists locally or on Etsy. Perhaps you have a crafty friend who would love to make some centerpieces for your wedding as a gift.
6. Reusable lights or vegan candles
As mentioned, Larissa was the centerpiece of our wedding. Everyone loved them and several people asked to have one. Larissa used old jars, sheet music and reusable mini-lights inside each.
If you prefer candles, consider soy candles such as Oh Comdre Candles or Mrs. Meyers. They are made without wax or animal ingredients.
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7. Vegan cake options
Like caterers, more bakeries are beginning to expand their offerings to vegetarians.
Depending on where you live, vegan cakes aren’t too hard to come by these days. Additionally, vegan cupcakes and cookies are some fun creative options to consider.
8. Vegan wine
In episode 137 of The Vegetarian Jane Podcast, we talked about alcohol. Specifically, we discussed that while many people assume beer, wine, and spirits are vegan, not everyone is.
For example, the wine filtering process uses isinglass, which is derived from fish bladders.
When we recorded 137 episodes several years ago, the selection of vegan spirits was very limited. Fortunately, there are several wines these days that are vegetarian-friendly. Visit Barnivore’s website for a comprehensive guide.
9. Gift Registry
Let guests know that you would appreciate gifts that do not contain any animal products such as leather, feathers, fur, etc. Consider donating to a shelter/rescue of your choice as a gift alternative. When in doubt, a gift card to your favorite store is a good option.
We hope these tips have given you some ideas for an amazing vegan wedding or any special event you may be hosting!
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