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.

"As has been said it's your choice- and your decision to foist your beliefs on your guests.

I'd bring my own food to such a wedding!"

Why is this different to any wedding? I've been to plenty where there's been just the sit-down meal. No choice. Food foisted.

Why are you imagining it's better to have meat foisted than vegan?

The other thing is that people going to a wedding are families and friends of the bride and groom. They should surely be sympathetic at least to their wishes. If they really feel they can't eat one vegan meal (I'm not sure why) then maybe they can't bring their own but they would look a bit ridiculous surely?

Plain rice and salad is as an accompaniment to other dishes

I think that is quite obvious

If I added pilau rice no doubt someone would say can’t eat that

Oh another dish vegetarian paella

There will always be someone who has a moan at the wedding about the food as some people love nothing but a good moan it’s their form of enjoyment

Sorry - CAN bring their own I meant.

Argh. I'm going to stop commenting.

To the OP when I said maybe have some choice - I meant having some options or things people can choose between that are all vegan. Not that you have to have meat options.

None of the 18-30 year olds I know are vegan. Some are vegetarian, but none full vegan. Mind you, I don't know every 18-30 year old in the country. My lot must be in the other 70%.

Depends if you think it is appropriate for guests to have a choice. Do you like your normal dietary requirements catered for at functions? Personally I don't have an issue but I have a friend who eats only meat and rice who would have a different opinion.

It's hilarious that this thread is nearly full and the OP has never been back after her first post.

@littlepattilou

As long as you are OK with going to someone's wedding, or party, or 'evening meal' and only being offered dairy and meat products, then yeah, go ahead and only offer vegan food at your wedding.

If you would not accept dairy or meat products in the food you were offered, then of COURSE you are being unreasonable to only offer vegan food to the guests at your wedding.

I can't believe you even have to ask!

What a load of nonsense, that is totally different, unless you are in fact a carnivore and are unable to eat vegetarian food 🙄

Can’t believe we've got to page 10 and the OP hasn’t been back.

We've not even seen their proposed menu 😂

As has been said it's your choice- and your decision to foist your beliefs on your guests.

So you'd demand pork at a Jewish / Muslim wedding? Meat at a Hindu wedding? Because they'd be 'foisting their beliefs' on you with their menus wouldn't they?

30% of 18-24 year olds are vegan.

Say they are vegan.
I met a vegan who eat chicken. But she was vegan otherwise, so she was vegan... Quite a few vegans I know are part timers depending on where we eat.

So not vegans

Personally, I would be very happy with a vegan meal as long as it didn't have any 'vegan cheese' that couldn't be avoided. do think carefully about what will go down well. I would suggest keeping a few things seperate so that people can have extra of the part of the meal they like. Eg salad, bread and serving a few familiar options eg fruit salad. For kids, I imagine a 'chips and quorn nuggets' option would go down well. It may be that some parents will be surprised that their kids really like them.
Will you only serve soya milk with coffee though? Tbh I wouldn't like that, but you could make a few plant milks available alongside dairy. I bet a fair few people would give it a go to stay in the spirit of things.

30% of 18-24 year olds are vegan.

Don't worry about citing any sources. We'll just take your word for it.

You should have the wedding and celebration you choose. Go for it.
I' ve eaten delicious vegan food and terrible vegan food; just make sure you offer the lovely stuff!

For those who can't enjoy one vegan meal and would have to bring their own food (suitably wrapped in foil or in a little lunch bag no doubt). Unless you have a dietary need - which is totally different - or are a child who would have a hiss fit at a bit of veg you're being absolutely ridiculous. But I say go ahead - bring your little plastic pot of goodies.

Please invite me along though as it would cheer my day up no end to tuck into my meal whilst having a good giggle at you and your doggie bag.

Just make sure you let the bride and groom know as they can save a fortune by not having to pay for your meal. It'll then become the 'remember that wedding when some berk brought a couple of chicken drumsticks to a vegan wedding'

Foist away OP!

Judging by the ridiculous posts on here I expect many would think it strange (time to have a good old moan) about bacon sandwiches not been served at a Muslim or Jewish wedding breakfast

Maybe they should try to source some halal/kosher bacon for such guests

@underneaththeash

I think it would be rather odd for a vegan couple to serve meat at their wedding. I wouldn't expect any.

Having said that, I don't have any friends who are vegan, they're too intelligent to think that you can have a healthy diet whilst also restricting their intake of vital nutrients and amino acids.

What a silly comment.

The only nutrient not found in a vegan diet is B12 which can be easily supplemented.

A vegan who eats a lot of fortified foods could probably go without a b12 supplement as well.

Some nice stuff on these menus. www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2020021284685/vegan-wedding-menu-ideas/?viewas=amp

Laughing at all these people frothing over one meal not having meat or dairy in it. I think it sounds lovely, and if the caterers are good might inspire some of your guests.

And I'm not a vegan myself btw.

@saleorbouy

Depends if you think it is appropriate for guests to have a choice. Do you like your normal dietary requirements catered for at functions? Personally I don't have an issue but I have a friend who eats only meat and rice who would have a different opinion.

I think there's a difference between demanding that your life-choice diet is respected (eg pescatarian, vegan) or demanding that you are not given peanuts because you might die, and demanding that your hosts meet your entirely unique personal choice fussiness.

I'm currently doing keto and up to my ears in meat and dairy, but if I was going to the wedding of two vegans I would be very surprised to find meat on the menu. The day is about celebrating the two of you, of course you don't want hunks of dead cow on people's plates!

Let his family know they are welcome to bring packed lunches. You'll save on the catering at least.

@LondonJax

For those who can't enjoy one vegan meal and would have to bring their own food (suitably wrapped in foil or in a little lunch bag no doubt). Unless you have a dietary need - which is totally different - or are a child who would have a hiss fit at a bit of veg you're being absolutely ridiculous. But I say go ahead - bring your little plastic pot of goodies.

Please invite me along though as it would cheer my day up no end to tuck into my meal whilst having a good giggle at you and your doggie bag.

Just make sure you let the bride and groom know as they can save a fortune by not having to pay for your meal. It'll then become the 'remember that wedding when some berk brought a couple of chicken drumsticks to a vegan wedding'

Foist away OP!

That's just it - have these people really never had to eat a meal they weren't enthused about before? Never eaten a salad, or perhaps a bowl of cereal, without meat? It's one meal, it really, really doesn't matter. Just eat what's there and stop freaking out that one meal you ate on one day wasn't what you'd have chosen 🤷‍♀️

For me it would be a plate of chips or plain potatoes and dry bread, nothing else that's been suggested would work for me. I'd definitely have to bring my own food as weddings take most of the day so even with a large breakfast I'd be starving by the evening. I've also never been at a wedding that has offered chips so a good chance that there wouldn't be anything at all that I like as nobody serves dry bread.

I find normal weddings hard enough to find food I like, usually rely on a couple of roast potatoes and some chicken (yet to have dry chicken served) to get me through until the evening where I hope for a couple of sausage rolls... 1 wedding I went to had a hog roast, I ate more at that wedding than any other I've been to and that includes my own as I was worried about spilling food on my dress.

I think vegan but traditional would be fine, some people wouldn't be happy if it was vegan and all spicy, foreign, lentils etc. Bread and salad and pie should be ok!

We had a vegetarian wedding, the food was lovely and included non-threatening choices like bread and cheese, but one elderly uncle went home early because there was no meat so he couldn't eat anything!

I think telling people what the food will be like in advance so they can sneak a sandwich in their bag if they want might be helpful. Also it makes a difference if the venue is in the middle of nowhere or near a chippy!

I'd be fine about vegan catering but people can be very strange about food!

Sorry but if you are having a party (ie wedding) surely you think of your guests first and foremost? Giving them a choice from the menu would be only fair under the circumstances - at least vegetarian rather than only full-blown vegan.

You may consider vegan food as dlicious but perhaps some of your guests won't. YABU.