Are you interested in throwing a vegan wedding reception but fear the response from your guests? While you’re not trying to throw your dietary choices or beliefs on anyone, you want your wedding to reflect your passion and commitment to this lifestyle. So, how do you find a balance between meeting your needs and your guests?
Many brides-to-be have been where you are. They struggled with choosing their desires over the expectation of their friends and family. Fortunately, there are solutions to these problems. Continue reading to learn more.
Hire The Right Caterer
When your guests read the inserts to your wedding invitations and discover that it’s a vegan reception, many will automatically complain. There’s this wide misconception that all there will only be salad, raw veggies, and dip to eat. The only way to get them past that idea is to hire the right caterer for your reception. You need someone who has experience in creating diverse vegan cuisine that can appeal to most audiences. Do some research and schedule interviews to narrow down your options.
Select a Great Menu
Once you’ve found the best caterer, the next step is putting together a menu for your reception. While you may have a few favorites in mind, gain some inspiration by looking for vegan recipes popular at weddings. You also want to ensure that the menu has several options for your guests. The more flavorful and diverse the menu is, the more appealing it is to your guests. Select multiple types of appetizers, alcoholic beverages, and entrees that flow with the theme of the wedding (and your budget).
As you’re deciding on a reception menu, don’t forget to keep other dietary concerns in mind. Some guests have health problems or religious beliefs that prevent them from eating certain foods. Therefore, you want to have options for them, so they feel included.
Give Guests a Sneak Peak
If you haven’t already had your engagement party, you can use this as an opportunity to allow your guests to indulge in vegan meals. While you may not require the entire meal to be vegan, you can serve plant-based appetizers. This way, your friends and family can see the variety and experience the delectable tastes in advance. It can alleviate any skepticism and make things easier when you’re planning your reception menu.
If you’ve already had an engagement party (or don’t plan to have one at all), you can invite a few guests over for a small get together or hosted tasting to get their opinion on your menu options. The opinion and approval of even a few of your closest friends and family could make a world of difference.
Don’t Stress Yourself Out
All too often, brides-to-be get so caught up trying to impress their guests that they stress themselves out. They lose sight of what their wedding day is all about. As the wedding planning process is already stressful enough, it’s best to eliminate unnecessary emotional baggage. Yes, you want to please your guests, but this day is about celebrating your new journey as a married couple. Chances are your family, and friends aren’t going to be so overwhelmed by the reception menu that they won’t show up to witness the most memorable time in your life.
If you’ve been thinking about having a vegan menu for your wedding reception, don’t allow the potential opinion of others to deter you. Though you and your significant other have responsibilities as the hosts to this event, it’s also a moment that you’ll never get back again.
Contrary to popular belief, vegan cuisine has come a long way. There are plenty of delectable food options that your guests can enjoy. Do the best you can to accommodate everyone’s dietary needs by working with a reputable caterer and selecting a menu that is just as diverse as it is flavorful. Once you’ve done what you can, let go of the unnecessary stress and get back to planning the wedding of your dreams.
