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.

30% of 18-24 year olds are vegan

I think you will find it is 30% of vegans are 18-24 years old, which is entirely different 🤣

Around 3% of the population is vegan.

@WeAllHaveWings

30% of 18-24 year olds are vegan

I think you will find it is 30% of vegans are 18-24 years old, which is entirely different 🤣

Around 3% of the population is vegan.

😂 detail

[quote iklboo]@PastMyBestBeforeDate - ooh vegan sushi sounds interesting. What do you have?[/quote]
@iklboo I tend to use smoked tofu, radishes, avocado or cucumber in mine.

People can go on all they like about all this food and that food being vegan, and how thick people must be to not know that blah blah blah.... But the fact is, when a vegan puts food on, (for a non-vegan,) it tastes like bland mashed up cardboard.

I eat meat, and have no plans to go vegetarian.

But this is a lot of crap. I've eaten some really great veggie and vegan food, and it's just one meal.

OP, I'd happily eat the food you offer at your wedding, I might even find myself trying something new. It's one meal. I can't understand the wazzocks who might be up in arms at the mere idea of no meat for one meal.

@HowWeAre

As many of us will eat without giving it a second thought until it’s labelled vegan

This. I was eating sweets the other day and offered a colleague one who was like ‘oh yes I’ve never tried vegan sweets’ gave her one and she pulled her face and went ‘you can tell that’s vegan it’s not very good’.

It was a jelly tot which I have absolutely seen her eat multiple times as it’s one of the only sweets our canteen shop offers

It's crazy. Labelling things vegan automatically puts (some) meat eaters heckles up, but label it with a tiny statement on the back saying "suitable for vegans" and it's magically fine.

Whilst I do think most of the fake meats I've tried taste horrendous, there's loads of vegan things I eat all the time without thinking about it. Fruit, nuts, salads (I don't like dressings) and just recently I accidentally bought a chicken tikka wrap which was amazing. I thought there was something not quite right when I noticed I couldn't find the chicken pieces.
It was a vegan chickPEA tikka wrap. It's now on my go to list of snacks if I come across it again.

@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 ridiculous response! It's the sort of line one gets from smokers who don't understand that others don't appreciate inhaling their pollution.

If someone is vegan or veggie they can often pick bits of a meaty meal that they want to eat. Or if they have allergies they can bring their own meal. Not ideal of course. But no one is going to die from having one vegan meal. Would you expect someone who is orthodox jewish to offer you pork chops just because you like them?

@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.

Only meat or rice? No fruit, vegetables, condiments, sauces, bread or potatoes?

People can go on all they like about all this food and that food being vegan, and how thick people must be to not know that blah blah blah.... But the fact is, when a vegan puts food on, (for a non-vegan,) it tastes like bland mashed up cardboard.

What does it matter if it's bland, though? We are all capable of eating bland food, it's not a restaurant, it's just food provided at an event that is not primarily about food.

Go for it. People making the "only if you'd be fine going to a meat and dairy only " wedding are idiots. Everyone can eat vegan food

I’ve never encountered a vegan meal I could eat safely due to a range of allergies - I would appreciate a heads up as I wouldn’t be able to eat it, but I’m used to that and will just skip the meal / eat lots beforehand / leave early / take a snack in my car etc.

It wouldn't bother me;we're a family of meat eaters but we have a non meat based diner at least once a week.

Vegan food I find is colourful/flavoursome and varied.

Do what you like;it's your wedding/your money but expect at least one moaning aunt Mary and uncle merv whinging about the "funny food";i bet you could probably name which family members that would be already 😂

@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!

But how would you know whether the person had a dietary need or were being fussy? I'd be wary about eating a vegan meal in case it made me ill and so might consider taking a 'doggie bag' as you call it rather than go hungry (or have to make a run for it from the table as I was ill). I wouldn't be discussing my dietary needs with someone I don't know so presumably you'd just have a laugh at my expense.

It’s your wedding, your money and your choice. I’m not vegan, I couldn’t even be a vegetarian (steaks for tea last night 🙈) as I enjoy meat too much, however I do appreciate that not everyone feels the same.

I don’t think it’s the same (as a pp suggested) to only serving meat/dairy at a wedding either. I think some vegans chose to become vegans for the sake of animal welfare and that’s to be admired. On the other hand, of course there are those they do but to jump on the ‘trendy’ bandwagon.

The issue is, you don’t know the true vegans from trend wannabes! So it would be unfair to park them all in the same lane.

I’m laughing at all these posts that say a standard meal at a wedding is chicken, potatoes and veg.

Maybe in the 1970s but not now.

Caterers are offering all sorts of things now, I was at a function where they had food stations and you went up to help yourself. They had a Chinese station, one BBQ type with mini burgers, sausages etc, fantastic sushi all made fresh.

Providing meat doesn’t mean a dried up chicken breast!

@bendmeoverbackwards exactly! There is no standard, you can do what you want. Just because something was “traditional” in the 80’s is bollocks as that wasn’t traditional for the generation before. I hate al that.

@sunshinesupermum

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.

Exactly. It’s no different to having a dinner party and asking guests what they like. Just on a bigger scale. It’s about being a good host. I’d want my guests to enjoy every aspect of the wedding including the food.

Yes, there is no standard, but if you are a good host you make sure there is enough choice as you want to make sure all your guests are catered to.

People can go on all they like about all this food and that food being vegan, and how thick people must be to not know that blah blah blah.... But the fact is, when a vegan puts food on, (for a non-vegan,) it tastes like bland mashed up cardboard.

That pretty much describes the stodgy pap I've been served both by vegans and at an allegedly excellent vegan restaurant. Tend to have bowel problems for several days afterwards. But I still defend the OP's right to serve vegan food at their wedding.

@SinkGirl

I’ve never encountered a vegan meal I could eat safely due to a range of allergies - I would appreciate a heads up as I wouldn’t be able to eat it, but I’m used to that and will just skip the meal / eat lots beforehand / leave early / take a snack in my car etc.

For goodness sake, another one! If you're allergic to something and going to a catered event say when you RSVP . No need to spend the whole evening fainting like a martyr. I cannot believe how many people with allergies will allegedly go to a wedding without RSVPing with their dietary requirements and then cry in the corner with nary a dry crust they can eat. You say what your allergies are, caterer provides a meal you can eat. That's what they're paid to do. Is it rocket science? Have I been crashingly rude all these years by actually filling in the dietary requirements box in the RSVP? Should I have just nobly starved instead?

All of you complaining that vegan food tastes like cardboard have obviously not eaten South Indian vegan food! It's so tasty and delicious, packed full of flavour. If it was my wedding I'd have a mixed wedding breakfast menu so people can choose what they want to eat. Then for the evening buffet, I'd go for South Indian vegetarian.

The thing to remember is to minimise food wastage, you don't want to create waste because you're forcing a vegan menu. That defeats the object of being vegan for environmental reasons.

Nothing to add. Just want to take us closer to a full thread with only one post from the OP

The point @PinkSparklyPussyCat is that those people who don't eat vegan food because they want their meat are usually those who make it very clear that they're having their doggie bag as a protest. Those who have extra food because they have allergies (like my sister who, as I said up thread, can't have dairy milk so brings her own soya milk just in case) usually just get on with it.

It's the 'I'm bringing my own chicken drumsticks as I can't survive without meat for a day and I'm proud of it' that I find laughable. And yes, I have had someone sitting at the same table who pulled out a sandwich and felt the need to explain that 'they don't like that kind of foreign food' having pitched up at a wedding where the bride and groom served a curry (and put it on the invitation).

Yeah, it'll be gutting if the OP comes back and squeezes in a response

I wouldnt have a problem with the meal but as a tee totaller who prefers a nice cuppa to soft drinks, Id want to know so could stick a flask of milky tea in the car!!