Vegan Wedding

[AmyD54321]

Partner and I are planning our wedding for next year, we’re both vegan. A lot of partner’s friends are big meat eaters and have always mocked him for his veganism, and I know they won’t take kindly to a vegan wedding, and there will definitely be a few comments on the day.

We obviously want our guests to have a brilliant time, and we both love food so will be putting a lot of our budget into the best vegan caterer we can find, but we’re anxious this will be lost on some of our guests. Most I think will be absolutely fine with and will enjoy the food, but some are less ‘open minded’ let’s say.... We really don’t want to buy any animal products, I don’t think I’d be able to do it. I don’t want to inflict my views on anyone, I generally don’t mind if people eat meat, but I just don’t want to fund it.

So I suppose my question is, would you enjoy a vegan wedding? Also, should we note this on the invitations, or just let everyone turn up unaware?

It would be really helpful if you could have all food ingredients clearly labelled. I am intolerant to a few things but wouldn’t mention if I was asked about allergies as I generally know what I can and can eat. But if there was food that I was unfamiliar with, or it was spicy, it would really help to have labels. I learnt the hard way a few years ago when I tried vegan ‘cheese’ for the first time without checking what it was made of .

"It's not fair to say one persons choice is more important or valid than another's."

No one is saying that.

I can't speak for others but all I'm saying is that choosing to provide alcohol for guests is not the same as choosing to provide animal products for guests when the reasons for abstaining from each thing are very different.

No choice is better or worse than the other, people are entitled to make their own decisions based on their ethics, religion, preferences etc.

Personally I would argue that animal products have a bigger negative impact on the environment than alcohol (now if we're talking negative impact on society, mental health and antisocial behaviour, you might argue that alcohol is "worse"). I am neither vegan nor teetotal btw but I can understand why people are!

@PrayingandHoping

No because we also believe v strongly that people have their own agency and choice and it's not up to us to enforce our beliefs onto other people.

Then why would omnivorous guests expect vegans to purchase meat for them? Surely that's the very definition of forcing your own beliefs and expectations on others? There's no reason for a Vegan couple to fund animal exploitation as food, and if you expect them o in order to satisfy your preferences as a guest then you should probably stay at home - it's an invitation, not a summons.

@PrayingandHoping

I was only replying to someone who said you wouldn't be served alcohol at a wedding where the couples don't drink for religious reasons. I said again it's personal choice.

Everyone has their own choice what they chose to do and believe.

It's not fair to say one persons choice is more important or valid than another's.

If you were replying to me you've totally misinterpreted what I said, and not actually answered the question I posed - I said nothing about what you should or shouldn't choose to do at your own wedding as someone who doesn't drink for religious reasons. I asked as a guest whether you would expect alcohol at a religious wedding where the religion doesn't approve of the drinking of alcohol. I think the majority of non-entitled guests would not expect the couple to sacrifice their principles.

Will you be providing your own bar? Some of the drinks may not be vegan, you'd have to let them know which ones couldn't be served.

@AmyD54321
Definitely do the vegan catering! Myself and my partner are vegan and would also do the same.
If people don't like it (which would be unlikely) it's one day! Your day! If they voice that they don't like it then just smile and say "oh that's a shame" and think nothing more of it.
I don't understand why so many posters like @ivfdreaming are comparing having a vegan/veggie option at a meat eaters wedding to having a meat option at a vegan wedding.
Veganism is mostly an ethical choice. It would be counterproductive to have strong ethical beliefs but they go out the window to please a few moaning meat eaters.
I couldn't be fully happy on my wedding day knowing that Animals had to die or have suffered just so my great aunt can have a milky latte or a steak and kidney pie.
As others have said- no one will even notice, and will be pleasantly surprised.

I hope you and your partner have a lovely wedding!

I think most people would assume that if the couple were vegan then the food at their wedding would be vegan too.
I steer clear of vegan substitutes for health reasons (I react badly to a couple of stabilisers/thickeners used), but I’d just avoid food with that in and probably bring a sandwich!