To only serve vegan food at my wedding.

[inthewest]

My partner and myself are both vegan. We want to serve an only vegan menu from an excellent vegan caterer. I know people aren't a fan of "fake meat" and we've deliberately chosen to not have anything of that sort. Our menu will include many options and will cater to allergies and dietary needs such as celiac. The food is delicious, is very "us" and reflects us as couple.

We have had pushback from my partners family. Adult family. I'm fully prepared to cater for children but not adults. Our thinking is that it's one meal.

The thing is, Vegan diet is no meat, so someone not catering for a vegan at their wedding would be infair. But meat eaters can eat whatever really so it isn’t excluding them by not providing meat.

I eat meat, I also eat a lot of other things too!

@thecatsthecats

I was annoyed at my own wedding because the server called my meal the "vegetarian option" - um no, I chose the menu, and I knew that the Brie Wellington was the best option!

That’s a posh cheese pasty right?

@iklboo

I don't eat Indian food same as I don't eat food from other countries or the ingredients of vegan food“

What the bloody hell DO you eat then?

No fish and chips, then! And certainly not a cup of tea!

I CBA scrolling back to find your full post @iklboo but if you really did say “I don’t eat food from other countries” without qualification- does that include America and Australia?

@Arsenal123

A friend had a wedding with vegan-only food. They let their family know who complained beforehand. On the day the disgruntled family members brought chicken legs wrapped in foil and ham sandwiches which they opened and ate when the buffet was served. It upset my friend and I was horrified. I loved the vegan buffet despite being a meat eater. Since then I've eaten far less meat too.

Our wedding unfortunately had veggie but didn't have vegan options which some people found difficult. It came down to cost as the venue put a ridiculous premium on the bill for allowing a vegan option.

Again mixed feelings.

If the wedding was supposed to be vegan and the bride and groom have a real objection to meat and wanted a meat free event then the disgruntled family members were a disgrace, not least as they could have popped out to their cars and eaten their meat there.

On the other hand I need food at meal-times and there is quite a lot of food I don't like. I don't expect other people to cater for my every whim, but I've got a massive problem if they think that they have a right to force me to eat their swill or force me to go hungry. I'm happy to bring my own if necessary.

@LagunaBubbles

You will get lots if replies along the lines "your wedding, your day, your choice" which is true so its entirely up to you. But personally I see it as a party where you want to look after your guests. So go ahead if you want to.

Guests will not suffer from having excellent vegan food rather than mediocre, dull chicken and two overboiled veg (for example) for just one meal of their lives!

You will get lots if replies along the lines "your wedding, your day, your choice" which is true so its entirely up to you. But personally I see it as a party where you want to look after your guests. So go ahead if you want to*

Would you expect to be served alcohol at a Muslim wedding, or pork at a Jewish wedding, because that’s what guests like?

Imagining the diet of someone who doesn't eat the ingredients of vegan food.

Meat
Poultry
Fish
Eggs
Milk/cream/yoghurt etc

But what do you eat with them, if you don't eat veg? Or can't make sauces or pastry that contain flour (flour being a vegan Stapel)
Desserts must be pretty limited too with no fruit, and again no flour/sugar which are vegan Ingredients, so no cake either.

The list I made of a sample of dishes (and later added vegetarian chilli with guacamole, tacos and salsa) can all be made vegan

It’s not difficult vegan mayo, home made salad dressing, vegan shop bought salad dressing

Many dishes we think of as vegetarian are vegan

Guests will not suffer from having excellent vegan food rather than mediocre, dull chicken and two overboiled veg (for example) for just one meal of their lives!

The thing is taht everyone is assuming it will be an excellent vegan food.

Also, what's up with that chicken everyone is mentioning? Is that some UK thing?😂

That’s a posh cheese pasty right?

One of my favourite meals in all the world (and I am a meat eater) is cheese and onion pie, and I would be stoked to be served a beautifully-made one at a wedding. Though I shall call it Cheddar Wellington a l'Oignon from now on.

@HaveringWavering - sorry I was quoting another poster. I'm baffled as to what they eat if they refuse to eat food 'from other countries'. I mean - what does that leave them with?!

I would be fine with that as long as it wasn't all bland - which I am sure it won't be. I think you still would need options but if it's all vegan that's fine - it's your wedding

[quote iklboo]@HaveringWavering - sorry I was quoting another poster. I'm baffled as to what they eat if they refuse to eat food 'from other countries'. I mean - what does that leave them with?![/quote]
That's why I remember them. The thread then went into how far back people should go to not eat foreign food and i thonk the conclusion was Anglo Saxon period? It was actually fun and educational 😁

I'm not a vegan but I'd be a complete d@ck if I went to a wedding and had a hissy about there only being vegan food.
Anyone with half a brain knows there's good and bad food from all dietary corners.
Go for it!

@HaveringWavering

I CBA scrolling back to find your full post *@iklboo* but if you really did say “I don’t eat food from other countries” without qualification- does that include America and Australia?

I kind of wondered what that meant too...

I mean, if your diet is what is native to the U.K., that’s pretty limited...

[quote iklboo]@HaveringWavering - sorry I was quoting another poster. I'm baffled as to what they eat if they refuse to eat food 'from other countries'. I mean - what does that leave them with?![/quote]
if the contents of my UK-only veg box these past few weeks are to be believed, that's beetroot and something called "hungry gap kale". Yum. But then if they don't like vegan food, so even the delights of Hungry Gap Kale are off the menu.

(I don't really like kale, but this turned out really nice when chopped small and sauteed with nasty forrin' olive oil.)

[quote iklboo]@HaveringWavering - sorry I was quoting another poster. I'm baffled as to what they eat if they refuse to eat food 'from other countries'. I mean - what does that leave them with?![/quote]
phew, I did think I had seen your name on other threads associated with sensible comments, so glad to hear that!

@Jaichangecentfoisdenom and others - why the assumption that just because the food is vegan, it is of higher quality than a meat meal?

Meat meal - overcooked chicken
Vegan meal - fresh and wonderfully cooked

No! There’s good and bad for both!

Vegan is not necessarily better.

Also, what's up with that chicken everyone is mentioning? Is that some UK thing?😂

Chicken is cheaper than other meats so is often served at large functions such as weddings/conferences etc. It's also not very forgiving and easily becomes dry or rubbery, so the chances of having a quality dish served to a large number of people is minimal. I know lots of people will say they've had lovely chicken at weddings but I have been to too many large functions (not all weddings) where that isn't the case I can see that a quality vegan option would be preferable.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

Imagining the diet of someone who doesn't eat the ingredients of vegan food.

Meat
Poultry
Fish
Eggs
Milk/cream/yoghurt etc

But what do you eat with them, if you don't eat veg? Or can't make sauces or pastry that contain flour (flour being a vegan Stapel)
Desserts must be pretty limited too with no fruit, and again no flour/sugar which are vegan Ingredients, so no cake either.

I eat fruit and veg. As an accompaniment to meat, fish or eggs. Vegetables on their own would not be very filling and with no form of protein would not sustaining me.

But I wouldn’t make a fuss. I’d make sure I kept a cool bag in my car with suitable picnic type food and slip out an an appropriate/inconspicuous time.

[quote bendmeoverbackwards]**@Jaichangecentfoisdenom and others - why the assumption that just because the food is vegan, it is of higher quality than a meat meal?

Meat meal - overcooked chicken
Vegan meal - fresh and wonderfully cooked

No! There’s good and bad for both!

Vegan is not necessarily better.[/quote]
Because OP said it would be high quality.

[quote iklboo]@HaveringWavering - sorry I was quoting another poster. I'm baffled as to what they eat if they refuse to eat food 'from other countries'. I mean - what does that leave them with?![/quote]
When I read that I assume that they eat nothing but disgusting over-cooked veg you can drink through a straw, disgusting overcooked meat, and fish and chips.

I'm pretty much the reverse - I detest northern european food apart from fish and chips.

I love vegan food.
I think it is outrageous that caterers put such a premium on vegan food when it is so much cheaper than dairy and meat.
Lots of my friends are vegan (many of them from cultures where this is the norm) and the food they prepare is delicious. I have been to several Indian weddings/funerals/parties and the food is always vegan. It would be rude and ungrateful to expect anything else IMO.